ASGA MEETS WITH GOVERNMENT

Two meetings this month between the Australian Sign & Graphics Association (Asga) and the federal government have set strong foundations for future discussions on industry recognition, training and qualifications.

Asga president, Mick Harrold, vice president Damian Nielsen, and former president Julie Rochester met with advisors to Brendan O'Connor, Minister for Skills, Education & Training, and Tony Burke, Minister for Employment & Workplace Relations.

The first meeting looked at the industry's requirements for skilled workers, and training support for the next generation, and to request that the Sign & Graphics qualifications be reinstated on the National Skills Priority List. The second meeting was mainly to discuss the classification of the industry – currently listed only under construction – and make an argument to consider also including it as part of the manufacturing sector.

“The omission of the Sign & Graphics qualifications in the latest version of the National Skills Priority List was clearly a significant oversight and we believe due largely to a lack of understanding by government of the size and significance of the sector,” Harrold explained.

“The classification of signage as solely part of the construction sector, while partly correct, also illustrates a general unfamiliarity with the scope and diversity of our sector. In fact, figures suggest more than 60 per cent of the work done by businesses in the sector relates to manufactured or printed signage. The meetings gave us an opportunity to explain just how vital and irreplaceable our sector is, describe its scope and diversity more fully, and explain why we need a voice in these, and other important matters.”

Asga provided the advisors with an information sheet outlining the range of products the sign and graphics sector is responsible for producing, together with some key industry facts gathered from recent sector surveys run by both Asga and supplier association Visual Connections.

“The figures illustrated quite clearly that the industry is a huge contributor to the industry, with an estimated 10,000 businesses employing nearly 80,000 people and conservatively contributing $15 billion to the Australian economy,” Harrold said, noting that these figures did not include the many related organisations which rely on the sector for their own business.

The meetings were very positive, with Harrold reporting that both sets of advisors are very open to ongoing dialogue.

“The meetings represent a significant first step in promoting the significance and importance of the sign and graphics sector and we hope will be the start of closer collaboration with government on issues which impact our industry and Asga members,” Harrold said.