Queensland kids don't want to be printers

Students from Queensland turn their nose up at a career in printing and graphic arts.

According to the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts, the total enrolments for apprentices at the Southbank Institute for 2008 was 228, just over half of the total enrolments for 2007, which saw 442 students study at the institute.

"Apprenticeship numbers in Queensland's print industry have been declining," said a spokesperson.

Dwindling numbers are behind recent news of changes to print education in Queensland, which could move towards a theory-based course only.
"This decline in demand for training has meant that Southbank Institute has had to review how it delivers courses now and in the future," the spokesperson added.

A meeting will be held on 4 September to discuss the development of a skills strategy for the industry, involving representatives from Southbank Institute, DETA, Printing Industries Queensland and the Creative Industries Skills Council.

"Southbank Institute will continue to work with the printing industry to ensure training and skills development lead to a highly-skilled and globally competitive workforce," the spokesperson said.

In comparison, the number of students enrolled in printing and graphic arts at NSW TAFE has only declined by approximately 4.5 per cent, according to Allan Wetherell, program manager, printing and graphic arts.

"Overall the numbers ... have remained fairly steady over the past two years," he said.

Reasons for Queensland's staggering drop in enrolments is unknown, but Mark McCrindle, social researcher from McCrindle Research, believes that the printing industry is not adequately promoting itself to youth.

"I don't think they are doing enough," he said.

"When it comes to apprenticeships, many people say that Gen Y aren't interested in those traditional trades so we look to older and overseas workers when we have a whole TAFE industry to get young people into traditional trades [like printing]."