The Adelaide-based Academy of Jewellery Manufacture and Design (AJMD) will offer full-time trade courses – including Certificate II, III and IV in Jewellery Manufacture – short trade courses that focus on specific skills like diamond setting, design rendering and CAD, as well as business-specific courses for jewellers seeking to start their own retail business.
According to founder and master goldsmith Jacques Fabian, the AJMD is now the only educational institution in South Australia that offers certified courses in jewellery manufacturing.
“TAFE SA previously trained apprentices in jewellery manufacturing but as of January this year, these courses were discontinued,” he said. “That’s what cemented our decision to quickly open the academy, because we knew that if we didn’t get the facility up and running soon, the existing TAFE SA students wouldn't have anywhere else to go.”
“TAFE SA previously trained apprentices in jewellery manufacturing but as of January this year, these courses were discontinued,” he said. “That’s what cemented our decision to quickly open the academy, because we knew that if we didn’t get the facility up and running soon, the existing TAFE SA students wouldn't have anywhere else to go.”
Industry support
Fabian explained that the South Australian committee for the Jewellers Association of Australia (JAA) initially identified the state’s need for a jewellery education facility three years ago. “I was on the JAA South Australian committee at the time and offered to spearhead the initiative,” he said.
Fabian confirmed the AJMD was a private business wholly-operated and funded by he and his wife, and that despite the fact the academy was affiliated with registered training organisation Apprenticeworks, it had not been allocated any state government funding, which is reserved for TAFE facilities.
He said the industry recognised this financial challenge and had been extremely supportive, donating equipment, tools, metal, gemstones and other materials that students could use to complete their accreditation.
The AJMD also received advice and assistance from the Jewellery Trade Council, a group of South Australian industry suppliers, retailers and manufacturers that was established in 2013 to oversee and drive changes in jewellery education.
Furthermore, Peter W Beck marketing manager Laura Sawade and Shiels Jewellers managing director Toby Bensimon – who are both JAA board members – are involved in the initiative on a volunteer basis.
“We have had a huge amount of support from the industry and hopefully in the future our team will grow,” Fabian stated.
A ‘soft launch’ was held for the academy on Friday 12 June, with an official launch planned on Wednesday 1 July.
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