[pacificpainters.com]

I was interested in a thread that Researchhound started on mould and mildew. I found it interesting to see how serious this is dealt with in the USA.

Here in the Pacific it is unreasonable to expect a specialised company deal with this hazard, but it is an important issue and a relevant one here as mould and mildew are terrible here.

This thread and some of the comments have lead me to re-look at a problem that I have been considering for sometime "is it possible for a painting team to be sustainable in every small Island nation?" At the moment we only have the Solomon's, PNG, Samoa, Fiji, Kiribati, and Vanuatu. That means we are not facilitating training for painters in the other 8 small Pacific Nation of the forum that we are supposed to be delivering to.

The comments that I read on the aforementioned thread has got me to question the need for mould and mildew being handled more seriously. This is part of the qualification of a certificate III painter here and falls under the surface preparation competency.

A professional painter in a small Island nation I believe can be sustainable if I can demonstrate that painters form an important role in health care in managing this hazard.

Added to this, these small Island nations have asbestos and the need for encapsulation of asbestos and lead are part of the mandatory subjects in a painting qualification that I teach.

Then there is the need for asset protection with coatings preventing corrosion and concrete cancer, also big issues here.

PaintTalk discussions have lead me to work on submitting a proposal to facilitate training and have at least two painters professionally trained in every small Island Nation of the Pacific Forum. I have not trained for 8 nations yet, 2 out of each would make a class of 16 students.

If this goes ahead, I will let you know how it goes.

 

[BrushJockey]

Concrete cancer- hmm. That's a new one to me-please explain.

Do you have anything to do with marketing their skills once they've left you? Having a need to fill, and having a market to employ them don't always happen together.

 

[CApainter]

What currently sustains a painter in an area like Brisbane Australia besides maybe more colonial style structures. Are environmental conditions similar to those in Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Fiji, or are these islands too remote to make a comparison?

It seems to be a difficult task to validate the sustainability of painters on these islands, given their remoteness and what appears to be a severe lack of significant structures.

I think your strategy suggesting the need for painters not only for esthetic value, but for corrosion, mildew prevention and hazardous material control, seems to be a solid approach that will hopefully validate the continuation of this project. Good luck.

 

[pacificpainters.com]

Concrete cancer- hmm. That's a new one to me-please explain.

Concrete cancer is when the steel inside concrete starts to rust and expand causing concrete degradation and structural compromise.

Associated with concrete cancer are symptoms such as vanadium stains and efflorescence.

All of this is avoidable with sufficient surface preparation, coating selection, and film thickness build.

with regard to marketing them, I suppose that my job description does not require that. But I have a sense of commitment for these people and I hate the thought of just training people for the sake of just getting a qualification.

So myself and my colleague a local tutor, do a lot in the way of helping people succeed beyond the qualification.

 

[BrushJockey]

Thanks Mike- I thought there was a new ailment for people like what lead and asbestos can cause, not just the health of concrete!

 

[pacificpainters.com]

I think your strategy suggesting the need for painters not only for esthetic value, but for corrosion, mildew prevention and hazardous material control, seems to be a solid approach that will hopefully validate the continuation of this project. Good luck.

Thanks for the feedback, you make a good point!

I must clarify that this is not about my continuation. I have employment and I can just do what is required and continue getting paid regardless. My concern is I feel that while I am on this project I can do more to help the "little guy" so to speak, but how?

I know it is not justifiable to deny education on the basis of economical sustainability. But at the same time I don't want to train people and set them up for failure. I am concerned that I have neglected these nations to some extent though.

Discussions on this forum have made me realise that health is an issue and that painters can perform a public service. So as you say the strategy may validate doing more to train in this qualification.

 

[CApainter]

Do the Islanders you train have access to jobs on the the main land of Australia, or does their culture, along with the logistical complictions of commuting from the islands prevent that option.

 

[pacificpainters.com]

Do the Islanders you train have access to jobs on the the main land of Australia, or does their culture, along with the logistical complictions of commuting from the islands prevent that option.

Excellent question, the APTC was originally set up by the Howard government as a way of training Pacific Islanders to meet the skills shortages we had in Australia at the time.

For a few reasons the emphasise has shifted somewhat. Now we seem to be more about supporting and strengthening the economy of our Pacific neighbours through training and increased productivity.

To date after four years our vocational area of P&D has seen around 170 graduates and not one migrated to Australia. Many have been able to lift the standard of their living by being more productive in the workplace, promotions to supervising positions, and starting their own business.

I think for a painter to come to Australia they would need sponsorship, which would be a great option for a company that is looking for good workers that will gratefully accept the base award wage. Hourly rate here is around $1 US to $2.50 US, they would be amazed at the award rate in Oz, I think if I am correct that most painters in Australia will not work for the award rate.

Side point; I have learnt one thing being on this project, Aid is different to charity, Aid is all about diplomatic strategies. Australia once sent battle ships and soldiers into the Pacific to defend its borders, now it sends aid workers and money. Defence is not the only reason for diplomatic Aid, trade balance is another. Every biscuit I eat, every loaf of bread I cut and every roti I have with my curry comes from Australian Wheat. Not to mention the dairy and other processed foods that is consumed here. Australia makes billions from its neighbours, it is in their interest to make the economies strong.