The Printing Industries Association endorses the move by the Berejiklian Government to scrap TAFE fees for up to 100,000 apprentices. The move will save young students up to $2,000. This will mean more apprentices enrolling in print qualifications, says the Printing Industries Association of Australia.

The decision has come after months and months of lobbying from the Printing Industries and after the Association has met regularly with senior officials at the NSW Department of Education and the Education Minister, Rob Stokes.
Paul Mitchell, Industrial Manager of the Printing Industries Association, met with Rob Stokes in June senior department officials mid-last year to discuss concerns.

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“The wheels of Government turn slowly”, said Macaulay. But our members and the Industry should be proud of its Association and the work we have done to win this policy outcome.

“Paul Mitchell has been instrumental in seeing this change through, he has opened doors where others could not get in,” noted Macaulay.

Mitchell says it was a team effort and industry feedback was the biggest driver behind this move.

“The Berejiklian Government has responded to the concerns of the printing industry as well as other industries.” This is a terrific announcement for industry,” said Mitchell.

The apprenticeship issue in the printing industry is mainly supply side issue as we raised with Government. We have dozens of businesses wanting to take young people on and give them a start, but very few wanting to start and even fewer who want to stay,” Mitchell advised.

The NSW Government’s announcement today goes a long way to addressing this.

Macaulay concludes by saying that a big value proposition of membership with the Industry’s Association is lobbying.

“This decision endorses and demonstrates the value that industry gets from being members of their Industry Association. A stronger printing association means stronger outcomes for the printing industry.”