Packaging education

The Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) has bolstered its core activities in training and education for the packaging industry with the signing of an agreement for training administration and cooperation with the Australian Management Academy (AMA), a registered training organisation accredited by the Department of Education & Training.

As the demand for packaging technologists in Australia remains high, there is an obvious need to elevate the skills base of the packaging industry to ensure it remains globally competitive in these difficult economic conditions. In addition, the increased workload and knowledge requirements surrounding the ‘green era’ in packaging are driving demand for education and training.

The AIP is the only source of internationally recognised formal education training in packaging in Australia with its long-standing Diploma in Packaging Technology and Certificate in Packaging courses. The AIP’s flagship course is the Diploma in Packaging Technology, a degree-level course developed to provide in-depth understanding of the packaging industry aimed at technologists and managers whose jobs have a packaging focus. The Diploma in Packaging Technology is an internationally recognised qualification for those wishing to pursue a career in the packaging industry or for those who are already in the industry and who wish to extend their knowledge and expertise. It has been offered by the AIP continuously since 1980 and has an exemplary record of successful students.

The Certificate in Packaging has a broad appeal, from people who are embarking on a career in packaging to more established delegates who may be working in fields such as marketing, purchasing or logistics, for whom a more detailed understanding of packaging will help them to develop their role.

According to the National President of the AIP, Craig Wellman, MAIP, the AMA is a well resourced and highly respected professional organisation which develops and delivers training across a wide range of industries with certificate and diploma programs in both operational and management streams.

“The AMA is able to bring an infrastructure that will assist the AIP as it drives educational and professional development in the packaging industry,” he said.

“The new cooperation with AMA represents the dawn of a new era in the AIP’s contribution towards education and professional development within the packaging industry.

“AMA’s professionalism is well matched to ours as they already provide a similar back office support role for other industry associations. The AIP are lucky to be able to leverage their experience of training administration in Australia, especially their knowledge of government.

“By invoking the assistance of AMA, the AIP has underpinned its ability to accommodate a vast increase in student numbers and underwrite the expansion of both the number, and type of courses, that the AIP will offer into the future,” he said.

Until now, AIP’s training administration had been well looked after by The Appointments Group, which made its contribution as a means of putting something back into the packaging industry from which it has originated.

As AIP activities have become more expansive and involved, TAG’s Managing Director, Andrew Preston, was instrumental in recommending that the AIP consider involving an existing RTO into its operational framework.

“As a recruitment organisation that does most of its work in packaging, we constantly hear the cry of industry about finding skilled people, especially those with formal qualifications in packaging, which I have to say are sadly lacking. We believe that the relationship with AMA will be an excellent outcome for the AIP but, more importantly I hope, for the standing of education in the packaging industry,” Preston said.

The handover from TAG to AMA has been seamless and students are now being administered by AMA on behalf of the AIP.

For further information on the AIP Diploma in Packaging Technology and the Certificate of Packaging, please contact Lyn Lewis, AIP Education Coordinator, at educate@aipack.com.au.