It pays to ask for help, says TAFE NSW

There's 'buckets of money' for printers wanting to train their employees – all you've got to do is ask, says Allan Wetherell from TAFE NSW.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting of industry representatives in Sydney this week, Allan Wetherell, manager of printing and graphic programs at TAFE NSW, outlined the range of financial incentives and subsidies that are available to printing companies today in order to train their staff.

For instance, employers of new or existing staff, full-time or part-time, who commence a Certificate II course are eligible for a incentive payment of $1,250, or $1,500 for those who start a Certificate III or IV course. In addition, employers receive a further $2,500 per student when they complete Certificate III or IV.

Wetherell acknowledged that the skills shortage was one of the most critical issues facing the industry and said that, over the past 10 years, the industry had "failed miserably" to attract more young people to take up apprenticeships and vocational training.

At the same time, it has been estimated that up to 50 percent of people currently employed in the industry have no post-school qualification and that many of these employees are ideally placed to undertake some form of on-the-job training and receive formal qualifications.

There’s money in training: Allan Wetherell, manager of printing and graphic programs at TAFE NSW, and Sue-Anne Brady from Australian Business Limited.

With Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), it is likely that many of these employees in the industry would already have a number of the necessary competencies required for each qualification, and that any remaining ones could be taught and assessed in the workplace. Wetherell pointed to the example of the inplant operation at law firm, Clayton Utz, where eight staff members were recently qualified without any of them having to attend TAFE.

Sue-Anne Brady from Australian Business Limited, a Government-contracted Apprenticeship Centre, also outlined the financial benefits that are available to the industry now that printing has been included on the National Skills Needs List (NSNL).

These include wage subsidies up to $13,000 for workers aged 30 or over who start an apprenticeship, payable to either the employer or employee depending on Award conditions, as well as exemptions from WorkCover premiums and payroll taxes. Apprentices can also receive wage top-ups (up to $2,000) as well as training fee vouchers, $800 to help buy a toolkit and even $100 off their vehicle registration.
While acknowledging that times are tough in the industry, Wetherell said that with the appropriate incentives and subsidies, training should be cost-neutral and might even return a small profit to companies.

"I'm hoping that the industry realises that there's buckets of money out there but they're just not using it," said Wetherell, adding that he was happy to come and talk to any potential candidates at their place of work "and make them an offer that will change their lives."

Contact allan.wetherell@tafensw.edu.au, phone 02 9217 4298