The Sign & Print Career Connections initiative enjoyed its final major outing for the year in Sydney, where hundreds of students engaged with the team at the Sydney Careers & Employment Expo at Hordern Pavilion, Moore Park.

The expanded and improved 2024 program, which is hosted by Visual Connections, coordinated by Australian Schools Industry Partnership (AusSIP) has proven to be a success, travelling to careers expos in five states this year.

The program, which is designed to help attract new talent to the print, sign and graphics sector, was conceived more than 10 years ago and designed and piloted by Visual Connections and AusSIP in partnership with ASGA.

Earlier this year, it was expanded to include the entire print and graphic communications sector, when FESPA Australia, FPLMA, LIA and VMA came on board.

With a bright, new stand and handy take-home resource materials complementing on-stand advice and information from AusSIP, local TAFEs and RTOs, industry experts and apprentices, the program has connected with literally thousands of young people keen to find out more about industry careers, and there have been nearly 2000 hits to the Sign & Print Career Connections Online resource as students seek to find out more.

Sarah Moore, general manager of Visual Connections, said the Sydney event is proving, once again, that visual communications careers can be a career of choice for senior students considering their future.

“There is no more pressing issue in our sector than the need for new talent, but we know that ‘if you can’t see it, you can’t be it’,” Moore said.

“Sign & Print Career Connections is designed to make our often-overlooked sector visible, and to showcase the diverse and exciting range of careers which are available across creative, technical, practical, sales, administration and management areas in print, signage and visual communications.

“The response of students, parents, teachers and careers counsellors at the Sydney Careers & Employment Expo has once again proven that, when young people can see the options available, they respond very positively, with many following up via the Sign & Print Career Connections online or talking directly to training providers to explore training and apprenticeship opportunities,” Moore said.

Joining Tina Mavris and John Watters from AusSIP on the stand in Sydney were representatives from TAFE NSW, Try-A-Trade sponsors Bounce LED, Pozitive, Techie Tools and Prytec Solutions, and other industry volunteers.

Mavris said their expertise and passion, together with the new look stand and resource materials, has proven to be a ‘winning formula’ with students across the country.

“Having such an engaging display at these Careers Expos allows students to experience the excitement and diversity of the visual communications sector and helps to get them thinking about how they might apply their talents to the opportunities available in print, sign and graphics.”

“With such a huge market in NSW, we were run off our feet on both days, fielding hundreds of enquiries from students and engaging them in a range of industry-themed activities. At times, it was hard to fit everyone on the stand. It’s exciting,” Mavris said.

The AusSIP team also took part in the Girls Tech Day, held on Thursday, introducing hundreds of primary school aged girls to the industry, once again getting a very positive response from the girls, and their parents and teachers.

The Sign & Print Career Connections program is made possible with the cooperation of industry associations ASGA, FESPA Australia, FPLMA, LIA and VMA. It is generously supported by industry leading companies including major sponsors Amari Visual Solutions, Ball & Doggett, Cactus Imaging, Fujifilm Graphic Systems, Graphic Art Mart, Mulford Australia, ORAFOL, Pozitive Sign & Graphics Supplies and Sign-a-Rama, and partnering sponsors Böttcher, FPLMA, Hero Print, MacDirmid Graphic Solutions and Spicers.

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