Innovative Adelaide-based manufacturer Philmac Pty Ltd has just signed up two staff members to join South Australia’s pilot group of Industry 4.0 Higher Apprentices.

The two will join workers from other companies including REDARC, SAGE Automation and Treasury Wines to develop skills in the latest digital technologies through completing a Diploma of Applied Technologies in a higher apprenticeship. The Diploma is being offered by a collaboration between TAFE SA and industrial automation trainers Skills Lab, part of the SAGE group of companies.

Left to right: Jeremy Curtin (Philmac Production Manager), Kyle Ross ( Philmac Diesetter), Irana Storoszczuk (MEGT Apprenticeship Field Consultant), Simon White (Philmac Diesetter) and Tim Cornish (Ai Group Skilling SA Project Officer).

The program is expected to run for two years, with the higher apprentices attending classes at TAFE and Skills Lab’s facilities in short blocks of training throughout the duration, much like a regular apprenticeship.

Formal training in the South Australian program will commence in March this year.

The Industry 4.0 Higher Apprenticeship is being rolled out across Australia, with new groups planned in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria as well as South Australia. To find out what is available in your state, contact Peter Canavan on 03 9867 0264 or peter.canavan@aigroup.com.au.

Peter Canavan - Senior Policy Officer, Education and Training
Peter Canavan is a Senior Policy Officer at Ai Group, contributing to education and training policy and managing projects such as state industry skills advisory projects and apprenticeship and traineeship projects. Peter has over 25 years' experience in the vocational training sector, and has also managed projects for the Victorian Government, including apprenticeship projects and projects supporting workers retrenched from the automotive manufacturing sector.