Discover Our Art Therapy Courses Online!

Discover Our Art Therapy Courses Online!

You may have heard of art therapy, but our Certificate of  Art and Creative Therapies is unique, as it incorporates art, writing, music, singing, craft, reminiscence, and drama to boost psychological and physical health. 

Creative therapies help those with mental, emotional, or physical health conditions to recover, especially people with trouble verbalising their concerns. This course is particularly beneficial for those who work in disability, aged care, or youth services. 

Did you know that art therapy courses are also important to build physical ability? For example, people with osteoarthritis can benefit from a creative hobby like knitting, crochet or painting as encourages movement in their hands.

The Certificate of Art Creative Therapies is an online art therapy course that will teach you how to incorporate art, music, writing, singing, drama, and craft into treatments to help clients to improve their psychological wellbeing or aid recovery from illness or injury.  

So, whether you want to take your skills into aged care, disability support or youth programs, this course is perfect for you!

Learning Outcomes 

  • Outcomes achieved by undertaking art therapy courses include: 
  • Clients who benefit from participating in creative therapy
  • Caution should be taken with some clients
  • Benefits of creative therapies 
  • Scientific evidence
  • Preparing for creative therapies
  • Giving instructions
  • Different learning styles
  • Planning for choice
  • Options for a response
  • Improving creativity
  • Health and safety
  • Insurance
  • Selling your craft
  • After creative therapy
  • Counselling skills – soler
  • Scientific evidence
  • Art therapy techniques
  • Art therapy with children
  • Scientific evidence and historical anecdotes of craft 
  • Therapeutic benefits of craft 
  • Crafting examples
  • Knitting, ceramics and quilting
  • The skills required in model making
  • Model building
  • Woodworking/carpentry
  • Creativity and the individual – find their creativity
  • Therapeutic benefits and scientific evidence of singing therapy 
  • What is writing therapy?
  • Hiding the pain
  • Non-verbal communication
  • Classification of non-verbal communication
  • Haptics, proxemics, occulesics
  • What is drama therapy?
  • Individuals who benefit from reminiscence work
  • Neurocognitive deficits
  • Neurocognitive disorders (NCD)
  • How does reminiscence therapy work?

…And more!

Where do Art Therapists Work?

Art therapists work across many disciplines, including health, education, community, and social welfare sectors and in private practice. 

As a profession, art therapists confront many challenges from trauma, to mental and emotional health issues, disabilities, relationship difficulties and addictions. 

Art therapists provide positive change towards emotional, psychological, and physical growth through facilitating creative therapies. 

7 Creative Therapies for Happiness 

Creative therapies aren’t just for dealing with difficult emotions; they can also be used to tune into happiness, positivity, and gratitude. Art therapy courses online can help you plan creative therapies to suit clients needs, but here are a few activities that help people reflect on their personal happiness. 

  1. Paint a Perfect Day – use watercolours to paint an ideal day, whether it’s at the beach, in a rainforest or even relaxing in your backyard. A visual reminder that better days are just around the corner is the perfect pick-me-up on difficult days. 
  2. Collect Photos of Beautiful Things – stick them on cardboard and then have the collage framed to as a visual reminder of what’s right with the world!  
  3. Turn an Inspirational Quote into a Work of Art – you could use different typographical artwork on a computer or hand-drawn calligraphy.
  4. Create a Mandala – a mandala is an abstract work that’s usually in circular form. Usually, a mandala starts with a central point, which then has an array of symbols, lines, shapes and structures surrounding it. These intricate drawings represent a person’s inner world and outer reality, which is inspiring and therapeutic. 
  5. Draw in Sand – a Zen garden is a perfect canvas for releasing stress and tuning into positive energy. It’s also a relaxing activity that has the ability to clear a busy mind. 
  6. Create a Zentangle – the Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, fun and relaxing way to create beautiful images through drawing structured patterns. The art combines lines, dots, curves, and orbs on small pieces of paper, which can then be assembled into a mosaic. 
  7. Invent Something Magical – think of a wild invention that would make life more comfortable or happier for you. Now draw it in cheerful colours, such as pastel blues, yellows, and pinks. 

A Brief History of Art Therapy 

The emergence of art therapy as a profession began in North America, Europe, the U.K, Australia, and parts of Asia. 

A British artist by the name of Adrian Hill was the first to coin the term art therapy in 1942 and published ideas in a book Art Versus Illness in 1945. Hill first became aware of the therapeutic nature of art while sketching objects from his hospital bed while recovering from tuberculosis. 

In 1939, he was invited to teach drawing and painting to other patients, including injured soldiers from the war. He found the art seemed to divert the patient’s attention away from their suffering and mental distress. 

Hill worked tirelessly to promote art therapy, becoming president of the British Association of Art Therapists which was founded in 1964. Increasingly, he found himself at odds with the associations focus on psychoanalysis and in 1968 he was elected president of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. 

 

Discover how to take creative therapies into client care with our art therapy courses online, enrol in our Certificate of  Art and Creative Therapies today! 

Create Amazing Gardens With Our Landscaping Course

Landscape design is a multifaceted skill, but it’s not just about making landscaping spaces look nice! It’s also about understanding timbers, plants, soils and other materials, and adapting them to suit the climate, setting and features of the environment you are working with.

It also involves being able to take a vision and transform into a space where people want to socialise, relax or work. Effective landscape designs can enhance the value of properties, provide environmental advantages and even enrich the communities in which they’re situated.

Our Certificate of Landscaping is ideal for garden designers, garden maintenance staff, landscape construction workers and anyone with a passion for creating beautiful outdoor spaces. The course will teach you about horticulture, plant names and the history and styles of gardening. You will learn about the different garden styles — including cottage, oriental, Mediterranean and subtropical gardens, and their furnishings including lighting, garden art, furniture, ponds, fountains and water displays. Our landscape design course will also teach you how to pre-plan a site, design and generate landscape drawings, and create different environments — from those in backyards and parks to play landscapes and those in sporting facilities.

 

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a landscaping course include:

  • Learning about basic design procedures and the principles of landscaping
  • Exploring horticulture and landscaping
  • Studying plant names – common and scientific names and botanical families
  • Gaining insights into design elements and effects
  • Examining how to pre-plan, review and prepare a plant identification worksheet
  • Understanding the history and styles of gardening
  • Learning about formal, informal and natural gardens
  • Exploring cottage, Oriental, Mediterranean and subtropical gardens
  • Studying naturalistic landscaping
  • Gaining insights into drafting, specifications and contracting
  • Examining drawing options – graphics and computer aided design (CAD)
  • Understanding design procedures
  • Learning about basic landscape construction
  • Exploring walling, erosion and drainage
  • Studying mound making and earth shaping
  • Gaining insights into the design considerations of play structures
  • Examining gravel and bark paths
  • Understanding surfaces – artificial surfaces, paving and soft ground surfacing
  • Learning about gradients
  • Exploring substrates
  • Studying performance considerations
  • Gaining insights into furnishing and features
  • Examining landscaping design structures
  • Understanding garden furnishings – furniture, lighting and garden art
  • Learning about fountains and water displays
  • Exploring skateboard facilities
  • Studying park design – components, ornaments, walls and fences

And more!

Famous Australian Landscape Designers

From designers who host popular TV shows to those who are recognised at the world’s most prestigious gardening awards, there have been a number of influential landscape designers over the years. They have provided inspiration to home gardeners, gardening gurus and even those who have studied a landscape design course. Here are some of Australia’s most popular.

Jim Fogarty

A landscape designer and gardening media personality, Jim graduated from Burnley Horticultural College in Melbourne in 1992. In 2006, he was invited by the Singapore National Parks Board to compete in the inaugural Singapore Garden Festival. Here, he won a gold medal and the RHS (UK) Award for Horticultural Excellence. He won the RHS Award again in 2010.

Jim holds over twenty internationally recognised design awards, including winning a gold medal at London’s Chelsea Flower Show in 2011. He has also won Horticultural Excellence and Best in Show awards at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show, and the A.W. Comeadow medal – awarded for outstanding design of a display at a major horticultural show.

Jim is the current National President of the Horticultural Media Association of Victoria. He now designs gardens for commercial and private clients, and his international projects include designing gardens for garden shows and running garden design masterclasses.

Paal Grant

Paal is an award-winning landscape designer known for his innovative approach to creating extraordinary gardens. Growing up in Ballarat in Victoria, his natural world became his inspiration, and he achieves balance through the use of different colours, textures and shape. He is also committed to demonstrating strong design principles in order to enhance a functional space.

At the 2009, 2010 and 2012 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Shows he was awarded gold medals, and he was also awarded the prestigious Royal Horticultural Comeadow Award for his 2010 submission, titled “The Wave Garden”. Paal’s scope of achievements is vast, from designing and constructing luxury balcony and rooftop gardens to regularly featuring in Australia’s top lifestyle and landscaping magazines.

Paal represented Australia at the 2015 Japan Garden & Flower Show. This is considered the ‘gardening World Cup’ and here he competed against green thumbs from over 30 countries. He received the Best Design Award, and in 2016, was awarded the People’s Choice Award.

Daniel Tyrrell

Owner and Director of Daniel Tyrrell Landscapes, Daniel is an award-winning Melbourne landscape designer with a reputation for creating outdoor rooms and gardens. Since launching his business in 2003, he has forged a reputation as a leader in the design and construction of outdoor spaces.

In 2009, 2011 and 2013, he won Silver Medals at the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show and in 2013, also won the Honda Sustainability Award for his entry titled ‘The Backyard Room”.

Daniel’s designs suit today’s modern lifestyles and he seeks to create balance and ambience between homes and their outdoor spaces. He believes gardens can be many things — from relaxing places to soothe the soul to landscapes that enhance and stimulate the senses and emotions.

Today, he tailors each of his creations to its surroundings and ensures his clients’ briefs are carefully considered in the process of taking their vision from paper to soil.

Ian Barker

Ian has been in the industry for over 25 years and began his construction, maintenance and landscape design business in 1996 after completing two apprenticeships, several horticultural courses and working extensively abroad.

He has won gold and silver-gilt medals in 2008, 2010 and 2011 at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, and his most recent achievements include winning a gold medal at the 2015 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. He has also won the Horticultural & Media Association’s Best Use of Plant Life Award for his show garden titled “Cross Roads”.

These awards have cemented him as a designer fit to be on the Australian and international horticultural and garden design stage. His business, Ian Barker Gardens is one of the most sought-after landscape design and construction companies in Australia.

Alison Douglas

Alison has a multi-disciplined design background, with a Degree in Industrial Design and a post-graduate Certificate in Garden Design from Melbourne University. Her qualifications have meant she has worked in various fields — from exhibition to toy and fashion design.

In terms of awards, in 2015 Alison won a Gold award at The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show in the Boutique Gardens category with her creation “Pipe Dream”. She has also won an international landscape designer award in Singapore in 2016.

Alison’s focus is now on satisfying her love of plants, sustainability and landscape design. She loves designing for smaller spaces and challenging sites, and is passionate about the finer details.

Charlie Albone

Known for his role as a presenter on the TV show, Selling Houses Australia, Charlie has been designing and building gardens for over 12 years. He won a Silver-Gilt medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2015 with his award-winning design titled “The Time in Between”, which was a tribute to his late father who passed away when he was 17.

Charlie and the team at his business Inspired Exteriors are passionate about creating beautiful, inspiring outdoor spaces that enrich their owners’ lives. They have worked on a number of high-end projects, including being commissioned to work in Hong Kong, Singapore, France and the UK. They have also won multiple awards at the Sydney and Melbourne International Flower & Garden Shows, and gold medals at The Australian Institute for landscape Designer and Managers (AILDM) awards.

Paul Bangay

Having been in the industry for over 25 years, Paul is been regarded as one of the foremost garden designers in Australia today. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Horticulture) from the University of Melbourne, and his extensive list of projects spans public and private commissions in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North America and the West Indies.

Paul has displayed countless exhibitions in Australia, been featured in a range of publications and has won numerous awards, including the Mobil Pegasus Award and the Centenary Medal.

Paul is committed to fulfilling the aspirations of clients that seek gardens that are expressive of the classic simplicity and timeless elegance for which he is internationally renowned. His personal insights have been included in a successful series of books, including The Defined Garden and The Garden at Stonefields.

Jamie Durie

Jamie is a qualified horticulturist and multi-award-winning international landscape designer who has been designing landscapes and water features in Australia and overseas since he launched his design practice in 1998. Durie Designs has offices in Sydney and LA, and he and his team have won multiple prizes and commendations including from the Singapore Garden Festival and the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. He has also won gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show, and at gardening events in Tokyo, Auckland and New Zealand.

Jamie has also hosted and produced multiple TV shows, including The Outdoor Room, Top Design, Australia’s Best Backyards, and Backyard Blitz. In 2001, he made his debut into the realm of furniture design and his furniture is now retailed worldwide.

 

Learn how to plan, create and make outdoor spaces come to life with a landscape design course, such as our Certificate of Landscaping.

 

Learn the Value of Psych Testing With Our Psychological Assessment Course.

Ideal for those working in psychology, counselling, psychotherapy, research, education and personnel management, our Certificate of Psychological Assessment will introduce you to the principles and practice of psychological assessment. Its focus is not on teaching you how to carry out, interpret and score test findings, but rather on the pros and cons of a number of psychological tests and when to use them.

You will gain insights into tests relevant to work aptitudes, intellectual ability, vocational interests, personality, values and attitudes, and how these tests are used individually and in combination as part of an overall psychological assessment.

You will also learn about assessment planning, report writing, interviewing as an assessment tool, and the social and ethical implications of assessments in contexts such as in socially and linguistically diverse populations.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a psychological assessment course include:

  • Learning about the types of psychological tests
  • Exploring achievement, aptitude, intelligence, occupational and personality tests
  • Studying the history of psychological testing
  • Gaining insights into the justification for using tests
  • Examining the advantages and disadvantages of using psychometric testing
  • Understanding psychological testing of language minority and culturally different children
  • Learning about construct, discriminant and convergent validity
  • Exploring test-retest reliability
  • Studying the context of clinical assessment
  • Gaining insights into confidentiality, informed consent and ethical practice
  • Examining record keeping, professional boundaries and dual relationships
  • Understanding ethics and lie detection
  • Learning about computer-assisted assessment
  • Exploring new tools for assessment including virtual reality
  • Studying personality traits and how to design a questionnaire
  • Gaining insights into weaknesses
  • Examining bias, ambiguity and closed and open questions
  • Understanding the assessment interview
  • Learning how to screen for psychological disorders
  • Exploring Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
  • Gaining an understanding of the psychometric properties of SCID
  • Studying how to assess Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among veterans
  • Gaining insights into screening and referral procedures
  • Examining how to discern if traumatic events are ongoing
  • Understanding how to make recommendations and schedule follow-ups
  • Learning about behavioural assessment including behaviourism
  • Exploring the kinds of consequences
  • Understanding behavioural versus traditional assessment

And more!

History of Psychological Testing

When studying a psychological assessment course, you will learn about the history of psychological testing, which began to take shape in around 2200 BCE! Here is a brief rundown of the types of tests, and the individuals who have made a lasting impact on the science.

B.C.E.

  • 2200 – large-scale imperial examination tests were conducted in China to evaluate public officials.
  • 1800 – Babylonians develop astrology and Greeks later redefined it to predict and describe personalities.
  • 500 – Pythagoras begins using physiognomy (an individual’s expressions or facial features) to evaluate personality.
  • 400 – Hippocrates described the four temperaments as part of his humorology concept (that bodily fluids affect human behaviours and personality traits) for the treatment of physical and mental illness.
  • 400 – Plato suggested that individuals should seek employment that is consistent with their abilities.
  • 175 – Galenus designed experiments to show that it’s the brain, not the heart that is the origin of intellect.

A.D.

  • 500 – Science takes a backseat to superstition and faith and the history of psychological testing is temporarily halted.
  • 1200– An interest in individual differences emerges as people begin to question whether those “in league with Satan” did so voluntarily – trials for witchery and sorcery were common at this time.
  • 1265 – Thomas Acquinas asserts that the notion of the immortal soul should be replaced by the notion of a human’s capacity to think and reason.
  • 1550 – The Renaissance witnesses an appreciation for science and a rebirth in philosophy.
  • 1698 – Juan Huarte publishes The Tyral of Wits – the first book to propose assessment discipline.
  • 1770 – Science and philosophy advances with the writings of German, French and English philosophers, and Rene Descartes proposes the mind-body question.
  • 1823 – The Journal of Phrenology is founded to further the study of human talents and abilities. It proposed that human qualities are localised in concentrations of brain fibre.
  • 1869 – Sir Francis Galton publishes a study of genius and heredity. This pioneered a statistical technique that Karl Pearson would later refer to as “correlation”.
  • 1879 – Wilhelm Wundt coined the term “structuralism”, which relied heavily on an assessment tool called “introspection” whereby individuals try to describe their conscious experience of a stimulus.
  • 1895 – James McKeen Cattell helped launch the beginning of mental testing.
  • 1900 – Sigmund Freud publishes The Interpretation of Dreams. It heavily influenced approaches to understanding personality for the next 50 years.
  • 1905 – Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon publish a 30-item scale of intelligence designed to help classify school children.
  • 1908 -Frank Parsons opens the Vocational Bureau of Boston and begins offering career guidance to young adults.
  • 1914 – World War I brings about a boom in psychological testing as thousands of American recruits are screened for emotional and intellectual functioning.
  • 1919 – Robert Woodworth publishes the Personal Data Sheet to help identify whether army recruits were susceptible to shell shock.
  • 1921 – Hermann Rorschach publishes his famous monograph, Psychodiagnostics, which would lead to the development of the Rorschach Inkblot Test.
  • 1926 – The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is developed and administered for the first time.
  • 1927 – Carl Spearman publishes a theory of intelligence where he surmises the existence of a general intellectual ability factor.
  • 1938 – The use of mental tests increases and at least 4000 psychological tests are now believed to be in use.
  • 1943 – The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory was published (see below).
  • 1949 – The first version of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children is published (see below).
  • 1949 – The first edition of the 16PF Questionnaire is released for public use.
  • 1955 – The first version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale was published (see below).
  • 1962 – Isabel Briggs Meyers and Katherine Briggs publish the Meyers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
  • 1962- Warren T. Norman publishes his first article with reference to the Big Five Personality Traits.
  • 1970 – John L. Holland publishes the first version of the Self-Directed Search (SDS), which was intended to help individuals identify careers that match their personalities.

Types of Intelligence Tests

When you study our psychological assessment course, you will also become familiar with a number of testing theories that are used to measure intelligence and cognitive ability and offer insights into personality and psychopathology.  These include:

The Wechsler Intelligence Scales

Romanian-American psychologist Wechsler developed two well-known intelligence scales — the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC).

The WAIS, which was first published in 1955, is an IQ test designed to measure cognitive ability and intelligence in adults and older adolescents. Wechsler believed that rather than a single general intelligence factor, intelligence was made up of a number of different mental abilities. The test provided a profile of the test-takers overall strengths and weaknesses. It was measured by comparing their scores to those of others in their general age group. Individuals that scored between 85 and 115 out of 100 were considered to have average, normal intelligence.

The WISC is an intelligence test for children aged between six and 16. It generates an IQ score that represents a child’s general intellectual ability on five primary index scores. These are Visual Spatial Index, Verbal Comprehension Index, Working Memory Index, Fluid Reasoning Index and Processing Speed Index. Results can identify cognitive abilities and identify specific learning disabilities like dyscalculia and dyslexia.

 

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

The MMPI is a psychometric test of adult psychopathology and personality. It is used by mental health professionals to assist with diagnoses, develop treatment plans, assist with forensic psychology, screen job candidates or as part of a therapeutic assessment procedure.

The original MMPI was developed in 1943 by Americans Starke R. Hathaway (a psychologist) and J.C. McKinley (a neurologist) as a means of evaluating mental health problems in medical and psychiatric settings. It follows a self-reporting format and provides the test user with scores on a number of scales that address important clinical problem areas, such as anxiety, depression and substance abuse. It also allows practitioners to appraise the test-taker’s willingness to disclose information. If their cooperation is assured, the test can be effective in highlighting personality traits and mental health symptoms and specific problems the individual may be experiencing.

Gain insights into what can be tested, the appropriate use of tests, and how psychological tests are constructed with a psychological assessment course, such as our Certificate of Psychological Assessment.

 

 

 

 

Learn the Art of Bonsai for Beginners!

Bonsai growing often starts as a passionate hobby, only to become a more serious endeavour. In fact, small backyard bonsai collections have been known to grow into lucrative part-time businesses!

Bonsai Trees for Beginners is a comprehensive course that will teach you the cultivation techniques, such as pruning, root reduction, potting, defoliation, and grafting, to produce miniature trees that resemble the shape and scale of their full-size counterparts!

In this bonsai trees for beginners course, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to propagate, grow, maintain, and style bonsai trees, as well as tips on landscaping and a history on this fascinating horticultural art! It’s sure to open up possibilities to expand your hobby, inspire your business or a start a green career!

So, whether you’re a passionate amateur, a professional gardener, or plan on operating your own bonsai nursery, this course is ideal for you!

Learning Outcomes  

Outcomes achieved by undertaking this bonsai trees for beginners’ course include:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the plant kingdom, an understanding of the taxonomic hierarchy, and an appreciation of the types of plants suitable for bonsai.
  • Understand the methods of propagation used in bonsai.
  • Learn the species of plants most suited to bonsai.
  • Discover a range of bonsai styles and techniques used to achieve them.
  • Understand the process of creating bonsai.
  • Appreciate the basics of thriving bonsai culture.
  • Recognise landscape design principles to create bonsai landscapes better.
  • Research a particular aspect of bonsai of interest to the student.
  • Learn to create different styles of bonsai.
  • Choose suitable plants, train and maintain them to produce a work of living art.
  • Study the styles and techniques for pruning and training used to create bonsai plants
  • Learn to identify more plants, and to select specimens suited for creating bonsai

And more…

A Brief History of the Bonsai Tree

The word bonsai is a Japanese word that translates to ‘planted in a container,’ but while bonsai has a strong connection with Japan, the tree was originally from China over a thousand years ago

In China, the creation of tiny trees in pots is referred to as penzai. Many myths and legends are surrounding the emergence of the bonsai tree. One legend tells the story of a Chinese emperor who created a landscape in a courtyard that represented his entire empire. Another legend is about a 4th-century Chinese poet who grew chrysanthemums in pots as a hobby in retirement.

It is believed that bonsai began in China by the year 700 AD, and was then introduced to Japan during the Kamakura period (1185 – 1333). It is at this time when Japan adopted most of China’s cultural trademarks.

Buddhist monks were actually the ones who brought the ancient art of bonsai to Japan. In the beginning, bonsai was a wealthy pastime. But after the Chinese invasion of Japan in the 14th century, the art of bonsai was for everyone.

 

5 Bonsai Trees Over 500 Years Old!

So, these beauties aren’t for the faint-hearted. They’ve been around for centuries and are in the expert care of bonsai masters. But if you’re looking for a bit of inspiration – this collection will do nicely!

  1. Sandai Shogun no Matsu – Age 500 years

This Tokugawa’s pine is located in Tokyo, Japan and is Japanese royalty! There have been many emperors in possession of this precious bonsai, which is one of the world’s oldest living bonsai trees. You can find it at The Tokyo Imperial Palace.

 

  1. Red Pine Bonsai – Age 600 years

This red pine bonsai tree is found in Atami, Japan. It’s also one of the biggest bonsais in the world, standing at almost 5 metres tall. You’ll find this giant bonsai at the Akao Herb and Rose Garden.

 

  1. Bonsai Tree at Shunka-en – Age 800 years

A stunning tree displayed at Shunka-en in Japan is tended by Japanese bonsai artist and master Kunio Kobayashi. It’s one of the world’s most expensive bonsai trees, estimated to be worth over a million dollars!

 

  1. Ficus Retusa Linn Bonsai – Age 1,000 years

Proudly displayed as the centrepiece of the Crespi Bonsai Museum in Milan, Italy, this fiscus is over 1,000 years old! It is thought to have originated in China before being brought to Italy in 1986 by Luigi Crespi.

 

  1. Juniper Bonsai Tree – Age 1,000 years

This ancient bonsai is located the Omiya Bonsai Village in Japan and is owned by the Kato family. It was collected from the wilds of Japan and is believed to be over 1,00o years old.

 

 

Best Australian Trees for Bonsai

If you want to create a uniquely Australian bonsai, why not cultivate one of our own native trees! These species of tree are well suited to bonsai.

Coast Bankia – This is a large coastal tree that adapts well to bonsai with leaves compacting down to about two-thirds and bark that becomes corky with age.

Bottlebrush – This beautiful red flowering tree makes a popular choice as a bonsai.

Moreton Bay Fig – Also known as the Australian banyan, this large evergreen tree of the family Moraceae is native to eastern Australia and is majestic as a bonsai.

Many other natives make exceptional bonsais – so do your research and learn as much as you can to create a living art piece. It’s a hobby that creates a legacy and one you can gift for generations!

 

Learn the art and ancient craft of bonsai trees for beginners. Enrol in our Bonsai Trees for Beginners online course today!

 

How to Start a Business Online

Do you want to know how to start a business online? There are lots of reasons to create your own online business. These include working at home, spending more time with your family and being your own boss! 

The problem is, too many of these businesses fail. These failures are usually because the business owners didn’t know how to run a business successfully. 

We have an extensive range of online courses to help you start a business online. Likely, you’ll only need a handful of these courses, but it’s the courses you select that can make the difference between success and failure. 

As a new business owner, you must have a thorough understanding of some of these topics and at least a working knowledge of others. Otherwise, you may depend on other people’s expertise and be unable to steer your own business to success. No-one, however, is expecting you to become an expert in all areas relating to your business! It’s just that being able to hold a conversation with other professionals on topics that are relevant to your business is a valuable asset that’s important for your business’s success. 

The most popular course topics for those starting their own business includes Bookkeeping and Accounting, Business and Management, and Information and Microsoft.

How to Start a Business Online – Bookkeeping and Accounting 

Bookkeeping and accounting might not be a topic you relish, but this knowledge can help you to make more responsible business decisions. 

We have a variety of online courses on how to start a business online that are in the Bookkeeping and Accounting category. Below is a brief description of the courses that may be useful if you’re starting your own business online.

Analyse Financial Reports and Budgets: Understanding key financial and accounting terms will help you understand how to budget and read financial reports. It also covers business planning, financial statements, balance sheets, profit and loss statements and much more.

Certificate of Accounts Payable and Receivable: Manage your business invoices and maintain accounts payable and accounts receivable like a pro! You’ll learn about processing payments to creditors and handling overdue customer accounts.

Certificate of Australian Taxation: Manage your business, including how to pay your taxes. This course provides the knowledge you need to maintain your business’s tax account records, as well as lodging your own business returns. 

Certificate of Bookkeeping: Focussing on the needs of small businesses, this course covers the fundamentals of bookkeeping, balance sheets, ledgers, profit and loss statements, cash payments and much more. It’s an important topic if you want to learn how to start a business online and be successful.

Certificate of Payroll: Knowing how to manage your business’s payroll activities is an essential skill for all small business owners. This course gives you the knowledge to set up and manage a payroll system, as well as processing payments for your employees.

Introduction to Business Activity Statements (BAS): This course gives you the skills to process your company’s BAS and GST, IAS (Instalment Activity Statements) and the completion of Activity Statements. Even though you might outsource this to a taxation expert, it’s still important for you to understand the process of these business requirements.

Manage Overdue Customer Accounts: Every business will likely have to deal with overdue customer accounts eventually. This course shows you how to manage this problem correctly. It covers debt collection processes and how to negotiate with customers to resolve the issue of overdue accounts.

How to Start a Business Online – Business and Management

These courses help you to set up and manage your business. They include lessons about office management, small business management and business administration. They should be on any inspiring business owner’s list of to-do courses!

Certificate of Small Business – Start-Up: This course helps you to decide if your business idea is viable by investigating and profiling the market. It also covers business management planning tools and strategies, business plans and more.

Certificate of Small Business Management: This course gives you a basic understanding of everything to do with managing your business. It includes managing a small team of employees, business planning and finances, marketing your business and all the relevant legal requirements.

Certificate of Business Administration: This course focuses on the skills required to manage the administration of your small business. Topics include customer service, managing priorities and meetings, implementing administrative systems, workplace policies and more.

How to Start a Business Online – Information and Microsoft

The following courses, while not crucial, are relevant for the future success of your business. These additional skills include setting up your eCommerce store, how to protect your business from cyber-hacking, and how to protect your company’s data.

Certificate of E-Commerce: Learn how to start your own website business by setting up and managing an eCommerce store. You’ll also learn how to optimise the potential of your website and how to manage your supply chain.

Certificate of Information Security: This course covers a variety of topics that keep your company’s data safe. These include backing up data, recovering from a disaster, business continuity, vulnerabilities in operating systems, and how to develop a security policy for your business.

At Australian Online Courses, we have many more courses on how to start a business online and manage the long term success of your business. You’ll learn how to analyse and achieve sales targets, B2B sales success, advertising, marketing and promotions, and the list goes on!

For more information on any of these courses, contact Australian Online Courses on 1300 76 2221 or send us an email enquiry.

Curious About Cacti? Learn the Basics With Our Growing Succulents Course

Ideal for plant lovers and professional gardeners and landscapers, our Growing Succulents and Cacti Gardens course will teach you the basics of growing, propagating, maintaining and landscaping these amazing plants.

You will study the different types of succulents and cacti, as well as how to irrigate them, grow them in a greenhouse and prevent pests and diseases. You will also learn about the fundamentals of professional garden design so you can create remarkable low-maintenance landscapes for yourself or others.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a course about growing succulents include:

  • Reviewing the system of plant identification
  • Learning about physiology
  • Exploring information sources
  • Studying the three Cacti tribes — Perskia, Opuntia and Cerus
  • Gaining insights into the main succulent genera
  • Understanding how to pronounce names
  • Learning how to plant and stake succulents and cacti
  • Exploring mulching and soils
  • Studying how to feed and prune succulents and cacti
  • Gaining insights into propagation
  • Examining the propagation of selected varieties
  • Understanding seeds, cuttings and grafting
  • Learning about edible succulents
  • Exploring garden styles and design
  • Studying Mexican gardens
  • Gaining insights into using colour
  • Examining rock gardens
  • Understanding how to grow cacti or succulents in containers
  • Learning about pests and disease
  • Exploring irrigation
  • Studying greenhouse growing
  • Gaining insights into plant knowledge
  • Understanding the general guidelines for growing cacti
  • Reviewing the Cacti Genera
  • Learning about zygocactus

And more!

Amazing Facts About Succulents

If you are into growing succulents, no doubt you have already discovered the unique shapes, colours and textures of these personality-plus plants. But here are some amazing facts you may not be aware of:

  • There are over 10,000 succulent species in the world – 2000 of these are also considered cacti.
  • Their name is derived from Latin – in particular, the word “sucus” which means sap or juice.
  • Succulents come in a rainbow of colours – from green, blue and red to orange, pink, yellow and purple.
  • These plants are super-easy to grow – and can even be propagated from stem cuttings.
  • Succulents don’t just grow in arid regions – they are found in every continent except Antarctica.
  • Some succulents can change colour with the seasons – variances in sunlight, watering and temperature can cause them to “blush” and turn into a range of beautiful colours.
  • Succulents “breathe” at night – and they close their pores during the day so they don’t lose too much water.
  • They are water hoarders – they have evolved a storage cell structure that acts like a sponge and soaks up water when it’s available.
  • They also store water in different ways – some (like cacti) in their stems and others (like agaves) in their leaves.
  • All cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti.
  • Unfortunately, you can’t drink fluid from a cactus – many contain bitter, poisonous chemicals that will make you ill.
  • Some succulents produce alcohol … well tequila, and it comes from the distilled heart of the blue agave plant, Agave tequilana.
  • Many succulents have interesting pollinating mechanisms – the flowers of some stapeliads attract pollinating flies by looking and smelling like the flesh of dead animals.
  • The waxy film on a succulent’s leaves is called ‘farina’ – it protects them from sun damage, pests and disease.
  • Some succulents don’t need soil – they’re known as “air plants” and will attach to trees and even rocks.
  • Many succulents can grow on vertical surfaces – they create fantastic “living walls” — indoors and outdoors!
  • Some succulents can be used for medicinal uses – like aloe vera, which is great for relieving sunburn.
  • Succulents can live a long time – some for decades or more!
  • The largest succulent in the world is the Baobab tree – it’s found primarily in Africa and can grow to over 24 metres high.
  • Some succulents are masters of disguise – the Avonia papyracea plant looks like bird droppings, which protects it from predators.
  • South Africa boasts the biggest variety of succulents – over 5000 species in fact!
  • Some succulents can survive freezing temperatures – in particular, Sempervivum and Sedum.
  • In Asian cultures, succulents represent prosperity – particularly for those that practice feng shui.
  • In Western cultures, they symbolise enduring love.

 

10 Succulents You’ll Definitely Want To Own

Succulents come in all shapes and sizes — and it’s not surprising given they are found in more than 60 different plant families. From the stunning colour of the Pachyphytum oviferum to the adorable fuzzy ‘ears’ of the Monilaria obconica, here are some of the most interesting varieties. If you love growing succulents, make sure you track some of these beauties down …

#1 – Donkey’s Tail

Also known as Sedum morganianum, this succulent starts off with rows of little teardrop-shaped leaves. Given it’s a trailing plant, it will eventually spill over the edges of its pot and morph into a beautiful hanging variety.

#2 – Moonstone Succulent

A colourful addition to any garden, the Pachyphytum oviferum has rounded, fleshy leaves that come in a range of opalescent hues from dusty blues to soft pinks.

#3 – Hoya Heart

Also known as “sweetheart plants”, the Hoya kerrii has adorable heart-shaped leaves that are green in the centre with light yellow margins. Pluck off individual leaves, plant separately and spread more of the love!

#4 – Lipstick Echeveria

Echeveria agavoides will add a bold pop of colour to the rest of your succulent collection. They come in red varieties as well as a green version that has contrasting red tips.

#5 – Zebra Plant

These spiky little plants look a little like a miniature version of the striped aloe vera and are also known as Haworthia fasciata. One of the most popular succulents around, they’re also one of the easiest to care for.

#6 – Panda Plant

Many succulents have waxy leaves, so change-up the texture of your collection with the Kalanchoe tomentosa. It has a deep red or brown-tipped grey-green leaves that are covered in fuzz – just like their namesake!

#7 – Jade Plant

The Crassula ovata is also known as the “lucky” or “money” plant. It has a thick stem that sprouts teardrop-shaped leaves and as it ages, will take on the appearance of a miniature tree.

#8 – Ox Tongue

Another easy-to-care-for succulent, the Gasteria verrucosa has wide, short and spiky leaves that are covered in little white spots. We presume the name refers to how an ox’s tongue would look!

#9 – Dolphin Succulent

Another succulent with a fun twist, the Senecio peregrinus has leaves that look like jumping dolphins! And here’s a fun fact — it was created by crossing the hot dog cactus with the string of pearls plant.

#10 – Rabbit Succulent

And finally – our favourite of the lot. When it’s young, the Monilaria obconica plant produces leaves that look like tiny little bunny ears. Adorable, right?

 

A course in growing succulents, like our Growing Succulents and Cacti Gardens course, will teach the fundamentals of propagating, designing and maintaining them – at home or in the workplace.

Rewrite Your Career With Our Online Editing Courses

Already made your mark editing content for the media or publishing sectors? Then it’s time to word-up your expertise! Our Certificate of Editing for Specialists and Professionals will heighten your expertise in language concepts and advanced editing techniques.

You will learn how to work with style, tone, voice, indexing, style guides and referencing to professionally edit content for a variety of media. You will also study legislation, editorial ethics and intellectual property, fine-tune your project and team management skills, and learn how to develop editor/client relationships.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking online editing courses include:

  • Exploring the role of an editor
  • Learning about text types and how to work within voice, tone and style
  • Studying language skills and project management and their application
  • Gaining insights into the types of editors and editorial teams and how to manage them
  • Examining the specialisms in editing
  • Understanding grammar — its purpose and approaches
  • Learning about prescriptive and descriptive grammar, spelling, punctuation and clarity
  • Exploring jargon, word choices and how to select a more specific word or term
  • Studying style errors and style sheets
  • Gaining insights into referencing, style guides and indexing
  • Examining style sheets, dictionaries, appendices and the Oxford Comma
  • Understanding citations, notes, footnotes, endnotes and bibliographies
  • Learning about the quotation and reference styles
  • Exploring editorial ethics and relevant legislation
  • Studying the scope of work, defining the client and conflicts of interest
  • Gaining insights into contracts, intellectual property and when to step back
  • Examining copyright, defamation, libel, slander and cultural sensitivity
  • Understanding moral rights, privacy, confidentiality and rights for reproduction
  • Learning about controversial subjects and permissions
  • Exploring editor/client relationships including professional vs. personal
  • Studying how to work with authors and their responsibility
  • Gaining insights into appraisal, suitability and project definition
  • Understanding the creative process
  • Learning how to project manage the author
  • Exploring editorial queries and how to present corporate briefs
  • Gaining an understanding of pitch decks and ad copy
  • Studying developmental and substantive editing
  • Gaining insights into discretion, structure and constructive criticism

And more!

5 Famous Authors and Their Unfinished Manuscripts

A number of famous authors over the years have had unfinished works hidden away — and some even requested they be destroyed after their deaths. But if you’ve completed online editing courses, would you be tempted to publish it anyway – even if it’s not what the author intended? Here are five scenarios worth thinking about …

#1. Geoffrey Chaucer – The Canterbury Tales

Before Chaucer died in 1400, he had worked on his novel, The Canterbury Tales, for 25 years. Although it already contained more than 20 tales — of pilgrims conducting a storytelling contest while on their way to Canterbury Cathedral — he originally planned the work to contain over 100. His death prevented him from providing a much-needed conclusion, in that readers never find out who won the storytelling contest. A variety of versions were subsequently produced, however many of them are inconclusive and not in the same order as he had planned.

#2. Charles Dickens – The Mystery Of Edwin Drood

Dickens died in 1870 with only six of his planned dozen instalments of this novel completed. Unfortunately, this meant the identity of the story’s murderer was never revealed. To further the intrigue, three months before his death he sent a letter to Queen Victoria offering to tell her “a little more of it in advance of her subjects”. However, she declined his offer, and now we will never know what might have eventuated if the conversation had taken place.

#3. Mark Twain – The Mysterious Stranger

At his death in 1910, Twain left behind three unfinished manuscripts of three different but related stories. All involved Satan, Satan’s nephew, or “No. 44.” In 1916, his biographer Albert Bigelow Paine released a book called The Mysterious Stranger, which was based on one of Twain’s stories but with the ending from another. It wasn’t known until the 1960s the extent to which the work was more Paine’s than Twain’s (it was Paine’s). Hence, editors published a second version that was closer to Twain’s original content, which is now considered his last great work.

#4. Ernest Hemingway – The Garden of Eden

Ernest Hemingway began this novel in 1946 and worked on it for more than 15 years until his death in 1961, but it was left unfinished. In 1986 it was finally published, albeit after a controversial editing process. It was edited by at least two thirds and the entire subplot deleted. Some experts have argued that Hemingway was in fact focused on a new style and content direction with the work, which the editing process unfortunately compressed and sacrificed.

#5. Truman Capote – Answered Prayers

Truman Capote frequently claimed to be working on this novel during the last years of his life, however, despite extended deadlines (and a generous advance) it was never completed. Four chapters were published in 1975 and 1976, with disastrous results. The book was an account of the lifestyles of the rich and famous and many were Capote’s friends — who subsequently abandoned him. This sent him into a depressive spiral of alcohol and drugs, from which some say he never recovered. In 1987 (three years after his death), Answered Prayers: The Unfinished Novel was published and critics weren’t kind, commenting, “It was never finished because it wasn’t going anywhere”.

Types of Editor Roles

Editors typically work at in-house publication units or commercial publishers within organisations and government departments. They may also work for companies that produce publications such as magazines or newspapers. If you have successfully completed one or more online editing courses, here are future career roles worth considering.

Executive and Chief Editors

These are the editors who are ultimately responsible for the final product a company produces. They set the policies, tone and editorial direction for the publication, and ensure every issue is consistent with these elements. They also often manage in-house and freelance editors across several departments. In publishing, this type of editor has the freedom and kudos to work on whatever interests them.

Acquisitions and Commissioning Editors

In publishing, this role involves searching for new manuscripts and/or writers and deciding whether pitches and submissions are approved. However, Acquisitions or Commissioning Editors don’t generally make the final decision on what is published. In bigger organisations, there are usually multiple Acquisitions Editors. In the context of magazines and newspapers, this role is usually referred to as an Associate or Section Editor.

Copy Editor

Copyeditors are primarily concerned with the nitty-gritty of content — punctuation, spelling, grammar and word choice. In the publishing world, they may also approve the visual appearance of a publication. Today, most copy editors work in a freelance capacity and are hired on a project-by-project basis.

Developmental and Substantive Editors

In publishing, Developmental Editors study the market, suggest book concepts and then assign those ideas to writers. Substantive Editors focus on structure and consistency and often make large changes to a manuscript if it doesn’t make sense. When editing fiction, they will focus on theme, character and plot flow. With non-fiction, their focus will be on tone, accuracy and the strength of the message.

Proofreader

Editors don’t necessarily do all of the proofreading of text. Proofreaders are the fine-tooth-combing experts who look for potential errors that others have missed. They are the end of the line in terms of editing!

 

Love the written word? Word-up your editing skills while leveraging your project and team management skills with online editing courses, including our Certificate of Editing for Specialists and Professionals.

 

 

Aromatherapy Course for Health & Wellbeing  

Whether you want to develop a solid foundation knowledge of aromatherapy to promote your own wellbeing or are interested in developing commercial products – this course is ideal for you. This course is also useful for health professionals, such as massage therapists, who want to extend their knowledge in aromatherapy for health.

The Certificate of Aromatherapy and Health is an online course that will help you to identify essential oils for therapeutic use and to develop a treatment plan for a client.

You’ll learn about the power of scent and its applications, from massage to candles, and cosmetics, and more. You’ll also discover the properties of essential oils, extraction methods and about starting an aromatherapy business.

So, whether you’re interested in practical knowledge for yourself or want to gain professional development to benefit your clients, this course is perfect for you!

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking this aromatherapy course online include:

  • Identify the different properties of essential oilsand describe their effects on the body.
  • Identify the various methods used in extracting essential oils.
  • Describe how essential oils can enter the bloodstream and the process of olfaction.
  • Learn about common application methods used with essential oils in aromatherapy.
  • Ensure that essential oils are used in a safe and controlled manner.
  • Identify situations where aromatherapy might not be appropriate.
  • Develop an aromatherapy treatment plan for a client.
  • Identify which essential oils would be appropriate for the use of various conditions relating to specific body systems.
  • Understand the scope and nature of an aromatherapy 

 

…And more!

 

7 Best Essential Oils for Health & Wellbeing

A great place to start with essential oils if you’re a novice is with those that are popular for health and wellbeing. Why? Because they’re often a gentle, natural alternative to products with chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

 

Lavender – The sweet, soothing smell of lavender is top of the list for a reason. It’s one of the most popular essential oils for its relaxation properties.

Health benefits: Applied to the skin, this oil may relieve conditions like eczema, acne and cracked dry skin. It’s also a wonderful relaxant for those who suffer from anxiety or insomnia. It can be diluted with water and sprayed on pillows, added to a warm bath in the evening or mixed with a carrier oil and used in massage.

 

Peppermint – This versatile oil is best known for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory qualities. It can be used for a variety of conditions. It has the added benefit of smelling lively, fresh and minty – divine!

Health benefits: When blended with a carrier oil, this versatile oil can be used to soothe and nourish dry skin and is a wonderful mood enhancer. Whether a quick spray around a room or through diffusion in an oil burner, peppermint oil will revitalise and energise! It’s also perfect in the home office when you hit that 3 p.m. proverbial wall for its ability to fight mental fatigue and tension by stimulating mental agility and concentration!

 

Chamomile – There are two types of chamomile, German and Roman – the former is higher in the active ingredient chamazulene, which provides the most health benefits. 

Health benefits: The comforting smell of chamomile is often linked to relaxation and sleep. It’s also important in reducing tension, stress and anxiety. Inhaling chamomile oil may help with a variety of nervous conditions and can also be applied topically for aches and pains.

 

Frankincense – Is this the king of essentials oils? Well, it does have many noble benefits for our internal and external health.

Health benefits: This powerful essential oil is best known for its ability to beautify and rejuvenate the skin when applied topically. The aroma of frankincense, when diffused in an oil burner, promotes feelings of peace, relaxation and general wellbeing.

 

Bergamot – The fruit of the bergamot tree is a cross between a species of citrus and an orange – it is shaped like a pear and is yellow. Did you know, the addition of bergamot is behind the popular Earl Grey Tea?

Health benefits: Bergamot can be used in aromatherapy and in cosmetics to soothe feelings of anxiety and stress. It’s also popular to promote easy-breathing and to promote and protect healthy skin and hair.

 

Jasmine – Did you know that 7.5 million jasmine flowers are required to produce just one kilogram of essential perfume oil? No wonder this oil is of the more expensive variety!

Health benefits: Jasmine oil can be used on pulse points to uplift mood, calm and promote a positive outlook. It’s also used to promote healthy skin and can be applied topically to reduce imperfections like blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles.

 

Ylang-ylang – This essential oil has a heady aromatic scent is found in some of the most expensive perfumes in the world, such as Channel No.5. It’s commonly found in colognes, lotions and soaps.

Health benefits: Ylang-ylang, when applied topically, may reduce anxiety and promote self-esteem. Inhalation may have an important sedative effect.

 

Build your knowledge of the health benefits of essentials oils by learning the fundamentals. Enrol in our aromatherapy course online, like the Certificate of Aromatherapy and Health today!

Expand Your Health Career With Our Psychopharmacology Online Course

The word ‘drugs’ refers to medicines that can ease pain, arrest or cure disease or provide other benefits, however, some drugs can also have powerful side effects and lead to dependency. This is because drugs affect people in different ways and at different times. Understanding how certain types of drugs can affect human behaviour can assist those working in counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, nursing, social work, caring roles and other health professions.

The Certificate of Psychopharmacology will give you insights into drug treatments and preventative education strategies, and the effects of drugs on individuals and society. You will also explore a range of drugs — including sedatives and anti-anxiety drugs and those that are legal, legally restricted, prescription and available over-the-counter.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a psychopharmacology online course include:

  • Learning about the scope and nature of both legal and illegal drugs
  • Exploring amphetamine, cocaine, crack, LSD, Ritalin and steroids
  • Studying heroin, how it’s used and the names used for heroin
  • Gaining insights into the medical consequences of chronic heroin abuse
  • Exploring the treatments for heroin addiction including behavioural therapies
  • Examining the effects of drugs on society and the individual
  • Understanding why people use drugs and community acceptance around it
  • Learning about drug terminology and the physiological and psychological effects of drugs
  • Exploring addiction and how drugs work in the brain and central nervous system
  • Studying the effects of alcohol, sedatives, stimulants and hallucinogenics
  • Gaining insights into legally restricted drugs – stimulants and narcotics and symptoms of abuse
  • Examining how cocaine is abused, how it affects the brain and its adverse effects on health
  • Understanding cocaethylene, narcotics, designer drugs and the ecstasy pill
  • Learning about treatment options
  • Exploring legally restricted drugs – hallucinogens, marijuana, LSD and phencyclidine (PCP)
  • Gaining an understanding of the forms, effects, dangers and symptoms of abuse
  • Studying hallucinogen persisting perception disorder
  • Gaining insights into the effects of marijuana on the brain
  • Examining legal restricted drugs – steroids
  • Understanding the forms, symptoms and dangers of steroid abuse
  • Learning about legal drugs – alcohol
  • Exploring alcoholism, the symptoms of abuse and dangers of alcohol
  • Studying how to stay in control with alcohol
  • Gaining insights into treating alcohol amnestic syndrome (Korsakoff’s syndrome)
  • Examining alcohol and the developing brain

And more!

The History of Psychopharmacology

The science of psychopharmacology has seen major advances over the last 50 years, with the majority of currently licenced psychotropic drugs being first developed in the 1950s. In your psychopharmacology online course, you will learn about the different types of drugs and how they affect human behaviour. But what is the history of psychopharmacology?

Psychopharmacology originated in the early nineteenth century with the experimental and recreational human use of medicines and organic drugs. Coffee and tobacco were freely accessible in America. Plant derivatives like opium and tea freely available in the oriental region and alcohol was prevalent worldwide.

Over time, scientists became progressively curious as to how drugs affected animal behaviour, and through animal testing, the efficacy of certain substances became increasingly evident. During the latter part of the nineteenth century, alkaloids like morphine and chloral hydrate were growing in prevalence in asylums and university hospitals.

Prior to the use of drugs like thioridazine and chlorpromazine in the 1950s, over half a million people resided in American mental institutions. But with the development and use of pharmacologic interventions, the figure dramatically decreased to around 200,000 patients within ten years.

The term psychopharmacology was first used in the early 20th century, with modern history starting with the synthesis of chlorpromazine. This was used to treat psychotic disorders including manic depression and schizophrenia. Today, the term psychopharmacology essentially refers to the effect of certain medications on an individual’s mind and behaviour.

National Drug Strategy Household Survey

A psychopharmacology online course will allow you to explore a range of drugs — both legal, legally restricted, prescription and over-the-counter drugs. But what do the statistics say in terms of usage? The 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey collected information on tobacco and alcohol consumption and illegal drug use among the general Australian population. Here are some key findings:

Alcohol and cigarettes

  • Young adults are drinking less — in fact, fewer 12 to 17-year-olds are drinking, and they are less likely to smoke.
  • Fewer Australians are smoking tobacco, however, the use of e-cigarettes is increasing.
  • More Australians are giving up or reducing their alcohol intake, however, there is an increase in alcohol consumption by people in their 50s.

Illicit drugs

  • Around 3.4 million Australians reported using an illicit drug during the year.
  • The most common illicit drug is cannabis, followed by ecstasy, the misuse of pharmaceuticals and finally, cocaine.
  • While the overall use of methamphetamine had decreased, those that use crystal methamphetamine (ice) are using it more frequently.
  • While people aged 20 to 29 are still the most likely to use illicit substances, a greater proportion of older people are mis-using illicit substances and pharmaceuticals compared to previous years.

5 Facts About Mental Health in Australia

October 7 to 11 marked Mental Health Week this year. The theme Mind Your Health is a reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health. Our psychopharmacology online course will give you insights into the connection between drugs and mental health. But it will also bring to light how big an issue mental health is in Australia and how it can affect anyone.

Society must tackle mental illness to reduce stigma and discrimination and encourage people to seek support. It is commonly misunderstood as “mental ill-health”, but it’s actually about wellness — about enjoying life, feeling resilient and being able to connect with others. Here are five interesting statistics about mental health in Australia.

#1 –Australians’ most common illness

According to GPs, and a 2018 report from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australians discuss mental health issues with their doctor more than any issue. In fact, a survey of more than 1500 doctors cited that 62 per cent of patients consulted their doctor for mental disorders.

#2 – The prevalence of mental illness

Almost one in every five Australians will experience a mental illness in a given year. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, over four million Australians experienced a mental disorder in 2015, with numbers increasing year-on-year. The most common mental illnesses are anxiety, depression and substance use disorder.

#3 – The cause of poor health and disability

Mental health problems and substance use disorders are the leading cause of poor health and disability according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). In fact, they cite that they cause 23 per cent of all years lost due to disability. Issues are most prevalent in men between the ages of 30 and 69, who are more likely to have their life expectancy lowered by substance abuse. This is more commonly known as disability-adjusted life years (or DALY), and it’s a measure of overall disease burden. It was developed in the 1990s as a way of comparing the overall life expectancy and health of different countries.

#4 – Probable serious mental illness (PSMI)

Almost one in four young people meet the criteria for PSMI according to a report by Mission Australia and the Black Dog Institute. The report showed the figure increased from around 19 per cent in 2012 to almost 23 per cent in 2016. The number was even higher (around 31 per cent) with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents.

#5 – The early emergence of mental health disorders

Three-quarters of all lifetime mental health disorders emerge by the age of 24. This highlights the importance of urgent and ongoing gender and culturally sensitive responses to support young people’s health.

 

Gain a sound understanding of the short and long-term effects of various drugs and help people overcome dependency with a psychopharmacology online course, such as our Certificate of Psychopharmacology.

 

Offer Holistic Health Care With a Diversional Therapy Course

Diversional therapists provide opportunities where individuals can choose to participate in recreation and leisure activities that promote personal fulfilment and self-esteem. They also support participation, decision making and individual client choice when developing and managing these programs in a range of settings — from aged care homes to other community service sectors.

Ideal for Diversional Therapy Coordinators, Social Support Group Coordinators, Leisure and Lifestyle Coordinators and Therapy Aides, our Certificate of Diversional Therapy will optimise your skillset in what is a challenging and rewarding occupation.

In this course, you will develop your understanding of health and leisure issues in a diversional therapy setting, and learn how to plan the appropriate programs according to psychological theories and lifespan development concepts. You will also study how client-centred recreational experiences can support, challenge and enhance the physical, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of individuals of all abilities and ages.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a diversional therapy course include:

  • Gaining insights into community and outdoor recreation sectors
  • Examining planning programs, hazards and policies and procedures
  • Understanding professional development and career pathways
  • Learning how to contribute to health and leisure programming
  • Exploring client needs and interests and developing goals and outcomes
  • Studying program criteria and equipment and resources
  • Gaining insights into implementation, evaluation and encouraging participation
  • Examining program delivery, health and safety
  • Understanding contingency plans and how to evaluate program effectiveness
  • Learning how to record client information and assess client needs
  • Exploring individual strengths and interests and consultative approaches
  • Gaining an understanding of effective strategies and partnerships
  • Examining life stages and the capability of clients
  • Understanding settings, flexible timetables and program extensions
  • Learning how to give feedback, assess programs and give individual reviews
  • Exploring how to prepare programs for clients with complex needs
  • Studying strength-based practice and trauma-informed care
  • Gaining insights into empowering clients and modify equipment
  • Examining positive behaviour support and how to optimise involvement
  • Understanding therapy and client capabilities and competence
  • Learning how about lifespan development stages and the theories involved
  • Exploring dementia, muscle memory and life expectancy
  • Studying age, gender and cultural strategies
  • Gaining insights into health, wellness, illness and disability
  • Examining naturopathy, Ayurveda and acupuncture
  • Understanding psychological and psychiatric illness
  • Learning how to undertake a comprehensive client assessment and interpret results
  • Exploring how to develop timetables and develop and document activity plans
  • Studying how to use materials, facilities and equipment
  • Gaining insights into clear staff communication
  • Examining regular review processes and how to assess individual progress
  • Understanding how to evaluate programs including surveys and graphs
  • Learning how to provide leisure education and develop a plan
  • Exploring remedial and therapeutic benefits
  • Studying risk and client assessments

And more!

The Benefits of Leisure

Diversional therapy recognises that recreational experiences and leisure are the right of all individuals. When you study a diversional therapy course, you will begin to understand the role of practitioners in terms of their commitment to facilitating programs that encourage participation, decision-making and individual client choice. But what are some of the benefits of leisure?

Physical Benefits

  • A decrease in heart rate and blood pressure
  • An increase in lung capacity and bone mass and strength
  • A reduction in the incidence of diabetes
  • An increase in muscle strength, flexibility, coordination and balance
  • An improved immune system
  • An increase in a sense of wellbeing

Emotional Benefits

  • An increase in happiness and moral and life satisfaction
  • A rise in independence and autonomy
  • An increase in self-esteem and self-confidence
  • A perceived sense of freedom
  • The gaining of leadership skills
  • An increase in tolerance and understanding
  • Improved problem-solving skills

What Do Diversional Therapists Do?

Diversional therapists work with clients of all ages in a range of community, leisure and health settings, including:

  • Rehabilitation and hospital units
  • Community centres
  • Day and respite services
  • Aged care residential facilities
  • Disability services
  • Local councils
  • Outdoor recreation groups and camps
  • Ethnic-specific services
  • Palliative care units
  • Outreach programs
  • Mental health services
  • Specialist organisations

 

They can also assist individuals, organisations and community groups to develop and implement:

  • Individual programs
  • Group activities and programs
  • Holiday programs
  • Health promotion activities
  • Programs for: people living in hostels, nursing homes, residential care and retirement villages; those living with mental illness and disabilities; carers that focus on self-care and stress management; people with a terminal illness including their carers

History of Diversional Therapy

 

1940s

According to Diversional Recreation Therapy Australia (DRTA), diversional therapy began to take shape in Australia in the 1940s. It began with the Australian Red Cross (ARC) selecting and training students in activities under the guidance of a woman named Leila Bloore. A diversional therapy course ran from 1945 right up until 1976 through the ARC.

1950s

A greater awareness began to develop for the need to improve the quality of care provided to the increasing aged population. Part of this awareness was the inclusion of social, craft and recreation activities in their day-to-day lives. Following this, new teaching positions were created in nursing homes, hospitals, community centres and in organisations like the Royal Blind Society. It was recognised that people offering these services should have the expertise and skills to adapt and instruct clients in a variety of activities. This would ensure more participation and greater interest levels from clients.

1960s

In 1967, diversional therapy was introduced into nursing homes at the same time the NSW government was looking to transfer psychiatric patients to the community. To soften the impact, a pilot study was conducted that aimed to improve the quality of life for patients moving into these facilities. The study involved implementing programs that consisted of games, singing, craft and exercises. The study was completed in three months, however programs continued because of their proven value to both staff members and residents.

1970s

Seven students that undertook the last Handcraft Instructors Course offered by the NSW Red Cross Society formed the Diversional Therapy Association in 1976, and by 1977, there were thirty members.

1980s

From 1979 to 1984, there were around 560 association members from NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. In 1981, the first groups of the Association were formed.

In 1985, a two-year, full-time Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Diversional Therapy) course commenced at the Cumberland College of Health Sciences. Then during 1989, a Code of Ethics were formed, which incorporated a broad range of ideas from diversional therapists employed in a range of settings.

1990s

In 1990, the Cumberland College of Health Sciences was affiliated with the University of Sydney. The course was upgraded to a degree in 1995 — a Bachelor of Applied Science (Diversional Therapy). During the same year, Charles Sturt University also offered a Bachelor of Health Science (Leisure & Health) and an Associate Diploma of Health Science (Leisure & Health) via distance education.

In 1996, the University of Western Sydney established a Bachelor of Applied Science (Diversional Therapy), which become a Bachelor of Applied Science (Therapeutic Recreation).

Recent Years

In 2010, a national head office was established, a national conference was held, and the organisation continued to deliver workshops across Australia. DRTA now provides a forum for networking and the sharing of ideas, supports members through continuing professional development, and actively promotes diversional therapy practise and education to both members and the wider community.

There are seven DRTA membership types available for qualified Diversional Therapists and Assistants, Lifestyle Coordinators, Leisure and Health Professionals, Activity Officers or those who hold a relevant degree or are studying towards one. You can learn more about becoming a member here.

 

Learn how to plan and promote leisure and recreation programs for individuals of all ages and abilities with our Certificate of Diversional Therapy.

 

 

Discover How to Bring Your Novel to Life!

Are you an aspiring writer needing some help to bring your novel to life? Perhaps you’ve got a story idea that’s been nagging at you for a while, and you lack direction? Wherever you are in the writing process if fiction is your forte then this online writing course for you!

The Certificate of Fiction Writing is an online writing course that will help you masterfully bring characters to life, create vivid scenes and develop plot twists that will have readers on the edge of their seats!

You’ll learn what makes up a fictional story, how to structure a novel, from romance to science fiction, comedy and more, and develop a plan for publication. You’ll also about learn about theme development, research, writing and editing techniques, as well as how to submit your work to publishers.

So, whether you’re seeking a deeper understanding of genre, modes, writing types of the theoretical underpinnings of fiction, this course is perfect for you!

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking this online writing course include:

  • Nature and scope offiction writing.
  • Components of afiction
  • Systematic approaches to building afiction
  • Ability to conceivefiction
  • Improve your ability to write dramatic stories.
  • Enhance your ability to write fantasy.
  • Develop your ability to write short stories.
  • Plan for success in thewriting of a novel.
  • Determine the difference between several genres and types of writing.
  • Key writing concepts (theme, characterisation, and ideation).
  • Recognise common errors and pitfalls in writing and how to avoid them.
  • Understand how to revise and improve your work.
  • Develop an understanding of how to apply good writing practice and theory.
  • Create well-written, engaging stories and other creative works.
  • Learn to research, write and edit a fictional story.
  • Draft a creative piece and develop a plan to publish.

…And more!

Have You Tried Method Writing?  

You may have heard of method acting. Method writing is much the same, where writers immerse themselves in the worlds of their characters. It’s a writing approach where an author lives like the characters in their novel. You could say it’s taking research to a deeper level where the writer attempts to live their character’s experiences to write more authentically.

It could mean taking a trip to a remote Australian farm to experience outback life firsthand or volunteering at a homeless shelter to discover what it’s like to live in poverty. Perhaps your main character is facing a mental health challenge, and you observe life in a psychiatric hospital?

It’s often said, write what you know – but unless you’re writing your biography none of us can write with genuine authenticity about all the events in a novel from experience. And that’s where method writing comes in, and why novel writing can be a real escape and adventure!

5 Popular Literary Techniques to Try

Literary techniques are an important element of fiction writing. Writers can choose a combination of techniques, including allusion, alliteration, allegory, symbolism, imagery and figurative language.

Allusion

Allusions are an artful way of telling a story.  An allusion is a figure of speech that references a person, place, thing, or event (real or imaginary). It’s a literary technique that can refer to anything from fiction to folklore, religion or historian events.

Example: He was always such a Romeo when it came dating.

Alliteration

A literary device where two or more words in writing share the same beginning consonant sound. The words may be next to each other or separated by one or more words. The main reason a writer uses alliteration is to emphasise something meaningful in their work.

Example: Phillip’s feet were freezing. 

Allegory

An allegory is a story within a story often used to deliver a difficult message in an easy-to-understand format. It makes them extremely useful and expressive literary tools.

Example: Seuss’The Sneetches as an allegory for racism and other forms of prejudice. The story is all about creatures who are treated as inferior because they don’t have stars on their bellies.

Symbolism

A literary device used in which one thing (usually a physical object) is used to represent something more abstract. Example of symbolism in literature

Example: Her mother had a sixth sense like an owl (owls symbolise wisdom.)

Imagery

Imagery is a literary device that is used to help a reader imagine the world of the piece of literature. It is also useful in adding symbolism. Imagery often draws on the five senses, taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound, to help the reader understand the fictional world the author has created.

Example: Her nanna’s apple pie always brought back memories of her youth.

 

Build your confidence in fiction writing by learning the fundamentals, enrol in our online writing course, the Certificate of Fiction Writing today!

Turn Drama into Dollars With Our Creative Writing Course

Ideal for authors, screen and creative writers or those for a passion for the written word, our Certificate of Dramatic Writing will help you weave compelling drama into a variety of writing styles. These include everything from novels, poems and short stories to screenplays and movie and television scripts.

You will learn to understand plot and character development, create conflict (in a good way), and develop your unique ‘voice’. You will also discover the different genres and themes in dramatic writing, how to develop powerful story ideas with compelling dialogue, and how to use the narrative arc and three-act structure. With this course, powerful plots, engaging verse, riveting rhyme and sensational screenplays can be yours!

 

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a creative writing course include:

  • Learning about motivation and keeping a notebook
  • Exploring typing time and useful terms
  • Studying the types of writing — reflection, exposition, description, explanation and argument
  • Gaining insights into making decisions about what to write
  • Examining the concept, synopsis and the process of planning and story development
  • Understanding how to develop your voice
  • Learning how to develop and build characters
  • Exploring main and minor characters
  • Studying theme and genre, including how to develop a theme
  • Gaining insights into sub-themes
  • Examining how to create conflict
  • Understanding plot development
  • Learning about first decisions, ambience and the end of a story
  • Exploring the types of dramatic story including memoirs, biographies, historical and reflective stories
  • Studying how to weave a story
  • Gaining insights into techniques including action, emotion, mirror, parallel lives and palm cards
  • Examining writer’s block
  • Understanding how to develop a story line and things to avoid
  • Learning about different approaches including transition and dialectic
  • Exploring how a character affects a plot
  • Studying how plot affects genre
  • Gaining insights into goals, motive and consequences
  • Examining flashbacks ands flashforwards
  • Understanding how to write a dramatic short story
  • Learning about main characters and antagonists
  • Exploring how to create a sense of place
  • Studying how to develop sub-plots in terms of method, plants and activity
  • Examining how to write chapters for a dramatic work including a play or novel
  • Understanding how to write as a business and deal with publishers
  • Learning how to get published
  • Exploring writing resources
  • Studying how to create a chapter or segment of a larger work

 

And more!

Six Dramatic Literary Devices Used By Shakespeare

Many believe that William Shakespeare is one of the greatest creative writers in the history of English literature. He used literary devices — structures writers use to communicate with their audiences — to extraordinary effect. He made characters seem like real people in real places doing things real people do. And he made us identify with the events and characters of his writings to create the illusion of reality. Here are some of his best devices — it’s great fodder to approach our creative writing course with!

#1 – Allusion

This is a reference to a place, event, person or place usually without explicit identification. Allusions can be references to mythology, the bible, historical events, geography, legends or other literary works. Shakespeare’s plots are frequently based on historical events and legends, and he was fond of alluding to mythology. One of the best examples of this is in Anthony and Cleopatra, where the lovers are frequently described as Roman gods and their love seems to transcend the limits of earthly romantic love.

#2 – Dramatic Device

Dramatic devices are tools that drive action, and Shakespeare was a master at using them. In his plays, each drama closely follows another, hurling the action forward until the last moment of drama. A great example of this is in Macbeth, where the witches suggest that Macbeth, a captain in the king’s army, could actually become king himself. He raises it with his wife who encourages him to kill King Duncan — and he does. This is a powerful dramatic device that leads to all kinds of consequences.

#3 – Dramatic Irony

This is used in a situation where the reader or watcher knows something about circumstances in the present or future that the character doesn’t. In Macbeth, when King Duncan’s body is found, Macbeth reacts as though he is furious with the supposed murderers even though the audience knows that he is, in fact, the murderer.

#4 – Monologue

Shakespeare’s plays are littered with monologues, which are long, interrupted speeches that are spoken in the presence of other characters. These are different to soliloquies that are spoken in isolation. A few of the more famous begin with:

  • “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks …” from Romeo and Juliet
  • “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players …” from As You Like It
  • “Is this a dagger which I see before me …” from Macbeth

#5 – Soliloquy

This is a speech in which a character expresses his or her thoughts aloud, but they are alone. It allows writers to convey a character’s most intimate feelings and thoughts directly to the audience. Essentially, these characters aren’t talking but thinking, and some of Shakespeare’s finest pieces of writing are in this form. A great example is the “To be or not to be – that is the question…” soliloquy from Hamlet

#6 – Symbolism

This is the frequent use of places, words, objects or characters that mean something beyond what they literally are. Shakespeare’s use of symbolism is probably one of his most distinguishing characteristics as a writer. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, the word ‘blood’ refers to a variety of themes, from youth and passion to violence and family ties. In King Lear, an example of symbolism is when Shakespeare refers to wild animals with sharp claws, talons and teeth. This reflects the cruel and savage ways the members of the younger generation treat their elders. In the play, it refers to the pain suffered by characters Lear and Gloucester.

How To Get Your Work Published

Lots of people have stories to share, but both technology and time have changed the publishing world. So if you’ve done your creative writing course and have a manuscript ready to go, what are your options?

Commercial Publishing

The first step is to find a publisher and check their submission guidelines, which often vary. However, usually, it consists of a cover letter, a synopsis and a number of chapters. Then comes the waiting … and it’s usually months. You then either don’t hear from them at all, you are formally rejected, or they may request an entire manuscript … and then you wait again.

If you are accepted (yippee!), you will be given a contract. Depending on the size of the publisher, there could be an advance involved, an advance against the royalties or just royalties. Standard royalties are around five to ten per cent of a book’s recommended retail price (RRP). Publishers will normally assign you an editor to work with to fine-tune the writing, lay the book out, issue a cover design and market it to book stores. Ultimately, you’ll pay nothing as they will take on all of the financial risks.

Partnership Publishing

With partnership publishing, you will have to pay a sizeable amount ($5,000 plus) for publishing services. These will include copyediting, your book layout and the cover design. To print your book will cost extra, however, a partnership publisher will normally cover your book’s distribution and bookstore negotiations, and they’ll advertise your book on their website. The downside is that they carry none of the financial risks — it’s all on you. Plus, they will normally expect around 50 per cent of your royalties.

Self-Publishing

This is probably the most challenging form of publishing and you’re all on your own here. You will need to organise all of the components from editing, layout and design, to finding a printer and organising the details like the size of the print run. And that’s not even the hard part. You then face the daunting task of finding suitable distribution networks, including bookstores, to get your most prized possession out into the world!

 

Develop the knowledge and skills to produce dramatic writing in a variety of writing genres and get published with our Certificate of Dramatic Writing.

Work With Young People? Up-Skill With Our Psychology of Adolescence

The teenage years can be very challenging, and traditional approaches to understanding adolescence paint a picture of mood swings and emotional disturbances. But while puberty involves certain emotional, physical and psychological adjustments, teenagers can actually develop richer and more meaningful relationships during this time.

The Certificate of Adolescent Psychology is a valuable course for anyone who deals with teenagers in their daily lives — at home or at work. This includes parents, teachers, carers, counsellors, sports coaches, employment officers and youth and social workers.

You will learn about how the adolescent mind grows and develops, how to recognise their development phases, and how to support, guide and positively influence adolescents through crises in their journey into adulthood. You will also study an adolescent’s physical, emotional, intellectual, social, sexual and moral development. This includes exploring the theories of renowned psychologists like Kohlberg and Piaget. With this course, you and the teenagers you deal with will get through this together! 

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking psychology of adolescence course include:

  • Learning about the theories of human development
  • Exploring adolescence and moral development
  • Studying Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and the stages
  • Gaining insights into Erikson’s psychosocial development theory and the stages
  • Examining life crises and associated problems
  • Learning about attachment theory
  • Understanding puberty and the problems experienced by adolescents
  • Learning about internalised and externalised problems
  • Exploring physical development including puberty in females and males
  • Studying hormones
  • Gaining insights into obesity and physical activity
  • Examining intellectual development
  • Understanding school problems
  • Learning about Piaget’s formal operations stage
  • Exploring emotional development including Freud’s theories
  • Gaining an understanding of emotional problems
  • Studying depression, eating problems and teenagers and grief
  • Gaining insights into typical childhood responses to grief
  • Examining how to support a grieving child
  • Understanding adolescent sexuality
  • Learning about the acquisition of gender identity and social role identity
  • Exploring vicarious learning and sexual identity
  • Examining curiosity, masturbation, sexuality and nudity
  • Studying sex and sexual behaviour
  • Gaining insights into gender dysphoria
  • Understanding how to answer questions
  • Learning about social development
  • Exploring family influence, types of parenting and the denigration of parents
  • Studying moral development and Piaget’s theory
  • Gaining insights into Kohlberg’s theory of moral reasoning
  • Examining delinquency and crime
  • Understanding juvenile delinquency and the pathways to delinquency
  • Learning about gangs and crimes more likely in adolescence
  • Exploring behaviour problems
  • Studying drugs, solvents and alcohol
  • Gaining insights into child abuse and stranger abuse
  • Examining the triggers of abuse
  • Understanding how to deal with deviance
  • Learning about adolescents and the transition to adulthood
  • Exploring Erikson’s later stages
  • Studying the transition to adulthood

And more!

 

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development

This is a comprehensive theory about the nature and development of human intelligence, and it was developed by Swiss developmental psychologist, Jean Piaget. The theory deals with the nature of knowledge, and how humans gradually acquire, construct and use it, and there are four stages.

You will become familiar with the final stage of it — the formal operational stage — when studying our psychology of adolescence course. The final stage affects children aged 12 to adulthood as they transition through adolescence into adulthood. Key features of this stage include:

  • The ability to demonstrate intelligence through the logical use of symbols related to abstract concepts.
  • Individuals being capable of deductive and hypothetical reasoning.
  • ‘Hypothetico-deductive reasoning’, which involves hypothetical ‘what-if’ situations that aren’t always rooted in reality. It is often required in maths and science.
  • The emergence of abstract thought. Children tend to think very specifically in their earlier years, but eventually begin to consider possible outcomes and the consequences of their actions.
  • Metacognition, which is the capacity for ‘thinking about thinking’ that allows adolescents and adults to reason and monitor their thought processes.
  • The ability to systematically solve a problem in a logical and methodical way rather than via trial and error (which children generally do).

His Experiments

Piaget and his colleagues conducted several experiments to assess children’s formal operational thought. In one of these, they evaluated the cognitive capabilities of children of different ages via the use of a scale and various weights. Their task was to balance the scale by adding weights on the ends of the scale. To successfully complete the task, they had to use formal operational thought in order to realise that the heaviness of the weights and the distance of the weights from the centre would both affect the balance.

In essence, a lighter weight had to be placed further from the centre of the scale and a heavier weight closer to the centre, so that the two weights balanced each other. The three to five year olds couldn’t comprehend the concept of balance. But by the age of seven, children could balance the scale by placing the same weights on both ends. However, they failed to realise the importance of the location.

By age ten, children were thinking about location, but failed to use logic — instead, they used trial and error. By the aged of around thirteen, children more clearly understood the relationship between distance and weight and could successfully implement their hypothesis.

 

Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Development

Erik Erikson articulated this theory in the second half of the 20th century. It is a comprehensive psychoanalytic theory that identified a series of eight stages that a healthy developing individual passes through from infancy to late adulthood.

In this psychology of adolescence course, you will cover stage five, which is titled Fidelity: Identity vs. Role Confusion, and it is relevant to adolescents from around 12 to 19 years of age. The existential question Erikson poses here is, “Who Am I and What Can I Be?”

At this stage, adolescents are achieving their identity in terms of gender roles, occupation and in some cultures, religion. They are also concerned about how they appear to others. ‘Superego identity’ is established which is the “accrued confidence that the outer sameness and continuity prepared in the future are matched by the sameness and continuity of one’s meaning for oneself”. This can be seen in the situation of settling on a school, occupational identity and the promise of a career.

In later stages, individuals develop a sense of sexual identity and ponder the roles they will play in the adult world. Some will experience confusion about the specific ways they will fit into society and may experiment. For example, they may tinker with cars, babysit neighbours’ children or affiliate with certain religious or political groups. Erikson proposes that most adolescents will eventually achieve a sense of identity in terms of who they are and where their lives are headed.

Erikson is credited with coining the term ‘identity crisis’. Each stage that has come before and follows has its own ‘crisis’, but the fifth stage is unique because it parallels the transition from childhood to adulthood. He proposed that this turning point in human development is the reconciliation between “the person one has come to be” and “the person society expects one to become”. This emerging sense of self is typically established by forging past experiences with anticipations for the future.

Adolescence is a time of radical change — from the changes that happen with puberty, the sharpened awareness of the roles society offers for later life, and the ability of the mind to “search one’s own intentions and the intentions of others”. According to Erikson, when an adolescent has balanced both of the perspectives of “What have I got?” and “What am I going to do with it?” they have established their identity.

Identify issues that are unique to young adults, distinguish between ‘typical’ and ‘problem’ behaviours, and learn how to support and respond to them confidently with our Certificate of Adolescent Psychology.

Learn How to Be a Freelance Writer!

Whether you want to make writing a full-time career or create a profitable side hustle, there’s no shortage of work for those with passion for words.

If you’re wondering how to get started, consider freelance writing courses to develop your skills and knowledge. Our Certificate of Freelance Writing and Certificate of Freelance Writing (Advanced) will help you to improve your writing skills, discover potential specialisations and find out how to get published (and paid)!

These freelance writing courses will teach you about different writing techniques, sentence structure and theme development, how to research and interview, as well as pitching your work in this competitive industry.

You will also explore educational, fictional and scientific writing, and how to write in various styles, including columns, reviews, news articles, newsletters, biographies and scripts for television and radio.

So, if you want to improve your writing skills and gain the knowledge to secure writing work as a freelancer – this is an ideal writing course for you!

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking freelance writing courses include:

  • Categories of freelance writing
  • Steps to getting started
  • Necessary resources (including equipment)
  • Researching the market
  • Sources of information
  • How to develop yourself as a freelance writer
  • Publishing options
  • Industry terminology
  • How to improve a piece of writing
  • Essential writing skills
  • Informative language
  • Persuasive language
  • Imaginative language
  • Connotation and denotation
  • Literal and figurative language
  • Writing an outline synopsis
  • Planning your writing
  • Word budget
  • Contacting publishers
  • Periodicals
  • Books
  • Sample publishing contract
  • Protecting the writers work
  • Copyright
  • Income from writing
  • Manuscripts
  • Newspaper writing
  • Advertising
  • Writing books
  • Technical writing
  • Educational writing
  • Fiction
  • Biographies

 

…And more!

 

12 Ways to Find Freelance Writing Jobs

When you’re skilled up and ready to find your first writing job as a beginner, it’s exciting! But it’s also daunting. On the one hand, you’re confident in your ability and can’t wait to get started – but on the other, you’re stuck. How do you find freelance writing jobs as a beginner?

When you’re ready to launch your writing career or side hustle, try the following techniques to start building your client list! Remember, if at first you don’t succeed – pick yourself up and try again.

Writing is a competitive industry, and those with perseverance reap the most significant rewards.

 

1. Pitch to Job Boards/Socials

Many websites have job boards, and they usually have lots of quality work for freelancers. Google ‘jobs board’and ‘content writer’ (or whatever type of writing job you’re looking for) to find a list of potential paying clients.

Make sure you promote your services as a writer on all your social networks too.

2. Join Facebook Groups

There are Facebook groups you can join as a freelance writer that helps you connect with other writers and potential clients. If you join an entrepreneurial Facebook group, you could ask, ‘What’s the one thing you wish was easier in your business?’ …then look for any responses mentioning content. You have a new lead with content needs!

3. Ask Your Network to Spread the Word

You might be surprised by how many leads you’ll generate – and work you’ll get – as a result of hassling your friends and family. Tell everyone you know that you’re a freelance writer looking for work. Spread it on social media and in your social life!

4. Guest Post for a Link (To Your Website)

A website is a must for all freelance writers. It doesn’t have to be amazing – you can even design it yourself on platforms like WordPress and Square Space! All you need is information about yourself, a portfolio of work and contact information.

5. Guest Post for a Link (To Your Website)

Guest posts are an excellent way to promote your writing while directing potential leads to your website. Look for online publications or websites that interest you or have content that aligns with your experience and offer to write content for free in exchange for a bi-line and link back to your website.

6. Network with Other Writers

Believe it or not, connecting with other writers – your competition – is a great way to find work. There will be times when writers have too much work and need to pass clients onto other writers. So, start connecting with other writers and let them know your skillset or particular areas of expertise so you’ll be top of mind when their workload is more than they can handle.

7. Try Warm Pitching!

Ditch the cold pitch. It doesn’t generate the leads you’ll need to survive as a freelancer. Why? Because people like to hire people they know or ‘know of.’ So, how do you warm pitch? There are many ways to warm up a cold pitch, from connecting with potential clients on social media platforms (LinkedIn and Twitter are good options) or attending networking events. It’s a slowly, slowly approach to building a relationship before pitching your services – and it pays off.

 8. Say You’re Taking New Clients

If you have social media accounts for your writing, make sure you promote that fact that you’re taking new clients. Often, people may overlook you thinking that you’re busy with a full client list. A simple statement welcoming contact from new clients could land you work.

 9. Printing & Design Referrals

Design and print agencies are your go-to when it comes to finding local work as a writer. These types of businesses deal with high volumes of clients who are often looking for content. A simple Google search of design or print agencies in your area will provide you with a starting point to find your first clients. 

10. Pitch it Perfect

If you want to write news or feature stories for newspapers, magazines – whether online or in print – pitch a new, exciting or unique idea, to the editor or editorial assistant.

You can find a list of media contacts via directories such as The Australian Writer’s Marketplace.

 11. Contact a Content Agency

Thousands of writing jobs are advertised daily with online job sites. You can register with these ‘agencies’ as a writer and apply for jobs as they come up. In most cases, it’s free to open an account, write yourself a winning profile and start bidding or applying for jobs.

The downside of finding work with a content agency is fierce competition and writers working for far less than they’re worth. Be wary, and only apply for jobs that pay respectably – after all, you get what you pay for, quality over quantity and all that

The positives? If you’re new to freelancing, it’s the perfect place to start building a writing portfolio. It’s also an ideal way to learn how to create a winning business proposal, follow set briefs and engage with clients.

A simple Google search of Australian content agencies will bring up many results; some of the most popular include Upwork, Prozely and Freelancer.

12. Join a Freelance Directory

Register for freelance work with an online directory, such as Rachel’s List. You can look for jobs that interest you, and potential clients can also find you.

Make sure you sell yourself in the ‘About Me’ section. If it’s an option, include a link to your website so that would-be clients see you as an attractive prospect for their next writing gig.

  

If you want to turn words into a career or side hustle, get started today with a freelance writing course like the Certificate of Freelance Writing or Certificate of Freelance Writing (Advanced).

Plant the Seeds For Success With Our Online Biochemistry Course

Chemical reactions are at the heart of everything that happens in a plant, from the germination of seeds and the growth of tissues to the production of fruit and flowers. Our Certificate of Biochemistry (Plants) is ideal for farmers and gardeners, people in teaching or research professions or those working in the hydroponics or horticultural sector.

The course will give you insights into the elements, chemicals, compounds, enzymes, lipids, proteins and hormones of plants, how chemical reactions happen, and how a range of plants can be best managed and used. You will also learn about the nitrogen cycle, assimilation and transpiration, acidity and alkalinity, respiration and photosynthesis, and the chemical analyses and biochemical applications relating to plants.

Get ready to nurture the growth of your career!

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking an online biochemistry course include:

  • Learning about atoms, elements and compounds, chemical names
  • Studying alkyl and biochemical groups
  • Exploring the table of significant elements
  • Gaining insights into carbohydrate types and the carbon cycle
  • Examining biochemical processes in plants and animals
  • Understanding the components of a chemical and the classification of living things
  • Learning about lipids, proteins and carbohydrates
  • Exploring hydrolysis, aromatic compounds, lipoproteins and proteins in the human diet
  • Studying hormones, enzymes and isoenzymes
  • Gaining insights into the effects of temperature
  • Examining chemical growth modification
  • Understanding activation
  • Learning about nitrogen and the nitrogen cycle
  • Exploring nitrogen fixation
  • Studying ammonification
  • Gaining insights into nitrification
  • Understanding the urea cycle
  • Learning about photosynthesis and respiration
  • Exploring light and dark restrictions
  • Studying the Calvin cycle
  • Gaining insights into respiration and the rate of respiration
  • Examining assimilation and transpiration
  • Understanding transpiration and the factors that affect it
  • Learning about the metabolism of plants and animals
  • Exploring animal nutrition, respiration and synthesis
  • Studying mechanisms and nutrient uptake in plants
  • Gaining insights into acidity and alkalinity
  • Understanding how to measure soil and media pH
  • Learning about nutrient availability and pH
  • Exploring Cation exchange capacity and pH
  • Studying plant cellular pH balance
  • Gaining insights into chemical analysis

…And more!

10 Fascinating Facts About Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis involves a set of biochemical reactions where energy from the sun converts water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. Here are some fascinating facts about photosynthesis that will give you all the motivation you need to study our online biochemistry course.

#1 – Plant use glucose in lots of ways

All life forms that require oxygen to survive use glucose in a process called aerobic cellular respiration. This breaks down glucose molecules and stores the energy that’s released during the process. This provides the energy cells need, however, glucose is also used for other purposes. Plants use it as a building block to build starch for their long-term energy storage and cellulose to build other structures.

#2 – Chlorophyll makes leaves green

The reason why plants are green is that their cells contain an abundance of chlorophyll. It is the most common molecule used for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll absorbs solar energy, which drives the reaction between water and carbon dioxide. The pigment appears green because it absorbs red and blue wavelengths of light and therefore reflects the colour green!

#3 – There are other photosynthetic pigments

Chlorophyll is not a single pigment molecule. It is a family of related molecules that share a similar structure. Other pigment molecules also reflect and absorb different wavelengths of light. In autumn, leaves produce less chlorophyll to prepare for winter, which is why leaves change colour. The gold, red and purple colours are other photosynthetic pigments.

#4 – Photosynthesis is performed by chloroplasts

Plants have eukaryotic cells, which contain specialised structures known as organelles, including chloroplasts. These contain chlorophyll which make glucose via photosynthesis. A chloroplast contains structures called stroma and grana (grana collectively form a structure called a thylakoid). Light-dependent chemical reactions involving chlorophyll take place in the grana and thylakoids.

#5 – Chlorophyll loves the number six  

Glucose is a large molecule even though it’s a simple sugar compared to water or carbon dioxide.  It takes six molecules of water and six of carbon dioxide to make one molecule of glucose and six molecules of oxygen. Here’s a lovely chemical equation you’ll probably encounter when studying an online biochemistry course.

6CO2(g) + 6H2O(l) → C6H12O6 + 6O2(g)

#6 – The opposite of photosynthesis is cellular respiration

Photosynthesis yields molecules used for energy and produces glucose, which is an energy storage molecule. It requires water and carbon dioxide to make oxygen and sugar. Cellular respiration takes the sugar and turns it into a form that plants can use. It uses oxygen and sugar to release water, carbon dioxide and energy.

Photosynthetic organisms perform both of these reactions, but in plants, these reactions aren’t equal. Green plants release much more oxygen than they use, which is why they are a vital part of our planet’s breathable atmosphere!

#7 – Other organisms perform photosynthesis

Organisms that use light for the energy they need to make their own food are called producers. While plants are the most well-known producers, cyanobacteria algae and some protists also make sugar via photosynthesis. There are also ‘consumers’, which are creatures that eat producers to get energy.

One example is a species of sea slug (Elysia chlorotica). It steals photosynthetic organelles chloroplasts from algae and puts them into its own cells. The oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) uses the pigment xanthoperin to convert light into electricity, which it uses to power its nightly activities.

#8 – Photosynthesis takes many forms

Plants use different sets of reactions to achieve photosynthesis, including light reactions and dark reactions (you’ll learn this in our online biochemistry course — it’s called the Calvin cycle). C3 photosynthesis occurs when plants have availability to lots of water. They use an enzyme called  RuBP carboxylase that reacts with carbon dioxide, and both dark and light reactions can occur simultaneously in a plant cell.

In C4 photosynthesis, instead of RuBP carboxylase, the enzyme PEP carboxylase is used. This is useful when water is scarce and all of the photosynthetic reactions can’t take place in the same cells.

In CAM photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is only taken into plants at night, where it is stored to be processed during the day. This process helps plants conserve water, because leaf stomata are only open at night when it’s more humid and cooler. The downside is the plant can only produce glucose from the stored carbon dioxide, and because less is produced, plants (like desert plants) tend to grow very slowly.

#9 – Plants are constructed for photosynthesis

The entire structure of a plant is built to support the process of photosynthesis. Leaves contain pores called stomata that limit water loss and control gas exchange. Some plants also have spines that promote water condensation and a waxy coating that minimises water loss. The roots of a plant are designed to absorb water, which is transported by vascular tissue called xylem to leaves and stems.

#10 – Photosynthesis makes our planet liveable

Photosynthesis releases the oxygen humans and animals need to live, but another important component of the reaction is carbon fixation. When humans and animals exhale carbon dioxide, photosynthetic organisms like trees and algae remove carbon dioxide from the air and transform it into other organic compounds … which ultimately supports life!

 

Gain a broad understanding of the importance of plant biochemistry, not only for plants but for the environment and humans as well with our Certificate of Biochemistry (Plants).

Gain Knowledge of Livestock With Our Animal Husbandry Course

Animal husbandry is a branch of agriculture concerned mainly with animals raised for milk, meat, eggs, fibre or other products. Our animal husbandry course, the Certificate of Animal Husbandry will give you a sound knowledge of animal physiology and anatomy and is ideal for those working with cattle, pigs, goats, sheep and poultry in a range of industries.

You will explore animal’s tissues, cells, muscles and skeletons, and their circulatory, respiratory, nervous, urinary, digestive, reproductive and endocrine systems. You will also learn about common diseases that affect farm animals, their signs and symptoms and the causes and treatment of issues including inflammation, wounds and cell changes.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking an animal husbandry course include:

  • Learning about livestock classes and products
  • Exploring the interrelationship between crops and livestock
  • Studying tissues, cells and the special properties of cells
  • Gaining insights into osmosis and nutrient waste
  • Examining the digestive system, the mouth, tongue, teeth and oesophagus
  • Understanding the small and large intestine, digestion and enzymes
  • Learning about the simple and ruminant stomach and its digestion, utilisation and absorption
  • Exploring the accessory organs of the digestive system
  • Studying mechanical action and the breakdown and action of microorganisms
  • Gaining insights into the utilisation of the end products of digestion
  • Examining the circulatory system and the composition and functions of blood
  • Understanding blood vessels, veins, arteries, capillaries and the clotting mechanism
  • Learning about immunity and the rates of heartbeats
  • Exploring the spleen, lymphatic system and circulatory networks
  • Studying the anatomy and physiology of the urinary system
  • Gaining insights into the kidneys, ureter and bladder
  • Examining excretion in different animals
  • Understanding the central, peripheral, automatic, nervous and endocrine systems
  • Learning about neurons – sensory and motor
  • Exploring the brain, the spinal cord, cranial and spinal nerves and reflex actions
  • Studying hearing and the structure and function of the ear
  • Gaining insights into the iris and the structure and function of the eye
  • Examining the structure and function of the nose
  • Understanding the anatomy and physiology of respiration
  • Learning about the bronchial tree, trachea and lungs
  • Exploring gaseous exchange and the rate and depth of breathing
  • Studying the male reproductive system including physiology, anatomy, nutrition and poor handling
  • Gaining insights into testes, the penis, erection, ejaculation and hormone and sperm production
  • Examining fertility problems in males, venereal diseases, injury and physical and emotional maturity
  • Understanding the anatomy of the female reproductive system — the ovaries, uterus, cervix and fallopian tubes

….And more!

Things You May Not Know About Farm Animals

From goats and sheep to pigs, cows and poultry, an animal husbandry course will give you some fascinating insights into animals’ anatomy and physiology — as will the following fascinating facts:

Goats

  • Goats don’t have teeth on their upper jaw, rather they have a hard palate that helps them grind their food.
  • They are great companions for other farm animals, including cows, horses and chickens.
  • According to many historians, they were the first animal to be domesticated.
  • They are among the cleanest of animals.
  • They eat many different species of plants, but won’t eat food that has been contaminated.
  • A female goat is called a doe.
  • Some wild goats can climb trees and walk along ledges not much wider than a tightrope.
  • They have rectangular pupils, allowing them to see well in the dark.
  • They are great swimmers.

Sheep

  • Female sheep are called ewes, male sheep are called rams, and baby sheep are called lambs.
  • Sheep make a bleating sound, and baby lambs can identify their mother by her bleat.
  • Mature ewes produce three to nearly five kilograms of newly shorn wool a year.
  • Sheep have two toes on each foot.

Pigs

  • Pigs are considered the fourth most intelligent animal in the world (after chimps, dolphins and elephants).
  • A group of pigs is called a ‘sounder’.
  • They can run over 17 kilometres miles per hour.
  • Pigs don’t have sweat glands, so they roll in mud to prevent sunburn and stay cool.

Cows

  • Cows can recognize their names (although don’t expect them to come when they’re called!)
  • They have a memory of around three years.
  • Cows are social animals that form bonds with each other, and in herds, will often form cliques.
  • They can sense a storm coming and will often lie down.

Poultry

  • Some breeds of chickens can lay coloured eggs — even green and blue.
  • Chickens have over 200 distinct noises they make for communicating.
  • Male ducks are called drakes and female ducks, hens.
  • Ducklings are born ready to leave the nest within hours of hatching.
  • Ducks’ feathers are waterproof — a gland near their tail produces oil that covers the outer coats of their feathers.
  • Geese are very faithful and mate for life. They will even mourn when their partner dies.
  • A male goose is called a gander and a group of geese is called a gaggle.

 

Tips on Caring for Farm Animals

When it comes to animals, consistent care and good hygiene will ensure they have a happy, healthy existence. An animal husbandry course will give you insights into caring for them responsibly, but it’s also important you understand their unique needs. Here are our top tips for some of the more popular farm animals.

Cattle

Cattle can be raised for meat or dairy in smaller herds on a reasonably small block. One of the benefits of cows is that they don’t require elaborate facilities and can be easily treated effectively for illnesses. However, they do need a diet rich in fibre, fencing to stop them straying, shelter to protect them from weather, and clean and plentiful supply of water. They should also be regularly checked for parasites and pests.

Goats

Goats are hardy animals, well suited to the Australian climate, and can be kept for dairy, meat or as pets. However, as companion animals, you will need at least two goats otherwise they will suffer (and cause trouble!) Goats are great escape artists, so need to be contained with fences of the appropriate height. They also need shelter from the weather, and plenty of water and feed roughage to stay healthy.

Pigs

In terms of housing, pigs only need a basic shelter, but it should include shading as they can get sunburnt easily! It should also have an outside run so they can exercise and use their natural instinct to forage, which will alleviate their propensity to become bored and destructive. They also need to be able to partake in a mud bath in hot weather because they can overheat easily. Pigs will eat almost anything, including compost, but need a diet that suits their nutritional needs.

Sheep

Sheep are another popular small farm animal that can be raised for fleece, meat and even milk. In terms of nutrition, they need access to fresh, clean water and good pasture with a variety of different herbage and grasses. Weed control is also an important part of pasture management as some weeds are poisonous to sheep. And while they aren’t high maintenance, you should look out for worms and other parasites, and they should be kept in a flock in order to thrive.

Chickens

Chickens are possibly the easiest livestock of all to manage on a small block or even in a suburban backyard! Their basic needs are plenty of fresh, clean water, protection from weather extremes, and a dry place to nest, sleep and lay their eggs. Safe shelter and proper fencing are essential to protect them from predators including snakes, foxes and dogs. In terms of food, a good quality feed pellet ensures dietary needs are met and veggie scraps added for variety. Chickens are social birds so three or four is generally a good number depending on the space available.

 

Gain a solid introduction to animal health, which will kick-start your career in the industry or allow you to manage your own business with animal husbandry courses, like our Certificate of Animal Husbandry.

Are You A Numbers Person? Bookkeeping Might Be for You

Whether you’re planning your future career, want to find a new direction or simply want to upskill in your current job, studying bookkeeping courses online is an ideal option!

What is Bookkeeping?

Are you unsure what exactly a bookkeeper does, other than ‘keep books?’ Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

Bookkeepers keep recordings of the daily transactions and business of a company.

Unlike accountants, who also provide consultations, analysis and advice, bookkeepers simply ensure transactions and finances are kept organised, recorded and up to date.

Bookkeeping includes:

  • The production of invoices
  • Putting through payroll for employees
  • Keeping records
  • Maintaining ledgers
  • Balancing accounts
  • Posting debits
  • Posting credits
  • Recording financial transactions
  • What skills do bookkeepers need?

There’s a lot of records reviewing, transaction checking, invoice processing and financial work that goes along with being a bookkeeper.

So, if you’re a numbers person, have high attention to detail and are very organised, you’ll probably make for a very successful bookkeeper.

Do You Need a Degree to Be a Bookkeeper?

In theory, bookkeepers do not need to have any formal degrees or qualifications. In practice, however, the more knowledge, skill and experience in finance, business and accounting a bookkeeper has, the easier they will find their job.

The best way to brush up on your abilities and skills is by taking a professional bookkeeping training course. Not only will this arm you with what you need to know, but it will show potential employers that you have a invested in your professional development by gaining a certificate in bookkeeping.

Kick-Start Your Career

There are many reasons to choose a career in bookkeeping, but what does a successful bookkeeper’s career look like?

Your Career, Your Choice

Everyone is different and everyone has different work preferences.

As a bookkeeper, you will have choices when it comes to where, when and how you work. You can work part-time or full-time hours to suit your family circumstances and personal situation.

Many companies, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, are choosing to have their bookkeepers work remotely.

Longevity in Career Choice

All businesses rely on transactions, finance and bookkeeping. That’s why bookkeepers are always in high demand across a variety of industries.

If you’re good with numbers and excellent with details, you’ll be an appealing prospect for the small or medium-sized business owner. Especially if you have a certified course of study and qualification behind you.

Steady and Reliable

Bookkeeping is a stable job for people looking for consistent and reliable work, even during economically turbulent times.

Additionally, there is the opportunity to transition into higher positions, especially as you gain experience.

Career Growth and Versatility

The completion of a bookkeeping course will undoubtedly provide career opportunities, whether as a bookkeeper or as a platform to other professions. You might want to be an accountant, a finance officer or maybe even start your own business. With bookkeeping, the choice is up to you.

Business Skills

The skills gained by studying to be a bookkeeper will help you develop an understanding of financial processes, business operation and various other professional skills. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to make informed and responsible business-related decisions whether you work for someone else or start your own business.

Benefits of Studying Online

As a result of advances in technology, increased access to reliable, fast internet, and wider acceptance of the benefits of online, virtual study, people are increasingly studying online courses.

Flexibility

Studying online suits students of all ages and at all stages of life. You can fit your course around your schedule and other commitments, so you can work, enjoy family time and travel when it suits you. You can also learn at your pace and in the comfort of your own home.

Convenience

Anywhere. Anytime. Any way you want! With access to an internet connection and a state-of-the-art online portal, there’s nothing that can stand in the way of your study goals!

Value

Studying online is an investment in yourself and your career. But that doesn’t mean you’ll have to part with a fortune for tuition. Our online courses are affordable, so you won’t have to be indebted to student loans. Plus, with regular special offers and fee reductions, you’ll always receive value for money.

Variety 

You don’t have to live near an industry hub to enjoy access to hundreds of professional development courses that suit your interest and career aspirations.

Studying online means you can access professional development courses that are relevant to a variety of industry sectors, from bookkeeping to creative writing and everything in-between – wherever you live in Sydney or Alice Springs!

Want to know more about studying online with Australian Online Courses? Take a look at our frequently asked questions.

Enrol Today

We provide professional development courses that are flexible, responsive and affordable.

Our committed customer support team, knowledgeable tutors, 24/7 access study portal, and unique professional development courses, mean there’s no better place to study bookkeeping courses.

Interested in enrolling? Click here or give us a call on 1300 76 2221 to find out more.

Learn More for Less. Courses Under $500!

You don’t have to spend a fortune to invest in your professional development with Australian Online Courses.

We have many comprehensive online courses under $500 covering a variety of industries. And they’re all designed to help you find your new direction or fast-track your career.

You’ll find online courses in project management, relationship building, remote and virtual workplaces, disruptive technologies, education support, community care, marketing and more!

So, what are you waiting for? Discover online courses under $500 today and start learning more for less. 

Follow the Letter of the Law With Our Legal Writing Course

Ideal for legal secretaries and paralegals, our Legal Research and Writing course will hone your research skills and enable you to write accurately, clearly and concisely. This course will teach you how to locate and provide information in response to a client request, including analysing information from a number of sources before composing a report.

You will also learn how to research relevant and primary sources of legal information, write up a basic summary, and draft a variety of legally binding documents under the instruction of a qualified legal practitioner.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a legal writing course include:

  • Learning how to research legal information using primary sources
  • Exploring how to receive and process request information
  • Studying how to request a document and confirm identity
  • Gaining insights into other party’s rights to receive information
  • Examining employee and barrister requests
  • Understanding current and potential clients
  • Learning about opposing parties and lawyers for opposing parties
  • Exploring information restrictions and Australian privacy principles (APPs)
  • Gaining an understanding of clarifying clients’ needs and establishing relevant criteria
  • Studying legal enquiries, seeking a referral and how to assist with a complaint
  • Gaining insights into psychological interests and response methods and format
  • Examining the type of documents needed and the number of responses required
  • Understanding policies, procedures, budget, timeframe and process
  • Learning about policies, procedures, contractual obligations and protocols
  • Exploring skills knowledge, how to identify information sources and research relevant sources
  • Studying court documents, regulations, by-laws, treaties conventions and media sources
  • Examining misplaced files, dealing with difficult people, lack of authority and technical difficulties
  • Understanding how to prepare and locate extract information and implement resolutions to problems
  • Learning about security and confidentiality and how to store and maintain the integrity of information
  • Exploring statistical, inferential, qualitative, descriptive, critical and objective analyses
  • Studying how to plan and write a clear and concise report, check it for accuracy and obtain sign-off
  • Gaining insights into how to attach file names and matter numbers and forward the report to a client
  • Understanding how to produce complex legal documents
  • Learning about document types, budget, time frames and processes
  • Exploring document management software and email programs
  • Studying document design and structure and legislative requirements
  • Gaining insights into file numbers, numerical address information and linking data
  • Examining timelines, flow charts and grant charts
  • Understanding cover pages, how to name documents, watermarks and final printing
  • Learning about the Australian standards
  • Exploring policies and procedures
  • Gaining an understanding of maintenance and security
  • Studying accessibility and safety

The Difference Between a Paralegal and a Legal Secretary

Paralegals often perform attorney duties under a qualified legal practitioner’s supervision, including conducting research, preparing arguments, interviewing witnesses, drafting legal writing documents in simpler terms for clients, and compiling evidence to be used in court. They are also able to specialise in certain areas like family, criminal, real estate and immigration law and bill clients for their work, which legal secretaries can’t.

Legal secretaries predominantly carry out more administrative tasks for those in the legal sector. Their daily tasks can include diary organisation, preparing court forms and transcribing interviews.

 

Top Skills of a Legal Secretary

The role of a legal secretary typically revolves around performing administrative duties for governments, courts and lawyer’s offices. Here are the key skills that are relevant to the sector today:

Technology

This includes preparing presentations, creating documents, building spreadsheets, auditing timesheets, managing invoice, maintaining calendars and tracking deadlines using a variety of software packages.

Interpersonal

In addition to face-to-face contact, legal secretaries communicate by telephone, email and video conferencing systems, and should have emotional intelligence and be adept with displaying phone etiquette, initiative and formality.

Written Communication

Legal writing is an integral part of the legal secretary’s job and skills in demand include email composition, attention to detail, strong grammar skills and being able to follow strict document formats.

Organisational

Top organisational skills legal secretaries possess include note-taking, the processing of legal documents, organising affidavits, and managing calendars, files and confidential information.

Transcription

In addition to a fast typing speed, active listening skills and a knowledge of legal terminology are required to transcribe voice dictation files. This also involves the use of audio recording devices and word processing software.

Attention to Detail

Legal secretaries handle the minute details of daily law practice, so should be proactive, accurate and proficient in auditing, data entry and inductive and deductive reasoning.

Multitasking

Professional legal secretaries know how to juggle competing priorities and multiple assignments. This involves skills like prioritisation, time management, scheduling, delegation and being able to work under pressure.

Research Skills

Legal secretaries perform lots of research, which can involve gathering information from the internet and other sources, and involve data analysis, reasoning, noticing trends and knowing how to use research law software.

 

The 13 Australian Privacy Principles

The cornerstone of the privacy protection framework in the Privacy Act 1988 is the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). These apply to any organisation or agency the Privacy Act covers. There are 13 of them and they govern rights, standards and obligations around:

  • the use, collection and disclosure of personal information
  • an agency or organisation’s accountability and governance
  • correction and integrity of personal information
  • the rights of individuals to access their personal information

Because the APPs are principles-based law, they give an agency or organisation the flexibility to tailor their personal information handling practices to the diverse needs of individuals and their business models. A course in legal writing will arm you with knowledge of the APPs and how a breach can lead to regulatory penalties and action. The 13 APPs are:

 

  • APP 1 – Open and transparent management of personal information. This includes APP entities having a clearly expressed and up to date APP privacy policy.
  • APP 2 – Anonymity and pseudonymity. This requires APP entities to give individuals the option of not identifying themselves, or of using a pseudonym.
  • APP 3 – Collection of solicited personal information. This outlines when an APP entity can collect personal information that is solicited. It applies higher standards to the collection of sensitive information.
  • APP 4 – Dealing with unsolicited personal information. This outlines how APP entities must deal with unsolicited personal information.
  • APP 5 – Notification of the collection of personal information. This outlines when and in what circumstances an APP entity that collects personal information must tell an individual about certain matters.
  • APP 6 – Use or disclosure of personal information. This outlines the circumstances in which an APP entity may use or disclose personal information that it holds.
  • APP 7 – Direct marketing. An organisation may only use or disclose personal information for direct marketing purposes if certain conditions are met.
  • APP 8 – Cross-border disclosure of personal information. This outlines the steps an APP entity must take to protect personal information before it is disclosed overseas.
  • APP 9 – Adoption, use or disclosure of government related identifiers. This outlines the limited circumstances when an organisation may adopt a government related identifier of an individual as its own identifier, or use or disclose a government related identifier of an individual.
  • APP 10 – Quality of personal information. An APP entity must take reasonable steps to ensure the personal information it collects is accurate, up to date and complete. An entity must also take reasonable steps to ensure the personal information it uses or discloses is accurate, up to date, complete and relevant with regard to the purpose of the use or disclosure.
  • APP 11 – Security of personal information. An APP entity must take reasonable steps to protect personal information it holds from misuse, interference and loss, and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. An entity has obligations to destroy or de-identify personal information in certain circumstances.
  • APP 12 – Access to personal information. Outlines an APP entity’s obligations when an individual requests to be given access to personal information held about them by the entity. This includes a requirement to provide access unless a specific exception applies.
  • APP 13 – Correction of personal information. Outlines an APP entity’s obligations in relation to correcting the personal information it holds about individuals.

 

Reference:

2020, Australian Privacy Principles quick reference, Australian Government Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

 

Gain the confidence to research and write legal documentation to meet legal requirements with our Legal Research and Writing course!

 

 

The Creative Writing Program – Help to Write Your Bestseller!

Whether you want to write for profit or pleasure, The Creative Writing Program will help you to develop compelling stories and to evaluate and edit your work critically.

This online creative writing course is ideal for amateur or aspiring writers who want to build their confidence, ability and improve on the fundamentals of good creative writing.

The Creative Writing Program is a professional development opportunity for aspiring authors wanting to gain a deeper understanding of genre, modes, writing styles and the theoretical underpinnings of creative writing.

In this online creative writing course, you’ll discover how to create well-structured, engaging stories and other creative works, understand and avoid common pitfalls in writing, and learn to edit and review your work for publication.

Throughout this writing course, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Analyse texts
  • Write feature articles
  • Construct outlines of fiction stories
  • Plan writing projects
  • Undertake research
  • Prepare a portfolio of creative writing ready for submission to publishers

On completion of this course, your creative writing portfolio will be assessed by a published author who will provide you with constructive feedback, support, and guidance.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking writing courses include:

  • Describe elements and forms of creative writing
  • Learn how to generate, evaluate, and communicate your ideas
  • Discuss the functions of clear writing, and the art of revealing and concealing in writing
  • Establish theme and structure as planning tools
  • Identify and discuss various forms of fiction writing and publishing opportunities
  • Analyse different non-fiction genres to determine key elements and strategies
  • Research different forms of creative writing
  • Read magazine articles to determine what makes a good feature article
  • Discuss theme, organisation, and weaving different narrative threads
  • Prepare a portfolio of creative writing ready for submission and of future ideas
  • Analyse three texts to identify genres, describe their layout, and any key elements.
  • Locate a publisher and obtain information on their submitting requirements
  • Write a newspaper feature three different ways, using three different types of language to create different impressions.
  • Critique your writing
  • Develop one short scene for three different storylines
  • Make notes on two authors’ uses of concealing and revealing (ambiguity and transparency) and analyse their effectiveness in each case
  • Learn to use different types of voice.
  • Use defamiliarisation to make a common object appear mysterious, dangerous, or alien.
  • Discuss the organisation of texts how the structures contribute to the overall effectiveness
  • Write and edit a first draft for structure, clarity, flow of ideas, content, mood, and voice.
  • Edit three items of your writing (include one short story) for clarity and succinctness
  • Learn to research publishers and how to submit work successfully
  • Discover how to construct outlines of fiction stories
  • Conceive different non-fiction writing projects for specific publishers
  • Write three outlines for non-fiction pieces, modelled on the outlines of your three creative writing readings.
  • Learn to interview a person and write a profile piece

 

7 of Australia’s Bestselling Authors

If you’re keen to pursue the writer’s life, look to the Australian greats for inspiration.

  1. Matthew Reilly

Matthew Reilly is an Australian action-thriller writer who has had readers on the edge of their seats, selling 7.5 million copies of his novels worldwide! He is the author of over a dozen novels and novellas.

 

  1. Liane Moriarty

Liane Moriarty is an Australian author with eight bestselling novels under her belt, including the New York Times hit Big Little Lies, which was adapted into a television series for HBO!

 

  1. Tim Winton

Born in Perth, Western Australia, Tim Winton is one of Australia’s most esteemed novelists, writing books for both children and adults.  He is the recipient of many literary awards, winning the Miles Franklin Award three times: for Shallows (1984), Cloudstreet (1992) and Dirt Music (2002)!

 

  1. Monica McInerney

Monica McInerney is an Australian-born, Dublin-based, bestselling author whose novels have been published in multiple countries and languages. Her first novel, A Taste for It, was published in 2001 and established themes of romance, dislocation and adventure that are at the heart of McInerney’s works.

 

  1. Kate Morton

Kate Morton is an international bestselling Australian author who has sold more than 11 million books! Her novels have been published in 42 different countries, which makes her one of Australia’s biggest literary stars!

 

  1. Jane Harper

Born in Manchester in the UK, Jane Harper and moved to Australia with her family at age eight. But before becoming a bestselling novelist, she was a journalist for the Herald Sun in Melbourne. In 2014, Jane submitted a short story that was chosen for the Big Issues’ annual Fiction Edition. Next, she decided to complete a short creative writing course, and the rest is history!

 

  1. Rachel Johns

Rachael Johns is a former English teacher turned bestselling Australian romance writer, which she owes in part to a teenage break-up. As a result of breaking up with her boyfriend, she was inspired to write her first book at just 17 years old. So, it seems the writing was great therapy for a broken heart! She’s also a self-confessed Diet Coke junkie (must be in a glass) who is terrified of spiders!

10 Creative Writing Prompts

If you have a tendency to get stuck in a writer’s rut or are overcome by the dreaded writer’s block – try one of these creative writing prompts to recharge your inner muse!

  1. Write about a scene from your favourite holiday destination.
  2. The first words of your novel are, “It wasn’t what she said, exactly, it was more the way she looked at me when she said it, that made my skin crawl.” So, go write the rest!
  3. Take a look at the last text you received … write it into a story!
  4. Write a follow-on scene from a favourite movie.
  5. A couple argues in a crowded restaurant…
  6. Write about a friend’s last grievance with someone. And turn it into a short story!
  7. Take a look out the window – write about the next person or thing that captures your attention.
  8. Write about a bad/good dream you’ve had recently.
  9. What was the last thing/person that made you laugh out loud? So, write about it!
  10. Write about a time you got lost.

 

Ready to take on the literary world? Embrace your inner writer and enrol in one of our writing courses, like The Creative Writing Program!

Find your new direction today!

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