Page 78 - Print 21 Sep-Oct 2019

Association News
News updates from the printing industry
Print: an evolving industry
The print and visual communication sector continues to innovate, embrace new technologies,
and redefine our dynamic industry. PrintEx 2019 was
a wonderful showcase of
this innovation. The theme throughout the trade show was about the opportunities available through new technologies, and collaboration between suppliers and producers to deliver complete visual communication solutions.
These themes also played out in the Special General Meeting
of the industry association, as the peak body sought member imprimatur for changes that look to our industry’s future, and also in the National Print Awards, which were an exhilarating opportunity to celebrate innovation and excellence.
Your industry association continues to evolve with our industry, supporting and reflecting these changes in
the commercial landscape.
The merger of the Packaging Council of Australia into the Printing Industries Association of Australia reflected the convergence of production technology in print and packaging sectors, and the result that many businesses had expanded into broader operations. It was inevitable that this merger would result in a new name for the 130-year- old peak body. Name change had previously occurred in the association’s venerable history, as the environment in which our industry operates had modernised – plus ça change.
Feedback from members
is that the aspect of design
and the service of delivering commercial success to customers are increasingly central to their business proposition, and how they differentiate themselves in a highly competitive marketplace. Print and packaging sit within
a broader communication
mix, which includes digital
and post, and this makes our industry the hub of the visual communication space.
Priority to simplify industrial relations: Andrew Macaulay, CEO, PVCA
The PIAA is now the PVCA — Print and Visual Communication Association. CEO Andrew Macaulay explains the rationale behind the decision, and highlights the myriad other activities the association is currently driving.
Hence, the evolved name of your association, approved unanimously by members at the Special General Meeting, is now the Print and Visual Communication Association.
The name embraces our future. Retaining our existing logo retains our traditions and standards.
The National Print Awards reflected this evolution of
our industry. With stunning entries, and in record numbers, from across all aspects of the visual communications sector, the emphasis was on design and creativity. We saw product that used the latest technology, and techniques blended with sophisticated design.
For the first time, the judging panel was made up of international experts in the fields of print, design, packaging and publishing.
The judging panel used
an objective measure to independently assess each
entry, with the goal of letting Australian producers of visual communication product compare themselves to an international standard. It is our intention that this process will allow feedback to be provided to all entries.
A survey has been sent to all participants seeking guidance on preferred categories for the 2020 round of print awards.
Nearly 400 industry members attended the National Print Awards, socialising and celebrating each other’s success. The lifetime achievement
award went to Stephen Penfold, founder of Kwik Kopy Australia, and he gave a passionate and inspiring acceptance speech. The young achiever award
went to Christina Condos from Labelhouse. With young people like that in our industry, our future is bright. Both of these awards are supported by our industry superannuation fund, Media Super, and it was great
to see the chairman Gerard Noonan at the awards dinner, along with many members of his national support team.
I extend warm congratulations to Visual Connections for the productive PrintEx trade show and forum. The ongoing collaboration between Print and Visual Communication Association and Visual Connections continues to provide a strong face for our industry, and two strong trade shows in PrintEx and PacPrint.
The Print and Visual Communication Association will be delivering Print2Parliament! again
this year, on the evening of 23 October, in the Mural Hall in the Australian Parliament House. P2P is
the pinnacle of our industry awards programme, where, as industry investors and employers, we showcase the visual communication sector. Last year we had 75 MPs and Senators attend, and there was positive engagement
with all major parties and the cross benches. We encourage
all members to attend this year’s event in Canberra. Collectively you are the largest manufacturing employer group in the country, and our policy makers need to see the strength of SMEs.
The PVCA is the industrial association of the visual communication sector. Human resources advice and industrial relations counsel is the primary tangible service to members. The value delivered far outweighs membership dues.
The intangible service that your association provides is the voice of the industry in lobbying.
As I write, we are currently in ongoing dialogue with the ACCC vis a vis the Australia Post base mail rate review. We are also in discussions with all State Governments and the Federal Government about
the delivery of VET, including funding and curriculum structures. At a federal level
we continue to advocate for energy cost reduction and improved reliability, and we are prosecuting an argument for changing write down periods on capital investment.
It remains a priority for PVCA to simplify the industrial relations landscape. While big business has mechanisms to deal with the overheads of the Fair Work Act, the vast majority of the visual communication sector are in fact SMEs who do not have this luxury. The PVCA provides a complete industrial relations service, from
hiring, through counselling and exit processes, and your membership covers you in the Commission if matters go that far. We encourage all members to call the PVCA IR hotline when hiring, to check that you are up to date on processes
and latest contract forms. Our members’ portal provides a complete library of resources, including pro forma contracts. If you need something and cannot immediately find it, please call us, and we will assist. 21
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