One of the most notable industry developments in the past decade has been the coordinated efforts of Australia’s three buying groups — Nationwide Jewellers, Showcase Jewellers, and the Independent Jewellers Collective — to address the ongoing shortage of apprentices within the local jewellery trade.
Their work led to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations publishing an updated Australian Apprenticeships Priority List, effective from 1 January 2026. As a result, jewellery apprentices are now eligible for a broad range of government-supported financial assistance.
The buying groups began working on the initiative early last year.
Against the backdrop of the government’s favourable announcement, an unexpected statement from the JAA has surprised many within the jewellery trade.
Jeweller has reported on the campaign to secure improved support for jewellery apprentices since April 2025, with the most recent update published on 20 January.
The following day, 21 January, the JAA released a media statement on its website, marking its first public commentary on the matter.
Arrogating acclaim?
Much of the information contained in the statement reflected details previously reported by Jeweller.
With that said, there was one notable omission: no acknowledgement that the progress and successful campaign has been driven by the combined efforts of the three buying groups.
Indeed, not only was there no reference to the involvement of the buying groups, but the wording of the statement appeared to go a step further.
“The JAA has been engaging with government on skills and workforce issues and welcomes this important development for the industry,” the statement explained.
“We will continue to keep members informed as further guidance and details become available. If you would like more information or assistance in understanding how this may apply to your business, please contact the JAA.”
Based on this statement alone, readers could reasonably conclude that the outcome was achieved solely through the efforts of the JAA.
Whether this was the result of imprecise wording, unfortunate timing, or an attempt to claim credit for the progress, it remains striking that the JAA did not, at a minimum, acknowledge the work of Colin Pocklington (Nationwide Jewellers), Anthony Enriquez (Showcase Jewellers), and Joshua Zarb (Independent Jewellers Collective).
This situation was further complicated by earlier correspondence.
One week prior to the government’s announcement, Jeweller contacted JAA president Joshua Sharp to discuss the rapid progress of the apprenticeship campaign, achieved through pooled resources and a coordinated government advocacy approach.
On 13 January, Sharp was asked whether the JAA - as the jewellery industry’s association - had been involved in the project or had contacted the buying groups to discuss or offer support for the jewellery apprentices initiative.
Sharp did not acknowledge the email or provide a response.
Instead, around one week later, the JAA published its statement regarding the updated Apprenticeships Priority List.
Without explanation from Sharp, readers are left to scrutinise both the wording of the JAA’s statement and the timing of its release.
Issued without any prior engagement with the buying groups, without acknowledging their role, and following an unanswered request for clarification, the JAA statement invites questions about whether the association was arrogating acclaim - by attempting to position itself at the centre of an outcome it did not help deliver.
Response from buying groups
Jeweller contacted representatives from the three buying groups seeking a response to the JAA’s statement, who each expressed surprise at the media release.
The buying groups confirmed that, to their knowledge, the JAA has not been involved in the project to date and also advised that since the initiative became public in April 2025, the JAA has neither contacted the groups nor offered assistance.
However, they also indicated an intention to turn what could be perceived as a negative into a positive.
The groups intend to contact the JAA with suggestions on how the association could contribute to the jewellery apprentices campaign.
The buying group representatives emphasised that the industry initiative has never been about ‘claiming credit’, but rather about taking a lead for the betterment of the industry.
It was noted that the JAA's acknowledgement of the progress is ‘better late than never’ and that broader participation — ‘the more the merrier’ — should benefit the future of the Australian jewellery industry.
While the JAA board no longer includes representation from the buying groups - whose combined membership is nearly double that of the JAA - there was also agreement that the JAA, as a representative body of the jewellery trade, should be actively promoting apprenticeship opportunities.
Members of the buying groups and other retailers wanting to employ apprentices will most likely benefit from industry representatives continuing to advance the initiative in a cooperative manner.
With that said, questions remain regarding the JAA’s handling of the matter to date, and it remains to be seen how the organisation will respond to the advice provided by the buying groups.
More reading
Jewellery apprentices secure access to valuable financial support
JAA expands board, seventh director appointed
JAA detractors must answer some tough questions
A New Chapter: JAA to exhibit at Australian Jewellery Fair in 2026
Changes for JAA board; industry representation issues persist
 | 2026 JEWELLERS' SUPPLIERS DIRECTORY
Find Anything & Everything Click for the Full Index to discover fresh products, trends, and suppliers.
If it’s not listed here, it’s not worth knowing about! The annual Suppliers Directory is the #1 directory for retailers looking for new products and new suppliers. If you don’t know, we do!
|