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MELBOURNE
BRUNSWICK
BUNDOORA
FISHERMAN’S BEND
POINT COOK
HAMILTON
HO CHI MINH CITY
HANOI
Celebrating the success of RMIT outworker graduates
Thirteen members of Melbourne’s Vietnamese community will graduate this week
from Victoria’s only pattern making course designed for outworkers, taught by
RMIT University.
The pattern making students will receive their certificates of completion from the
Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, Jaala Pulford, at a graduation
ceremony at Parliament House on Wednesday, 29 October.
They are the second cohort of students to complete the program at RMIT’s
Brunswick campus, with the year-long course designed to build their experience,
industry knowledge and improve their English language skills.
Kent Williamson, Industry Training Manager of RMIT’s School of Fashion and
Textiles, said the course helped improve conditions for outworkers by enabling
them to find skilled work within the fashion industry.
“Pattern making is a skill shortage area and this course gives students the
opportunity to tap into this need within the industry,” Mr Williamson said.
“The students not only learn the practical skills of pattern making, they have the
chance to apply their skills during two weeks of industry work placement.
“The English support provided in the program also builds their confidence, helping
to break the serious language barriers often faced by migrant workers.
“The success of the first lot of graduates from the course, most of whom have gone
on to skilled employment or further training, has been inspiring to these students,
who have shown great commitment and enthusiasm throughout the year.”
The project is a collaboration between RMIT, Workforce Victoria, the Council of
Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia, the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union
of Australia and Fashion Technicians Association Australia. English training is
delivered by the TCFUA and funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Workplace
English Language and Literacy Program (WELL).
Media note: Graduates will be available for interview at the presentation.
Media Opportunity
What: Presentation of certificates to graduates of Victoria’s only outworker pattern
making course
When: Wednesday, 29 October, 10am
Where: Legislative Council Committee Room, Parliament House
For interviews: RMIT School of Fashion and Textiles, Industry Training
Manager, Kent Williamson, (03) 9925 9182 or 0419 103 589.
For general media enquiries: RMIT University Media and Communications,
Gosia Kaszubska, (03) 9925 3176 or 0417 510 735.
27 October, 2008
NEWS 
