PIAA has launched a series of new awards in Queensland to recognise and encourage apprentices throughout their apprenticeship programmes. The inaugural Printing Industries’ Early Stage Apprenticeship Awards debut coincided with the LIA -Heidelberg Graduate of the Year Awards in Brisbane. The multi stage awards aim to increase the retention rate of apprentices by progressively recognising their efforts through their training period.
Recognised: The next generation of print industry leaders receive their awards
Mel Ireland, PIAA Queensland member services manager, is the driving force behind the awards drawing on her own experience as an apprentice. Ireland says, “Sometimes we have to look into the past to help us mould our future. Apprentices at all stages used to be recognised at an awards evening many years ago, but like a lot of things over time, changes occur and events such as these can go unsupported and disappear. “We need to ensure that the girls and guys that are establishing themselves with a trade in this industry are supported, encouraged, recognised and rewarded and we intend that the Printing Industries’ Early Stage Apprenticeship Awards is the way to do this.” The awards are open to all apprentice trades including prepress operators, printers, metal decorators, letterpress printers, digital printers, binders, finishers and mail house operators. “A lot has changed and is continuing to change in our industry, but one thing that I think is constant is the need for continuous training and the introduction of new blood to various fields in the printing arena,” Ireland adds. More than 120 people comprising employers and candidates from large Brisbane based companies and smaller regional companies attended the event, which was sponsored by Currie Group, Fuji Xerox and consultancy MEGT. Guest speaker Kellie Northwood, Executive Director of Two Sides Australia told the audience that the print industry is anything but dead, and was extolling what can be achieve with print. Candidates / Winners of the Stage 1 Printing Industries’ Early Stage Apprenticeship Awards Holly Engelmann (BB Print) Walter Bailey (Coastal Coasters) Bradley McAulliffe (Print Approach – Runner Up) Sarah Kennedy (Colorcorp – Winner) Candidates / Winners of the Stage 2 Award Printing Industries’ Early Stage Apprenticeship Awards Biannca Engelmann (BB Print) Jeremy Nichol (Nichol’s Printing) Kirsten Robinson (LEP Colour Printers) Brendan Moore (CPX – Runner Up) Shea Agnew (Visy Can – Winner) Candidates /Winners of the Stage 3 Award Printing Industries’ Early Stage Apprenticeship Awards Liam Afamasaga (Fergies Print & Mail) Murray Webster (Coaster Kings) Keith McInnes (Fergies Print & Mail) Tomas Ujhelyi (Platypus Graphics – Runner Up ) Jayd Kiely (APN Print – Winner) Candidates for the LIA Graduate of the Year Award Sarah Janson (HPD Creative) Jonathon Fox (Inprint – Winner) David Pyers (Designed to Stick) Scott Day (Inprint – Runner Up)
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