Commitment to the print industry and hard work has paid off for two female Future Print apprentices in WA and Queensland, as they win their State Apprenticeship Awards. Jessica McAuley from Drum Print, Western Australia, and Sarah Kennedy from Colorcorp, Queensland, completed their training under the new Future Print competency progression model.
(l-r) Rob Bowling and Peter Scott from LIA WA, and Gordon Wilson, Future Print Advisor
McAuley is among the first apprentices to complete her training, topping off her achievements by winning the Lithographic Institute of Australia (LIA) WA Graduate of the Year. Mark Banner, McAuley’s employer, says they are over the moon with the progress she has made since signing up in January 2014. Banner says, “If we could get all our apprentices competent to these standards, we would be more than happy.” He says he is convinced that the way the new assessment system incentivises hard work by tying apprentice wages to the completion of competencies is positive for the industry and employers, and will also help retain good apprentices. McAuley says she has been able to complete the competencies almost as fast as her training team have been able to grade, assess and load the next series of tasks for her to complete. “I didn’t think much about it time-wise – I just kept working hard and, next thing I knew, they were done,” she says, adding a vote of thanks to the team at work and at TAFE. Chris Dean, TAFE SA spokesperson, says: “Jessica is a gun, and she just demonstrates what you can achieve when you knuckle down and apply yourself.”
Sarah Kennedy, second stage Digital Print/Prepress apprentice with Colorcorp
McAuley is looking forward to attending the next LIA Biennial conference, supported by Heidelberg Australia, where she will be in the running for the Visual Connections – LIA National Graduate Scholarship Prize of $15,000 to further her education. Sarah Kennedy, second stage Digital Print/Prepress apprentice with Colorcorp, is also a winner, taking out the Queensland LIA Award for First Stage Apprentice of the Year. Sarah started her training last July, tackling a range of tasks including prepress and graphic art, running and maintaining digital printers, assisting with cutting, slitting, weeding, collating and packing. Heather McNichol, manufacturing manager at Colorcorp, says Kennedy has proven to be a quick learner and diligent operator. McNichol says, “Sarah has set a perfect example of what an apprentice should strive to achieve, and Colorcorp sincerely congratulates her on her excellent achievement.” He says the company has also welcomed the new system of apprenticeship assessment, believing it is much more practical and beneficial to both employers and apprentices. McNichol says, “Apprentices not only learn the theory and practical aspects of their work, but also what is expected and desired in a well-rounded and competent employee – like work ethic, initiative, time management and teamwork. We think this will result not only in apprentices becoming competent trades people, but also people who are able to lead, train and inspire others wishing to enter this industry.” Kennedy admits she was hugely surprised to have been nominated for the award, but is proud to have added the accolade to her resume and grateful to TAFE Queensland, Future Print and Colorcorp for the opportunities she has been given. “I am thoroughly enjoying my apprenticeship and believe competency-based progression provides the time, space and flexibility of learning apprenticeships were lacking even five years ago,” she says. “It is a much broader, easier, more imaginative and practical way of gaining my qualification and the ability to progress at my own pace means I hope to complete my training in about two and a half years.”
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