TAFE Queensland Brisbane is at the forefront of the Future Print training program initiative tackling the skills shortage in the print industry, by attracting new apprentices into an accelerated training program aimed at creating a stronger and more advanced workforce for the future.
TAFE Queensland Brisbane was the first training provider to take on the Future Print program, a joint initiative between the Print Industries Association of Australia and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, with 11 apprentices signing up so far.
The project is still seeking businesses to help lead the project as heads of the industry, and workers who are keen to update their skills for the changing technologies that influence their jobs.
Print and signage team leader Kerry Emerson said the program offers a competency-based accelerated apprenticeship that can be completed in two and a half years rather than four. “Apprentices can come straight from school and undertake training as part of the Fee Free Training for Year 12 school leavers, or already be employed.
“Both new apprentices and existing employees are taking the opportunity to up-skill across a range of disciplines from prepress to print and finishing, and across a variety of industry sectors from digital, web and newspapers to commercial offset, labels and packaging, flexo and screen printing.”
TAFE Queensland Brisbane’s digital print media and signage teaching team hosted an industry luncheon at South Bank to celebrate the project’s milestones and for business partners involved in the program to meet and discuss upcoming key activities.
“We are looking forward to continually delivering high quality training so apprentices can develop current critical workplace capabilities,” Emerson said. “In turn, this skills acquisition will build upon the apprentice’s thinking skills to they can better problem solve in the workplace.”