Have your say in future training: Print 21 magazine article

With the development of new technology, particularly in digital printing, industry training is also changing to better reflect the skills required. Eddie Hardman outlines the process currently underway to update the training curriculum - and encourages printers to get involved.

Rapidly changing technology is creating significant change in the printing and graphic arts industry. Demand for some traditional occupations is on the decline while job opportunities in areas like digital production are expanding.

The development of training to address the ever-changing needs of the industry is the responsibility of Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA). The basis of this training takes the form of competency standards and qualifications and is represented by the nationally endorsed product called the ICP05 Printing and Graphic Arts Training Package.

The Training Package, which was developed and endorsed by the National Quality Council in 2005, is now being updated and enhanced.

The enhancements include the development of pathways for digital printing and may include the development of new qualifications and competency standards specific to digital printing. Existing qualifications will also be reviewed to determine their fitness–for–purpose. This activity will involve an evaluation to establish whether the qualification design (packaging) is appropriate for enterprise outcomes and whether they include the contemporary range of skills and knowledge required by industry.

Coalface consultation
The nationwide work to be undertaken will involve direct and detailed consultation with the printing industry workforce, employers and workplaces throughout Australia. The consultation is being carried out on behalf of IBSA by the EPIC Industry Training Board, which in turn has engaged Bill Roberts as the senior project officer to lead the process.

A series of workshops and consultations across the country have the objective of “providing the opportunity throughout Australia for coalface industry input as to the type, nature and extent of formal training the industry requires now and into the future.”

So far, Bill Roberts has had preliminary discussions with several key senior industry personnel with a view to gaining a range of perspectives that will enable the development of a cornerstone for the processes to follow. These people include Steve Walsh, the federal secretary of the AMWU Printing Division, Neal McLeary, state manager of PIAA Queensland ( with some national training policy responsibilities), Ron Patterson, the PIAA general manager for Victoria and Tasmania, Robert Black and John Magnic from RMIT, Alan Wetherell from TAFE NSW, Bob Sneddon from the NSW Communications ITAB as well as the Victorian PrintSkills Council, and members of IBSA’s National Printing Sector Advisory Committee.

The initial consultations have focused on research, analysis and down-to-earth discussions with industry personnel with a priority on solutions-oriented, state by state workshops. Bill Roberts has targeted the engagement of as many industry operatives as possible to ensure the widest inclusion of views, needs and possible outcomes. This stage will be completed by the end of May with a second phase of industry engagement for development purposes to be undertaken during July/August.

If you would like further information, or would like to be consulted as part of the project, please contact Bill Roberts on 0434 020 065 or broberts@epicitb.com, or alternatively contact IBSA staff members Genevieve Neumann (project officer) at genevieve@ibsa.org.au or myself at eddie@ibsa.org.au