Industry supplier association Visual Connections has donated $45,000 to support the digital print training centre at Holmesglen Institute, Victoria’s leading vocational training institute.
“On behalf of the Visual Connections members, I am pleased to confirm our support for a training facility that will promote the industry’s digital technologies in a wide array of applications, across all sectors,” said Mitchell Mulligan, president Visual Connections.
The board of Visual Connections voted unanimously in favour of the donation.
“This support is obviously greatly appreciated, but it’s much more than that," says Holmesglen Institute’s Robert Black, program manager printing. "It’s indicative and recognition of the Visual Connections Board commitment to engaging the whole community through education and training pathways. As an industry, we must engage schools and Holmesglen Institute has made a commitment to do this on behalf of the industry."
Mulligan says Visual Connections is committed to working towards a sustainable print industry and part of that commitment means supporting new industry training initiatives. “This is part of a wider education strategy from Visual Connections and additional to its continued support of industry promotional campaigns through TSA Ltd and its support of other industry initiatives and bodies such as Women in Print, the LIA-Visual Connections National Scholarship Prize, ANZFTA, NZSDA, ASGA and the NSW TAFE training awards.”
“Holmesglen is very happy to be included in the above list of industry representative groups and is currently actively promoting its pathways programs, Certificate II and III apprenticeships to the schools,” says Black. “The Visual Connections Board and members are to be commended for their vision and support.”
Mulligan adds: “As vendors, our members are heavily invested in the training needs and outcomes of the print and sign industry and we are thrilled to be able to support this vital initiative. We are especially pleased that Holmesglen Institute has a long-term goal to actively engage schools through pre-apprenticeship, VET in schools, VCAL and year 9-10 taster programs. This dovetails with the recent partnership announcement of REA Australia and Visual Connections to work together to promote the graphics and sign industries through the FI in Schools Programme and other REA programmes.”