Graham Thomas from the PIAA’s mentoring program said the organisation would be keen to repeat the 12-month program, which he said bolstered competitiveness in the region.

He told ProPrint the association would aim to “get it off the ground” in 2013, as long as the industry again falls in the sector covered by the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology.

Employees from nine printing companies took part in the 12-month training program run by PIAA-preferred training company Skilled Force.

[Related: Facebook photos]

Graduates included workers from Multi-Colour Corporation, AB Note Australia, CCL Clear Image Labels, PrintSkill, Printak and Worldwide Online Flinders Street Adelaide.

Skilled Force director Wayne McDougall said the training included a theoretical element and follow-up sessions on the job at the trainees’ company.

He said: “It’s a very competitive industry and there’s a lot of pressure on companies. We are finding that this program is quite popular and very important in improving a company’s internal processes for their survival.”

[Related: more training news]

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