Australian apprenticeship numbers bounce back

Print schools around Australia welcome increased numbers of students keen to learn the tricks of the trade.

On the back of a difficult year, head teachers from most schools in Australia reported that 2010 has seen already seen an uplift in enrolments for printing courses.

At the Ultimo College, Sydney TAFE, there has been an overall pick-up in prepress, binding and finishing and screen-printing apprenticeships. According to Bill Chapman, head teacher of graphic prepress, 10 first-year prepress apprentices are currently enrolled (last year saw only seven students). “2009 was tough for prepress,” he said, “we barely got any calls. This year is looking better, we’re getting calls from people out in the country wanting to put people on.”

The printing machining side, however, is relatively similar to last year and head teacher, Steve Kyd worries about this. "We have seen some cmpanies decide not to put apprentices on and we are also having trouble getting young people to commit to apprenticeships," he said.

In binding and finishing and screen-printing, numbers are “chockers”, according to head teacher, Steve Anderson. Already, binding and finishing has secured 25 first-year apprentices and 21 in screen-printing along with an additional five job seekers.

“Last year, we had about 15 first-year students in screen-printing, so we are up about 70 per cent,” Anderson said.

He believes that a revolt against printing offshore has contributed to these statistics. “A lot of work is coming back from China because their prices have gone up,” he said. “[Fashion store], Supre, has brought back about 80 per cent of its textile printing to Australia because the country is getting better at what it’s doing and has better turn-around.”

Newly appointed director of RMIT’s International Centre of Graphic Technology, Simon Cochaud (replacing Robert Black), confirmed a similar situation within Victoria. "Actual enrolments have remained steady in both offset lithography and flexography with many employers flagging an increasing likelihood of enrolling new apprentices or trainees in the very near future. This is a very positive sign for the industry,” he said.

“Pre press apprentice numbers are remaining steady. The area not showing the same trend in enrolments is finishing with a decline in bindery apprentices.”

ICGT has also embarked upon a collaborative partnership with Ron Patterson from Printing Industries, Victoria to promote a school-based apprenticeship program (ASbA) commencing  on 3 March  across metropolitan Victoria. “Currently we have 13 students who will spend one day per week training at ICGT and one day per week working at their host company,” said Cochaud.

In Western Australia enrolments are still open but Digby de Bruin, manager of the art portfolio of Perth-based Central Institute of Technology, expects an improvement on 2009. “We are finding an increased optimism,” he said. “The feedback that we are getting from the industry is that there will be a steady improvement.”

Cochaud warned against companies who have cut back on apprenticeships in recent years. “We strongly encourage all printing organisations to actively invest in youth and staff professional development programs,” he said.

Staff from Queensland’s Southbank Institute of Technology did not return calls.