Print Side Up was founded by the Melbourne City Mission in May 2008, recently locating to the mission’s purpose-built ‘youth enterprise hub’ in the suburb of Braybrook.
The program allows people aged 18-25 to develop skills in graphic design and screen printing, as well as putting its wares – which include t-shirts, aprons, hoodies and conference bags – up for sale.
Program manager Steve Maillet told ProPrint the program had experienced a “rebirth” since setting up its workshop at the back of the Braybrook hub.
Maillet said the initiative had already enjoyed “a strong response” to its Christmas catalogue, as well as starting to attract corporate clients such as OPSM. This program also set up a stall at the Highpoint shopping centre over the weekend to show off its designs.
Since its inception, Print Side Up has mentored 50 young people, some of whom have gone on to jobs in the printing industry.
While the program uses a manual screen printing system involving a ‘four-colour carousel’, Maillet said it has been useful in helping its students gain “key employability skills”.
“What we’re really trying to do now is secure key partnerships with printing firms who could take on some of these people for work experience or even apprenticeships, with our support, of course,” Maillet said.
Maillet – who does not have a printing background – said the idea to set up a printing business came from a demand for something that combined labour-oriented skills with creative skills.
“So many people come in and want to work with graphic design software and come up with ideas for logos and things that would appeal to a customer base. Other young people like spending time in the workshop,” he said.
“So those with an interest in graphic design and creating art are matched with people who want to use their hands and get skills training in an area where there are a lot of work opportunities.”
The program secured the services of James Bryant from t-shirt printing company Panic Clothing to oversee its screen printing training, as well as a graphic designer.
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