The budget, unveiled on Tuesday, outlined details of the $588m National Workforce Development Fund, which aims to deliver 130,000 training places over four years.

Treasurer Wayne Swan said the budget was about “building a bigger and better trained workforce”.

“The centre piece of this budget is jobs, jobs, jobs,” he said.

The budget will deliver $100m worth of support for apprentices as well as a restructuring of the VET system.

Simon Cochaud (pictured), director at RMIT’s International Centre of Graphic Technology, approved of the new initiatives outlined in the budget.

“The $100m in funding to make apprenticeships more flexible using the CBC (Competency Based Completion) model and $500m over five years for investment in regional education with a focus on VET training is a welcome,” he told ProPrint.

He added that currently only 365 apprentices complete pre-press, printing and print finishing apprenticeships each year and that the changes should benefit industry, especially when combined with the development of a national apprentice system. 

While specific funding details regarding printing and pre-press training have not yet been outlined, Printing Industries Association national manager for learning and development Ian Walz agreed the budget should have positive connotations.

“There is definitely a skill shortage of newly trained printers in Australia,” he said.

“There has been a dramatic decrease in printers putting people through a particular trade, as they find it easier to just train someone in a smaller skill set for a particular job.

“The extra funding will hopefully help us refocus on getting back on track in terms of traineeships and apprenticeships,” he added.

Walz said print training possibilities were increasing with a number of private registered training organisations now providing options throughout Australia.

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