Billy Blue prepress trainees in industry stoush

Furore over private prepress scheme as the industry training establishment demands VTAB suspends its accreditation.

The 90 students at the North Sydney private college are the centre of a row as Bob Snedden, executive officer of the communications industry training advisory board, casts doubt on their training. One of a number of prominent industry players to speak out against the scheme, he has asked the accrediting body to suspend Billy Blue’s RTO accreditation until there is further examination of the college’s training facilities. VTAB has refused.

Snedden is particularly sceptical of the claim by Nigel Williams, Billy Blue placement co-ordinator, that the students will receive adequate on-the-job experience. He maintains that the claimed 250 hours of work experience is a bare minimum for a prepress trades person with most apprentices putting in anywhere from 1600 to 1800 hours.

“Companies I’ve talked with said they had not guaranteed the 250 hours,” he said. “We have difficulty getting work placements for our TAFE trainees. I don’t see how they can place 90 students.”

He is worried that the two-year course is being used by overseas students to gain immigration points without any intention of working in the industry. “At the very least when they go into the industry they will require substantial additional training before they are competent tradespeople,” he said.

Williams rejects the criticism, accusing the industry training establishment of sabotaging his work placements by insisting the trainees are paid. He maintains this is against the NSW Government policy. In a letter to Printing Industries he wrote:

My ambition is to at last help to give recognized qualifications to Pre-Press operators and set a standard of education second to none. It is not my intention to be drawn into a political debacle, but I do fail to understand why your association does not assist in ensuring a fair and equitable career path for these students and employers alike.

Prepress apprentice numbers are at an all-time low throughout the TAFE system as companies cut back on apprenticeships.