Iconic Bootmaker and TAFE Forge Vital Skills Partnership
A strategic partnership between TAFE SA and the legendary Australian outfitter R.M. Williams is successfully creating a direct pipeline of skilled workers for the company's expanding manufacturing operations. This collaboration is specifically designed to address a critical skills gap in industrial sewing, ensuring the continued production of the brand's iconic boots, apparel, and accessories on home soil.
From Classroom to Workshop: A Graduate's Pride
For Lachlan McNeill, a 25-year-old TAFE fashion design graduate, this initiative has transformed his passion into a dream career. He now works as a sewer, crafting bags for the renowned company. "When I actually saw the products on the shelf with price tags on it … I felt very proud," Mr McNeill said. "I actually made that duffel bag and I helped make that laptop case." He describes his role as more than just a job, highlighting his pride in contributing to an iconic Australian brand and his optimism for ongoing opportunities within the business.
Securing a Legacy of Australian Craftsmanship
The program's urgency is underscored by Karin Jacka, the R.M. Williams senior team leader in craft (bags). She identified industrial sewing as a skill at risk of being lost as experienced machinists retire. "We don’t want to lose these skills … but, potentially, we could lose them as industrial sewing machinists are getting older and retiring," Ms Jacka stated. This partnership is a direct response to that challenge, creating a new generation of artisans. With R.M. Williams planning to grow its already 550-strong workforce, the demand for these specialised skills is set to surge. Ms Jacka, who began her own career at the former Levi’s factory in Elizabeth, finds it incredibly rewarding to help secure long-term employment for young Australians entering the trade through this vital program.
