Page 66 - Print21 March-April 2020

Association News
News updates from the PVCA
Balancing the books Andrew Macaulay, CEO of the Print & Visual Communication Association,
Virus
Finally, I share my experience of living and working through the Sars and Bird Flu epidemics in Asia. It would behove all printers to consider a Wuhan virus plan for their place
of operations. Most print businesses have moderate levels of public interface.
What is not widely being considered, by our media, is that China is in the midst of the Northern Hemisphere flu season. We in the Southern Hemisphere have yet to
enter flu season. Thoughtful analysis from some of our medical bodies suggests that this is one of the reasons, despite large transit from China, Australia has not experienced any significant contagion.
The advice being followed
by business in Hong Kong and Macao, where they have largely avoided the Wuhan virus, is for all staff to regularly wash hands in soap and water,
and always after interacting with public. Staff should be reminded never to touch
their face (i.e. resist that urge to scratch your nose or rub your eyes). All businesses in Hong Kong and Macao have provided pump packs of hand sanitizer gel distributed around the premises, for both staff and customers to use. Most businesses provide all staff with a pocket bottle of hand sanitiser as well. All staff who feel unwell are required
to wear a face mask, leave the premises, and see a doctor. Staff are encouraged to meet customers telephonically, where possible.
Hong Kong and Macao lived through Sars and Bird Flu, and the populations and businesses are experienced at managing contagion risk. Sars caused significant disruption and fear, and lessons learned at that time mean the Wuhan virus has been so far managed in their stride by Hong Kong and Macao businesses.
If the virus starts to spread
in Australia, our businesses and community are not experienced at this contagion management. The advice above should assist most businesses manage the risk. 21
outlines the latest developments from the association.
The beginning of 2020 has seen a great
deal happen within PVCA and within our industry. Stuart
Fysh, the managing director
of The Label Factory in Perth has joined the PVCA Board as director representative from Western Australia. We welcome our west coast director.
Stuart is a long-term and active member and was recommended for the position by our previous Western Australian director, Anthony Pittaway. PVCA thanks Anthony for the exemplary service he provided our industry while he was on our board, and for his enthusiasm in promoting the visual communication sector.
PVCA has finalised the 2019 year-end results, pending audit sign off, which are immensely gratifying. The results are now with our auditor. This board, working with our finance manager, are to be commended for the focus they have put into the future of our industry association. We are now in a position to move forward on
a positive financial footing. I congratulate the board on this achievement.
As planned, with the orderly ongoing fine tuning of the association service delivery, two staff roles have been consolidated into the functions of other staff and of our external contractors. This has allowed us to re- allocate resources to a dedicated membership liaison staff. We have significantly expanded
the service operations provided by our industrial service. I encourage all members to use the dedicated IR hotline, and test the extent of services available.
Savage fires have disrupted large areas of NSW and Victoria, affecting many printers even in non-fire affected areas. The January February period in these states saw disruption to business
“Wearenowina position to move forward on a positive financial footing.
I congratulate the board on this achievement.”
– Andrew Macaulay, CEO, PVCA
sentiment, if not actual business. The fire affected regions will continue to face business downturn.
The association has been central to negotiations with state and federal government about delivery of disaster relief and business grants. The association was on
the ground in fire-affected areas, assisting members in January. The association was also a contributor to the SME disaster relief web facility. This followed PVCA consolidation, dissemination
and publication of all available disaster relief information, and ongoing update, which we sent directly to members and which Print21 kindly disseminated. Feedback to this multi-pronged response has been well received and has certainly allowed more comprehensive information to be deployed.
The economy in the south coast of NSW and in Gippsland
is at a standstill, and we expect many members operating within and into those areas to be facing an extended, severe, downturn. Your association stands ready to assist members.
New for 2020, your association has offered both an auto payment option for membership renewal, and one free entry into the National Print Awards programme for all members. The auto payment option has been well received, with approximately 70 per cent
of members taking this option. Entries to the NPAs are coming
in strongly, with early indications that members who have not participated previously are now engaging with this valuable industry award programme.
Awards
Our industry awards programme continues to be enhanced, and feedback from our members about judging and categories has been incorporated. Members will shortly receive a personal invitation from the awards sponsor, and international and local judges have been secured for both the state-based Print Industry Creativity Awards and the NPAs. In collaboration with Visual Connections, we have added two local judges, and we have co-located Queensland PICA with Visual Impact on the Gold Coast.
Training
The association’s continued focus on VET and apprentice lobbying, led by our president Walter Kuhn, has shown results, with positive resourcing announcements to be made in Queensland. Also, one PVCA director (Tom Eckersley) has been nominated for the Print and Graphic Arts Industry Reference Committee, which has direct impact on federal policy and funding in this important space.
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