This week the Australian Furniture Association and the Multi-Industry Collaboration Group (MICG), made up of the Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce, Boating Industry Association of Victoria, Caravanning Industry Association of Victoria, and Specialised Textiles Association celebrated the achievements of ninety-six students who participated in the Take A Seat With Us program delivered by Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, Chadstone, Victoria.
The significance of this achievement aligns with the very real skills needs of our collective industries and the commitment to addressing the skills shortage across manufacturing sectors through a variety of educational pathways. The process of working together, to achieve significant outcomes for industries that collectively employ over 10 thousand Victorians, has been rewarding and demonstrates how we can work together to consolidate valuable resources.
Just last month the AFA hosted the Grow. Promote. Protect Forum for 2024 where we discussed the changes that are occurring in our collective industries and how a model of collaboration will be the key to any future success if we want to meet State and Commonwealth policies to deliver a ‘Future Made in Australia’.
Just to focus attention on where the newfound skills of our graduates will be applied, the AFA spoke of the intrinsic connections we all have with ‘upholstered’ products on a daily basis.
Each day we wake (and hopefully stretch) on upholstered mattresses. Probably travel in upholstered cars or sit on upholstered public transport seats.
Sit down to work on upholstered office chairs. We’ll likely sit on upholstered sofas after dinner tonight and maybe head off for the weekend in an upholstered plane, or an upholstered caravan, to do some fishing in an upholstered boat, or sit on the banks of a river on an upholstered deck chair under an upholstered umbrella.
Every environment where we work, rest and play has an element of upholstery, trimming or textile fabrication. Education. Health. Defence. Mining. Hospitality. Travel. Business. Government. Home.
In collaboration with the five allied associations, the MICG partnered to develop a hands-on program that nurtures the skills of aspiring professionals in upholstery, trimming or textile fabrication of newly manufactured products, repair and reinvent aftercare services.
During the short time the program has been active, we have learned that reuse and repair markets are also growing in leaps and bounds due to the Nation’s desire to transform to a more circular economy to meet sustainability goals. We cannot afford to keep importing ‘waste’ in the form of poor-quality disposable products, so we need a workforce that can extend the life of well designed, compliant products that are durable and fit for purpose.
‘We are pleased that the program has delivered the necessary skills training to 6 cohorts of committed and dedicated students’ and were excited to learn about their experiences, from lawyers, architects, chefs and more, transitioning to our industries,’ says AFA CEO, Patrizia Torelli.
‘We have received tremendous positive feedback and our ultimate goal is to facilitate a smooth transition for graduates into mature age apprenticeships, which are in high demand across all five industries.’
The program’s achievements are:
- An Industry-led innovative training taster program for Upholsters/Trimmers/Textile fabrications developed to meet industry needs.
- A model of strong cross collaboration across five industry bodies sharing the same post-pandemic labour shortage.
- A program delivered to 96 students and currently 450+ expressions of interest, indicating high demand.
- A waitlist of over 40 pre enrolment students ready to go if additional funding can be secured.
- ~20% graduates transitioned into employment.
- 38 Students now enrolled to undertake further Certificate training at Holmesglen Institute.
Congratulations to all involved.
The Take A Seat With Us Project is a Victorian government ‘workforce training innovation’ funded initiative.
The outcomes of this program have been significant and innovative. Whilst we have been able to support the training of 96 individuals, we have a further 453 expressions of interest for this program. The intention is to make this program available to anyone who wants to enjoy an exciting career with one or more of the 5 industries represented here, but we know the skills are also easily transferable to other industries such as transport and aerospace. Apprenticeships are the pathway for tremendous growth and skills building and we’ll do our best to make this happen.
If you would like more information please feel free to reach out at care@theafa.asn.au.