The PIAA’s Future Print program has signed a partnership agreement with Holmesglen TAFE to deliver much-needed printing industry apprenticeship training in Victoria.
The PIAA has been looking for an off-the-job training provider since RMIT dumped print training in 2012. CEO Andrew Macaulay says he’s confident the Holmesglen partnership will meet this need and he commended former CEO Bill Healey and the Future Print team for resurrecting discussions and making it happen.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding between the the Future Print Partners (the PIAA and the AMWU) and Holmesglen TAFE, the partners have agreed that while the initial focus will be on the print apprenticeship training requirements for a specific client, there are additional training opportunities at both the entry and post trade qualification levels. The initial intention is to support the delivery of the Certificate III in Printing to a large fibre-board manufacturer and converter as a pilot initiative.
The training provided by Holmesglen Institute will be based on the findings of the Future Print Apprenticeship Project and will inform Holmesglen’s longer term strategy to support printing training across the state and nationally.
In particular, training will be delivered using a ‘blended delivery model’. This involves multiple delivery methodologies, including face-to-face, on-line and workplace-based training and assessment in line with training packages rules and the principles of assessment. Mapping and validation will be the responsibility of all stakeholders.
Holmesglen will develop the capacity to deliver training and assessment on and off-site. Any final decision on the partnership will be informed by a fully-costed business case, agreed to by all parties prior to commencement.
Holmesglen Institute’s off-site capacity will be developed utilising both digital print and simulation technologies available to the industry and located at the Chadstone Campus. Printing Industries Association and AWMU will assist with sourcing of relevant practical sites where not covered by the client, if necessary.
Ultimately the success of the partnership will require a commitment by the industry in Victoria to reengage with the apprenticeship system and employ sufficient numbers to cover Holmesglen training costs, says Macaulay.
Lorraine Cassin, national secretary of the AMWU’s Print Division, says the union is excited by the opportunity to provide quality training in growth areas of the industry such as packaging.
Mary Faraone, CEO from Holmesglen TAFE says the move into print training complements other areas covered by the Institute such as design, multi-media and school VET programs. “We are confident that the partnership will identify a range of programs that support the needs of what we know is a rapidly evolving industry.”
Well known industry figure Robert Black, former director of the International Centre of Graphic Technology at RMIT, has been engaged as a project manager to support the initiative.