The future of industry training across Australia is set to get a new, secure focus following the decision by the Printing Industries Association of Australia to establish a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) for the printing industry.
Printing Industries President Susan Heaney said the Board saw the move as essential for the provision of key skills in the industry and had also endorsed the appointment of a person “of the highest calibre” to manage its establishment.
“We cannot allow the future of printing industry training to remain in peril and subject to the changing policies of various governments,” she said.
“After the recent decision by RMIT in Victoria the industry wants certainty, vision, greater co-ordination and the ability to provide the kind of training required for its ongoing development. This is particularly the case in an increasingly multi-channel communication world where opportunities are being created but new skills demanded.”
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| Joan Grace |
Ms Heaney said she was delighted to announce the appointment of New Zealand’s Joan Grace to head the RTO as General Manager, Education, Employment and Training.
“Joan is currently the Chief Executive of PrintNZ the peak industry association for the New Zealand printing industry. She is also Chief Executive of the Communications and Media Industry Training Organisation (CMITO).
“She revolutionised training for the New Zealand industry and created a model that is the envy of organisations locally and internationally,” she said.
Printing Industries CEO Bill Healey said the appointment was a major coup for Australian industry training and for Printing Industries’ current campaign to ensure Victorian and Tasmanian printing companies were not disadvantaged by the RMIT’s decision to exit from print training.
“Joan has accepted a contract with us and will be relocating to Victoria where she will be based in our Melbourne office,” he said.
“Her initial role will be to establish the national RTO on behalf of the printing industry and to ensure that industry training in Victoria is maintained.
“Joan will also manage the establishment of the Victorian operation and provide leadership in the development of a national training function as well as working with the broader industry to provide better co-ordination and consolidation of education and training issues.”
Mr Healey confirmed that Printing Industries was “fast-tracking” the RTO establishment.
“We are in the final stages of negotiations to purchase an existing organisation allowing us to fast-track this project. This is a critical need of our Victorian and Tasmanian members who find themselves in a situation today that may possibly be repeated in other states across the country tomorrow.
“We are continuing to have discussions with the Victorian Government on achieving our objective to fill gaps in apprentice training brought about by RMITs departure from its printing industry training role,” he said.
Mr Healey said Ms Grace had established relationships with a large number of key industry partners operating on both sides of the Tasman and an outstanding track record in industry training.
“This RTO project is one of the most important and far reaching decisions of Printing Industries in recent times and will help redefine our industry’s future,” he said.
Printing Industries Association of Australia
www.printnet.com.au
