Two Future Print apprentices, Jessica McAuley from Drum Print, Western Australia, and Sarah Kennedy from Colorcorp, Queensland, have taken out honours in their respective State Apprenticeship Awards.
Printing Apprentice Jessica McAuley was among the first apprentices who will complete training under the new competency-based progression model, topping off her achievements by winning the Lithographic Institute of Australia (LIA) WA Graduate of the Year.
Jessica’s boss Mark Banner says they are ‘over the moon’ with the progress she has made since signing up in January 2014. “If we could get all our apprentices competent to these standards, we’d be more than happy,” he says, adding that he is convinced that the way the new assessment system incentivises hard work by tying apprentice wages to the completion of competencies is positive for the industry and employers, and will also help retain good apprentices.
With help at work, and online monitoring from TAFE SA, Jessica has been able to complete the competencies almost as fast as her training team have been able to grade, assess and load the next series of tasks for her to complete. In fact, she’s actually surprised herself - “I didn’t think much about it time-wise – I just kept working hard and, next thing I knew, they were done,” she says, adding a vote of thanks to the team at work and at TAFE.
For their part, TAFE SA is also delighted, says Chris Dean. “Jessica is a gun, and she just demonstrates what you can achieve when you knuckle down and apply yourself.”
In recognition of this achievement, Jessica will be attending the next LIA Biennial conference, thanks to support from Heidelberg Australia, where she will be in the running for the Visual Connections – LIA National Graduate Scholarship Prize of $15,000 to further her education.
Sarah Kennedy, second stage Digital Print / Prepress apprentice with Colorcorp, is also a winner, taking out the Queensland LIA Award for First Stage Apprentice of the Year. Sarah started her training last July, tackling a range of tasks including prepress and graphic art, running and maintaining digital printers, assisting with cutting, slitting, weeding, collating and packing.
Colorcorp’s manufacturing manager, Heather McNichol, says she has proven to be a quick learner and diligent operator. “Sarah has set a perfect example of what an apprentice should strive to achieve, and Colorcorp sincerely congratulates her on her excellent achievement,” Heather says, adding that the company has also welcomed the new system of apprenticeship assessment, believing it is much more practical and beneficial to both employers and apprentices.
“Apprentices not only learn the theory and practical aspects of their work, but also what is expected and desired in a well-rounded and competent employee – like work ethic, initiative, time management and teamwork. We think this will result not only in apprentices becoming competent tradespeople, but also people who are able to lead, train and inspire others wishing to enter this industry.”
Sarah admits she was ‘hugely surprised’ to have been nominated for the Award, but is very proud to have added the accolade to her resume and grateful to TAFE Queensland, Future Print and Colorcorp for the opportunities she has been given.
“I am thoroughly enjoying my apprenticeship and believe competency-based progression provides the time, space and flexibility of learning apprenticeships were lacking even five years ago,” she says. “It’s a much broader, easier, more imaginative and practical way of gaining my qualification and the ability to progress at my own pace means I hope to complete my training in about two and a half years.”
The girls are just two of many apprentices supported by Future Print who have been nominated at Awards around the country this year, demonstrating the hard work and consistent effort being put in by these trainees and the effectiveness of the new competency-based progression model which has been piloted by Future Print.