ASGA (Australian Sign & Graphics Association), is encouraging all business owners and staff based in NSW that have been working in the sign industry for at least two years but are not yet formally qualified, to consider a fee-free Certificate III qualification under TAFE NSW’s Trade Pathways Program. This can potentially turn pure vocational experience into Cert III recognition.
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| TAFE NSW's Trade Pathways can turn non-formally qualified signmakers into Cert III holders - fee-free |
This training is subsidised by the NSW Government. The enrolment window has recently been pushed back to 31 August 2022 and the completion date for the course to 30 June 2023. As there are no guarantees that the program will be available after this time, ASGA is urging those considering the opportunity to act now.
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| ASGA's Damian Nielsen |
“We know a lot of the workforce in signage around Australia may not have technical qualifications. What ASGA is working towards across Australia is to work with the training organisations to have RPL for registered Certificate III courses. TAFE NSW’s Trade Pathways Program is a start and we are hopeful of a positive take-up of this initiative as it will guide us for what we can do for the rest of the nation,” says Damian Nielsen, ASGA Education Sub-Committee Chair.
“If you have been in the industry for a period of time and you have the skills, you can then be assessed on those, and at the end of the day you are going to walk out with a Cert III. What does that mean for you? If you own a business, you can employ other apprentices. If you work in the industry, you’ll have a qualification which goes on your resume which makes you more employable.
“What an increase in Cert III qualified workers means for the sign industry as a whole is a lift in standards of work practice, a higher number of qualified workers and greater recognition of signage as a skilled trade, all of which are of benefit to all that operate within the industry.”
For more information and eligibility criteria, visit https://www.tafensw.edu.au/trade-pathways .
For over forty years, the Australian Sign & Graphics Association has been the representative body for the sign and graphics industry in Australia. It covers the whole spectrum of signmakers, engravers, sign installers, signwriters, graphic designers, sign educators and apprentices, as well as sign industry suppliers.
