FutureNow – Creative and Leisure Industries Training Council Inc
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Printing and Graphic Arts

Printing and graphic arts is one of the largest manufacturing sectors in Australia, encompassing paper, publishing and graphic communications, printing, packaging, print support services and an onset of 3D print. It is a dynamic, exciting, complex and multifaceted industry servicing all parts of the economy with technological advancements refining systems and increasing business capability. This translates to a shifting workforce reliant on capabilities across multiple machines, software applications, design and production phases, as well as customer focused front of house sales and marketing.

Printing and Graphic Arts in WA 

As a result of rapid technological and market changes, the printing and graphic arts workforce is undergoing continual readjustment.  Traditional pre-press and technical printing skills are still in demand but fewer workers are required.  The technical workforce has greater capacity as it is freed up by innovations that improve speed and efficiency.  Employment opportunities are emerging with a potential broadening of the services offered by this sector but the skills mix will be different.

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 current 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. 
  • Current ICP Printing and Graphic Arts Training Package.
  • Industry Brief for the ICP Printing and Graphic Arts Training Package.
  • Australian Industry and Skills Committee.
  • National Skills Commission (NSC)
  • National Print and Graphic Arts Industry Reference Committee.
  • 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 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.
​
Restructure of Printing and Graphic Arts qualifications 2019

In 2019, PwC’s Skills for Australia made changes to the Printing and Graphic Arts qualifications to 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 were updated to reflect significant advancements in technology in the industry.  Skills Sets were 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.
​

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.

Industry News:
  • 03.09.2020 - TRMC partners with paper association to defend print
  • 14.08.2020 - Coles lashed for abandoning print catalogues
  • 21.07.2020 - Bauer closes eight titles including Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and Instyle
  • 20.07.2020 - News Corp resumes printing three of Sydney’s community newspapers
  • 9.07.2020 - Adding Value in Print: Customising to individual needs
  • 9.07.2020 - Industrial printer market in A/NZ in decline: IDC
  • 8.07.2020 - ACM announces plans to close four regional print centres
  • 1.07.2020 - Can the Federal Government's $50 million regional media bailout package save community newspapers?
  • 25.06.2020 - Printers speak at Rebuild Together webinar
  • 18.06.2020 - TRMC pushes for JobKeeper extension
  • 18.06.2020 - Bauer has left the building. What next for magazines in Australia?
  • 16.06.2020 - SAV nearly as hard to find as a loo roll in a pandemic
  • 21.05.2020 - Bauer says subscriptions to its magazines have surged by over 60%
  • 11.05.2020 - Downturn, coronavirus force Sydney Binding to close
  • 6.05.2020 - Australia’s magazine industry in crisis as Bauer Media folds seven titles
  • 29.04.2020 - Bauer to make 70 staff redundant as it suspends print titles
  • 24.04.2020 - Almost 4000 sign Bring Back Print petition
  • 20.04.2020 - ‘Buy Local’ and ‘In-home Media Campaign’
  • 15.04.2020 - A new regional media bailout package has been announced — will it be enough to survive COVID-19?
  • 14.04.2020 - Dozens of Australian newspapers stop printing as coronavirus crisis hits advertising
  • 8.04.2020 - Rent relief available for printers in COVID times
  • 8.04.2020 - Coleman making masks on Massivit
  • 3.04.2020 - TRMC successfully negotiates COVID-19 relief with Australia Post
  • 3.04.2020 - Crowdsourcing 3D printers set to create essential PPE for Australian hospitals
  • 1.04.2020 - This changes everything – industry thrilled with $1500
  • 1.04.2020 - News Corp suspends 60 community print titles
  • 31.03.2020 - Nine suspends some print sections, and shakes up newspaper homepages during COVID-19 crisis
  • 31.03.2020 - Wollongong Uni begins 3D printing protective equipment for health workers
  • 27.03.2020 - Printers seeing business downturn in virus time
  • 26.03.2020 - Regional newspapers closing, fears for metros
  • 25.03.2020 - STIMULUS: $100,000 cashback for printers on BAS, $150,000 instant asset write-off, 50% instant depreciation deduction, Government loan guarantee scheme, Help with apprentice wages
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