Page 58 - Print21 July-Aug 2018 Magazine

Association news
News updates from the printing industry
PIAA turnaround
was, we have met with the Prime Minister, the opposition leader and most ministers and shadow ministers in the current government and opposition. Throughout the meetings we have pitched the industry as the largest manufacturer nationally, employing tens of thousands
of workers and supporting hundreds of thousands of workers in associated industries.
Advocacy for improving
the standard of training and qualification for apprentices, with more federal funding delivered for TAFE and apprenticeship programs; improving the financial support for technical transition; rebalancing of the industrial relations system; and energy prices have also been
focal points.
Our transformation continued this year with the successful absorption of the Packaging Council of Australia, broadening our potential stakeholder reach and in turn amplifying our advocacy and service offering. The year ahead promises to
be as exciting and pivotal as
the year that has been. The association will continue fiscal rationalisation, while developing new revenue opportunities and classes of sponsorship. We will also be presenting members new services and unique benefits
to membership, alongside a revamping of our industry leading Sustainable Green Print program.
A recent survey of members, seeking feedback on what progress they considered
the association was making, highlighted the following:
1. Sound and transparent financial management, even when the news may be bleak.
2. Professionalisation of the delivery of services.
3. Significant expansion of the voice of the industry.
4. Renewal and generational change at board level.
Thank you to the board, staff
and members whose invaluable feedback, direction and support has made this transition period successful. Please continue to stay in touch. Your voice and involvement shapes and directs your organisation. 21
Andrew Macaulay can be contacted at the PIAA on E: andrew.macaulay@piaa.org.au
nears completion
The PIAA held its 93rd AGM on June 29th. As I reflect on the first annual report I wrote for Printing Industries,
FY2016, and the commitment made to delivering a long needed and much-delayed turnaround, as well as transparent financial reporting; it is gratifying to
see that we are nearing the conclusion of a difficult but necessary process of renewal.
Over the past twelve months your board and professional staff have continued the urgently needed rationalisation of resources and restructure to deliver operating efficiency to your organisation.
It is a fact that the extent of change required, due to a decade- long failure to address the changing operating environment for both Association and industry, has incurred one-off restructuring costs that could, if the problem had been addressed earlier, have been absorbed in smaller bites. Sadly, we did not have that luxury, and urgent action was needed.
Your association
has rationalised office arrangements, whilst retaining member assets in key property investments and structured staff resources to utilise modern communication platforms and
“We are nearing the conclusion of a difficult but necessary process of renewal.
methods of service delivery.
We have also had to structure our resources within the consolidation of the industry itself. Due to mergers and acquisitions, many members today represent what would have been three, four or even five different memberships only two years ago. Refreshingly, we
Andrew Macaulay
After two years as the CEO of the peak industry body, Andrew Macaulay summarises his second AGM and financial results. He believes that the pain has now been taken, with the Association in a good position to move forward.
are starting to see the return of members who left us during the unrest of 2015.
We are now reliably delivering a broader range of Industrial Relations and Workplace Health and Safety services than the association has ever done in the past, with a swifter response time, and a significantly greater level of quality control. IR services are now provided through a dedicated call-centre, staffed
by highly trained staff. We have gone from four staff nationally, to eight FTEs in one centre, plus an industrial advocate.
Staff down but services up
We have also broadened and modernised services yet made significant efficiency gains. Services are now delivered by a staff team of six, down from 27. Following member feedback, these services are evolving and modernising. The National
Print Awards (NPAs) have
finally emerged as true national recognition by aligning the state- based PICA programme to feed ‘Best-of-State’ into a ‘National Best’ award assessment. This will empower our ‘Print to Parliament’ initiative, where we showcase the NPA winners to policy makers
at Parliament House Canberra, along with other industries.
Deficit slashed, IR boosted
During FY17 we have undergone a consolidation of costs and reclassification of our assets.
In both endeavours we have been successful, reducing our operating deficit by hundreds
of thousands of dollars and refining our accounting and asset management to better reflect
the changes in our industry. Rationalisation activities will continue into FY18 where we plan to bring operating costs and revenue closer to parity.
Sharpening our industrial relations services for members has been a key focus throughout the year. The new team’s approach has been to engage stake holders directly. Meeting and speaking with union and business representatives early to resolve disputes has delivered outcomes in a fast, fair and professional manner.
Alongside our new industrial relations team, we have increased our industry advocacy at federal and state levels. During the year that
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