PVCA says Skills Priority List is flawed and must include print and related trade roles

The Print and Visual Communication Association (PVCA) has released an industry skills survey in support of their continued lobbying efforts with the government to reinstate the nine (9) Awards into the Australian Apprenticeships Priority List (AAPL), launching the PVCA Skills Priority List Survey.

Open to all in the industry; the survey results will assist the peak body in advising the government.   As part of the undertaking to bring apprentices back into the prioritisation of government, the PVCA is seeking to reverse the erroneous position held by the government and its agencies about the skills & training needs and requirements of the industry.

Each year the National Skills Commission (NSC) undertakes labour market research that forms the basis of its Skills Priority List (SPL). The NSC currently determine that there is no shortage and a soft to moderate demand across all the trade-based roles and occupations in the print and related services industries.

The SPL informs the government of thinking about skilled migration and VET, among other things. The results of the SPL flow directly into the creation of the AAPL, which determines the level of government prioritisation, support and incentives for apprentices and their employers. Over the last two (2) years, the NSC modelling and outcomes of the SPL have resulted in printing industry apprenticeships being moved off the AAPL, and the PVCA has heavily criticised the Department across evaluation processes and consultation methods.

“Put simply, the current industry outcomes from the NSC’s data collection are incorrect. The PVCA is highly critical of the erroneous methodology behind the Skills Priority List. Identifying skills demands based on internet job vacancies and without industry consultation or input is ultimately flawed and against government commitments made to industry bodies. This approach has resulted in skewed data outcomes for our industry. The approach taken in the SPL is unedifying and results in preferential treatment towards certain skills and occupations. I cannot appeal more to members and industry to please support this survey and assist getting your voice into government to have this decision reversed for 2023,” said Kellie Northwood, Chief Executive Officer, PVCA.

“From discussions with businesses over the last few years, it is clear that most find advertising jobs via online recruitment platforms to be ineffective in attracting new entrants into the industry. However, to change the views of the government and its agencies, we need the data to ‘bang the drum’. The feedback, data and results collected from this survey will inform our discussions with Government on this and related issues and help to make positive changes for the industry. The survey is succinct, and to the facts required for government and the departments, I urge all to get behind this; a few short minutes will assist greatly in our arguments,” commented Charles Watson, GM – IR, Policy & Governance, PVCA.

To submit your response, go to:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PVCA_Skills_Survey