CX Training Venture Fails – Again!

After a year CX has pulled the plug on a short course partnership with Chatswood venue The Concourse.

Offering short and sharp live sound and lighting courses, each with a two day duration and selling under $300, the demand was disappointing.

Previously Juliusmedia Group were associated with accredited courses run at Julius Events College in Sydney between 2004 and 2010, offering Certificate III, Certificate IV, and Diploma qualifications in live production, theatre and events. These courses were reasonably well patronised yet the college fell short of profit and was closed after its board determined demand in 2011 would not meet outgoings.

In 2012 CX were associated with the working party responsible for the forthcoming CUA Live Performance and Entertainment Training Package, which is slated for endorsement this year. While the skills council charged with that package say that the industry consultation was satisfactory, CX observed a general disinterest bordering on disdain from the broader industry.

Yet courses at private accredited colleges like SAE, JMC and AIM appear to be selling well. Courses at TAFE colleges are disappearing due to state governments dramatically raising course costs.

Industry training is now at an all time low in terms of available places, and funded traineeships appear to have almost dried up.

While it could be argued that courses offered by Juliusmedia and CX were clearly not commercially attractive, there are no other similar offerings to benchmark.

Would the last trainee to leave the stage please turn off the lights?