Printing and Graphic Arts in WA Today

Recent years have seen this industry in a state of transition. Emerging print technologies and consumer trends towards digital platforms have created a rapidly changing environment, presenting both challenges and opportunities.

​This has seen businesses needing to shift towards more innovative ways of operating, adopting new technologies, broadening product offerings and placing greater focus on customising service delivery, business development and marketing.

This vibrancy and the shift in skills are clearly demonstrated by this interview of a young graduate interested in all aspects of the business.
 
Jessica’s story portrays the challenges younger people face when making career choices and the rewards of pursuing a trade.  

Read our 2019 Printing and Graphic Arts Industry Snapshot.

Our Industry Partners

FutureNow collaborates with organisations across the printing and graphic arts sector with CEO, Julie Hobbs, represented on the National Printing and Graphic Arts Industry Reference Committee through her involvement with the Design Institute of Australia.  In particular, we wish to thank the following partner organisations who maintain representation on our Board and Industry Advisory Network:

• Print and Visual Communication Association
  
• Advance Press 
  
• Discus On Demand 
  
• Scott Print 
• Quality Press 
• North Metropolitan TAFE 
  
• Spectra Training 

Current Projects

Promoting Printing Industry to Schools
FutureNow has developed resources to shift the public perception of the printing industry and provide businesses, schools and career advisors with resources to draw talent into the sector. In a drive to ensure workplace succession, industry has identified this as a key strategy to promote viable career options to a younger demographic.

Read our interview of a Digital Print Machinist for insight into the printing and graphic arts industry.

Training and Education

Interstate providers,  Spectra Training, deliver apprentice training in Western Australia for students undertaking vocational education and training printing qualifications, combining on-the-job training and theory-based study through an employer contract.

North Metropolitan TAFE is the local provider of VET qualifications, offering a traineeship in Certificate II in Printing and Graphic Arts, as well as Certificate III in Print Communications and Certificate IV in Printing and Graphic Arts.

FutureNow works with stakeholders across the training and education landscape, and has a formal role to play in the development of vocational education and training to meet industry needs.

​ICP Printing and Graphic Arts Training Package

Training package qualifications are developed through a process of national consultation with industry. They are occupational skills standards against which training delivery and assessment of competency can take place.

​FutureNow works with our industry partners across Western Australia to provide current industry advice into the development and review of training package products. 

• Access the current ICP Printing and Graphic Arts Training Package.
  
• Read the current Industry Brief for the ICP Printing and Graphic Arts Training Package.
• Learn about the Australian Industry and Skills Committee.
• Learn about the National Print and Graphic Arts Industry Reference Committee.
• Learn about PwC Skills for Australia, the Skills Service Organisation for the Printing and Graphic Arts industry.

Current Printing and Graphic Arts Training Projects

PwC’s Skills for Australia produces schedules of training package work planned for completion across a four year period. This document identifies skills gaps and emerging skills needs within industry. Skills for Australia has released their draft Industry Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work for the 2018-19 financial year. 

• Industry Skills Forecast and Proposed Schedule of Work 2019.

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Restructure of Printing and Graphic Arts qualifications 2019
PwC’s Skills for Australia is making the changes to the Printing and Graphic Arts qualifications to update the structure of qualifications to better align skills to the job roles in the industry and reduce duplication of units of competency as a result of the 2015 consolidation of qualifications.  Training Package components are being updated to reflect significant advancements in technology in the industry.  Skills Sets are being created to address limited options for qualified individuals to gain skills in additional specialist areas and allow for upskilling and reskilling.

Cross Sector Projects 
The Australian Industry and Skills Committee has endorsed a number of cross sector projects to create flexible and transferable training components that will benefit industries, learners and the broader vocational education and training (VET) sector. These projects aim to reduce the levels of complexity in the VET system, improve mobility through recognition of qualifications between occupations and address the issue of low enrolments in some courses. 

• Access the current cross sector projects.

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Apprenticeships and Traineeships

​Apprenticeships and traineeships provide a way to combine training with a job, enabling the student to work towards a nationally recognised qualification whilst earning a wage.  A number of printing and graphic arts qualifications may be completed as an apprenticeship or a traineeship. 

Access the current list of traineeships and apprenticeships available in Western Australia.

​VET Delivered to Secondary Students

FutureNow works with industry to provide current advice on the suitability of vocational printing and graphic arts qualifications for delivery to secondary students. This advice is collated and updated annually into the VET Qualifications Register for Secondary Students by the Department of Training and Workforce Development. 

Access the current VET Qualifications Register for Secondary Students.