Shaping Up For Apprenticeships

Will H-S

D'Arcy and Layne Beachley eyeing a sweet tail. Pic darcysurfboards.com

Today, Gold Coast surfboard makers officially hit the election radar when Gold Coast LNP candidate Karen Andrews and Senator Brett Mason, Shadow Secretary for Education, announced that a Coalition Government would put half a million dollars into a surfboard manufacturing training program. The money will go towards setting up a curriculum, classrooms and teachers for the theory side of the certificate, and assisting the groms and companies that take on apprentices.

“Surfing is part of the history of the Gold Coast and it would be a tragedy to see this important part of our local culture disappear from the landscape,” said Mrs Andrews. “The program will allow the baton to be passed to a new generation of shapers.”

Mrs Andrews did, however, stop short of promising that surfboard manufacturing will become a registered trade, complete with apprenticeships. “That is the goal, that’s what we want. What we are setting up on the Gold Coast is a pilot program, if it’s successful we’ll roll it out around the country.”

Is this a a last minute grab for votes in a close election battle? Gold Coast shaper Dan MacDonald from DMS surfboards doesn’t think so. “This is something Aussie shapers need,” he said. “In my factory I employ three Japanese guys and one Brazilian. They’re great fellas, but it’s expensive training foreign workers and sponsoring people for visas. If I could have a couple of young apprentices working for me, and working toward a trade certificate, it would really help my business.”

The announcement was made in Stuart D’Arcy’s Currumbin factory, a few short months after opposition leader Tony Abbott visited to discuss the big issues in the Australian shaping industry. “There’s a lot of work to be done,” said D’arcy. “We need to set up a board manufactures committee so we can write a curriculum for the course. And it won’t only be about shaping boards, it will be about running a business, graphic design, shaping, glassing, spray painting and all other aspects of creating boards. In theory, once you’ve got the certificate you should be able to get out there and set-up your own factory.”

The election is less than a week away and, more than ever, the two parties are sounding the same. Could the promise of helping surfboard manufacturing in Australia be enough to lure your vote?

Surfboard Manufacturing Gets Political from Australia's Surfing Life on Vimeo.