A submission from the TAFE college to Peter Hall, Victorian Skills Minister opens the way for a revival of off-site print training in the state.
Bruce McKenzie, CEO, has provided a full proposal to the Victorian Government to establish a National Printing and Graphic Communications Centre of Excellence, at Holmesglen Moorabbin Campus. The proposal reinforces the college’s belief in the viability of an established print training facility where apprentices can come to receive out of work training.
The proposal details costs for the reestablishment of a dedicated facility following the shock closure of RMIT’s long established state of the art print and communication campus at Brunswick.
According to Roy Aldrich, leader of Printing Industries action committee, (pictured) the proposal has every chance of success. “I’m confident the Minister will look favourably on the proposal. It is vital we have a proper training facility for our young apprentices,” he said.
He points out that the current state of affairs has left many printing companies with existing and new apprentices without proper training that was previously provided by RMIT University.
“The Minister has acknowledged that the important print, manufacturing and communication industry needs the re-establishment of a new apprenticeship training facility to provide the future workforce with adequate skills and technology expertise in an ever changing technological era,” he said.
Bill Healey, CEO of Printing Industries, who paid tribute to the efforts of the action committee to keep the proposal on track, endorses the move towards a new print training set up. “The action committee are doing good work on behalf of the industry. We’ll have to wait and see how the Minister responds,” he said.
Holmesglen TAFE is one of Australia’s largest with a number of campuses. Under the proposal the Holmesglen Moorabbin TAFE will feature a new building with state of the art equipment for hands-on training for the apprenticeship courses, interfaced with prepress, design, up skilling, management and many other industry related training modules.
“The whole of the Victorian printing and graphic communications Industry, hand in hand with the Holmesglen TAFE, look forward to the approval by the Minister, to proceed with this very important move to future proof this magnificent, important Victorian manufacturing industry,”’ said Aldrich.