Visual Connections partners with ASGA and AusSIP to pioneer industry careers program

Higher apprentice numbers and a growing awareness of industry career opportunities are just some of the positive outcomes of a pioneering program led by Visual Connections and the Australian Sign & Graphics Association (ASGA), with the Australian Schools Industry Partnership (AusSIP) in 2019. And, with the initiative set to expand from 2020, the future is looking bright.

Sign & Display apprenticeships in NSW were up 21.28% in 2019, with ten additional apprentices signing up for TAFE training. This lift in numbers is just one outcome of a partnership between Visual Connections, ASGA and the education liaison team at AusSIP.

Peter Harper, CEO of Visual Connections, says the partnership – which falls under Visual Connections’ Academy initiatives – has now been piloted for a full year in New South Wales, with a focus on the sign and display industry, with very positive results.

“It’s no secret that attracting young people, training them, and retaining them, is a major challenge across the entire sector,” said Peter. “Visual Connections is committed to supporting the future sustainability of the industry, and one of our key areas of focus is attracting young people to the industry and ensuring they have access to the training they need to build their careers.”

For Michael Punch, General Manager of ASGA, it is also about revealing the wonders and opportunities inherent in sign and graphics careers.

“So many students, parents and careers advisors are simply unaware of the industry and its variety,” he said. “They walk daily through shopping malls, festooned with all forms of signage, yet while plumbers, carpenters and electricians are trades they’re very familiar with in their homes and workplaces, it’s a different story with sign makers and installers.”

In 2019, AusSIP’s Tina Mavris and John Watters ran the initiative in a number of NSW schools to give years 10 and 11 students the opportunity to learn about the industry through visits to Ultimo TAFE and ASGA members who, Michael said, have been keen to open their doors to give students a ‘hands-on’ experience and share their passion for the industry. A large number of students also attended PrintEx19 in Sydney in August as part of the program.

“For many of the young people we connect with, their contact with us is the first time they’ve ever heard about sign, display and print – let alone considered a career in the sector,” said John.

“Regardless of whether they are creative, IT-focused, engineering or construction-minded, or simply interested in a varied and challenging career, students who have the opportunity to see what sign, display, engraving, wide-format and other print businesses do every day, and to put that in the context of the many and varied industries which rely on those services, are invariably amazed and impressed. And, importantly, the ‘hands-on’ nature of this program demonstrates that there really are jobs in the industry which are both available and desirable.”

Issues around careers and training are, of course, complex, and recruitment into training is just one outcome, John explained, acknowledging that the Sydney pilot is just the start of what is likely to be a very long process.

“It’s not enough for students to be convinced about their career direction. Parents, teachers and vocational counsellors all play an important role in helping young people select their post-secondary training, and must be part of any education process,” he pointed out.

“Close liaison with TAFEs and other RTOs is also vital to ensure that there are clear training pathways available. With different systems and multiple providers in each State, that’s also a complex process and one that takes time to work through.

“What is great, however, is that Visual Connections and ASGA have identified a long-standing challenge for the industry, and they’re doing something positive about it.”

As well as improving overall awareness, building relationships with schools, industry and training providers, the Sydney pilot has achieved notable success this year in increasing the number of registrations in the Sign & Display TAFE course for 2020.

Particularly pleasing, said Peter, is that five of the new apprentices – half the intake – were girls, a result which represents a doubling of female apprenticeships in this category in 2019.

“It’s always pleasing to see young women take up opportunities in our industry, and we’re absolutely delighted to see the number of girls starting these apprenticeships growing to near parity with the boys,” said Peter.

Given the success of the NSW pilot, Peter and Michael say their organisations are keen to continue the partnership and to expand the program from 2020, both to other states in Australia and into different sectors of the industry, with new initiatives to be announced soon.

“Visual Connections believes there is no greater investment that we can make in the future of our industry than in equipping young people to become the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “We look forward to expanding this successful program across the country and the industry as we seek to support a sustainable future for the sector.”

To find out how your business can be involved in the program contact [email protected], or to find out more about AusSIP, go to www.aussip.com.au or watch the video made at PrintEx19.