Certificate of Internet Marketing – New Course! 

Certificate of Internet Marketing – New Course! 

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Navigating the complex and rapidly changing world of internet marketing can be daunting, which is where our new course, the Certificate of Internet Marketing, comes in. Time to get digital!  

Websites, blogs, online advertising, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WordPress, Pinterest … the world of internet marketing has many ‘faces’, and all of them are unique and valuable to a business. But only if used to advantage! The key is knowing how to get noticed.

Virtually every enterprise can use internet marketing as part of their overall marketing strategy – and having these skills is not just valuable for those in marketing or social media marketing. Anyone who runs their own business or is responsible for (virtually) connecting with others can benefit from these powerful technologies – they’re universal! 

Learning Outcomes

  • Learn about the history of internet marketing
  • Discover the scope and nature of social media 
  • Explore the possibilities of using social media for marketing a product
  • Learn how to recognise information overload 
  • Study website marketing, social media marketing and the use of video and audio on the internet 
  • Explore the risks and legal concerns involved with internet marketing
  • Learn about Search Engine Optimisation and internet marketing 
  • Study psychology and psychological theories around internet marketing 
  • Understand how internet users think and behave
  • Learn about methods you can use to encourage people to your site
  • Examine how to overcome consumer resistance
  • Learn how to interact and engage with your customers
  • Study how to capture and hold your viewer’s attention
  • Discover the value of page title keywords
  • Learn about the effective applications currently being used in social media
  • Explore why you should use social media when marketing
  • Study the purposes of social media, its variables and ways it can be used in marketing
  • Discover why people use social media to advertise their products
  • Learn about the purposes of different social media applications
  • Study how to use your web presence properly
  • Discover how to ensure you have the appropriate mix of online marketing techniques for your product
  • Learn about the different types of internet marketing
  • Study website essentials and how to plan your website 
  • Explore different website layouts, landing pages and microsites
  • Find out what makes a mobile-friendly website 
  • Gain insights into search engines, apps and internet advertising
  • Learn about internet marketing demographics and promotions 
  • Examine how to establish and leverage an appropriate online presence when marketing a product
  • Explore the marketing processes involved in encouraging customer connections
  • Learn how to set up an online store 
  • Uncover successful tips when it comes to engaging with customers
  • Gain insights into business and marketing plans to ensure user engagement
  • Discover why website content is important 
  • Learn what content to create, how to create it and where to use it
  • Explore the different types of web content including articles, blogs and newsletters 
  • Find out how to link your content with social media platforms 

Internet Marketing Stats For 2020

In the ever-changing world of internet marketing, marketers need to understand that content marketing, in particular, is about more than just about producing mass-produced content. Using a data-driven approach, you can create effectively, targeted campaigns that will help your businesses attract, engage and retain customers. Here are some of the latest Australian SEO and content marketing statistics that will hopefully inspire you to study our internet marketing course! 

Search Engine Optimisation

It’s hard to deny the value of ranking well and attracting organic traffic to your website, and SEO is key to any digital marketing campaign, because: 

  • 93% of online experiences typically begin with the use of a search engine. 
  • Organic searches provide almost 6% more opportunities than paid searches. 
  • 75% of users almost never scroll past the first page of their search results. 

Search Engines 

Google continued to be the powerhouse of the search engine world and increased its market share by around 1% in 2018. Here are the top 5 search engines in Australia:

Google: 94.5%

Bing: 3.46%

MSN: 0.71%

Yahoo!: 0.53%

DuckDuckGo: 0.52%

Search Platforms

So, although mobile usage is gaining in popularity, the majority of Australian users still use their desktop. The top 3 search platforms are:

Desktop: 51.81%

Mobile: 38.09%

Tablet: 9.94%

Smartphones

Also, over the past decade, smartphones have revolutionised our lives in ways well beyond just verbal communication, and they are invaluable platforms for marketing because:

  • 89% of people are likely to recommend a brand to others if they’ve had a positive experience on their smartphone.
  • Over 51% of smartphone users have discovered a new product or business while they’ve been searching on their smartphone. 
  • Mobile searches using the word ‘best’ have grown over 80% in the past two years.

Blogs 

Blogs are regularly updated web pages that are typically written in an informative yet informal or conversational style, and they are an ideal element in an internet marketing strategy because:

  • 80 million blog posts are posted on average every month.
  • Content marketing via blogs gets three times more leads than paid search advertising.
  • 55% of marketers say blog content creation is one of their top inbound marketing priorities.

Social Media

Over half of Australia’s population logs into Facebook every day – so it’s a valuable platform to promote your content. Here are the top 10 social media platform rankings:

  1. Facebook – over 15,000,000 monthly active Australian users
  2. YouTube – over 15,000,000 unique Australian visitors per month
  3. Instagram – over 9,000,000 monthly active Australian users
  4. Snapchat – over 6,400,000 monthly active Australian users
  5. WordPress.com – over 5,800,000 users
  6. Twitter – over 4,700,000 monthly active Australian users
  7. LinkedIn – over 4,500,000 monthly active Australian users
  8. Tumblr – over 3,700,000 users
  9. TripAdvisor – over 2,800,000 users
  10. Yelp – over 1,500,000 users 

 

And, according to a Content Marketing Institute survey done last year, 90% of Australians also use social media posts for marketing purposes with 56% of marketers agreeing that social media is the most effective in helping their organisation achieve specific marketing goals. Here is the breakdown of marketing usage: 

Facebook: 93%

LinkedIn: 87%

Twitter: 74%

YouTube: 64%

 

So, are you ready to amp up your organisation’s marketing efforts? Study our Certificate of Internet Marketing and launch your business into the powerful realms of the digital world … and the future! 

Mental Health Awareness Program – New Course!

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According to the World Health Organisation, mental health is ‘a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and can make a contribution to her or his community’. When a person has a condition that affects their mental health, they may have a mental health disorder or illness, which includes conditions like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Beyond Blue, an organisation that works to address issues associated with mental health disorders cites one in six Australians is currently experiencing anxiety or depression or both. It also claims that one in eight Australians is currently experiencing high or very high psychological distress. 

As such, mental health care and management is a billion-dollar industry, and it continues to grow – particularly with the highly stressful events taking place across the globe at present. Our NEW Mental Health Awareness Program will give you the skills and knowledge you need to undertake a rewarding career that will assist with the population’s growing mental health issues, both now and into the future. 

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Study the definition of abnormality in terms of social constructs, statistical infrequency and the failure to function adequately.
  • Learn about labelling and stigmatisation of mental health and how it relates to mental illness.
  • Undertake a case study of African Caribbean people and schizophrenia.
  • Explore the causes of mental health illness including the social, physical, psychological and environmental factors.
  • Learn about the Diathesis-Stress Model.
  • Discover some of the treatments for mental health problems.
  • Study the forms of depression in men and women.
  • Learn how to determine the types, forms, causes, triggers and risk factors of depression. 
  • Gain an understanding of gender and depression and older people and depression.
  • Learn about some of the treatments for depression.
  • Study the psychological aspects of long-term grief.
  • Explore anxiety, phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
  • Study post-traumatic stress disorder.
  • Gain insights into schizophrenia – the causes, symptoms, subtypes, and how to diagnose and treat it.
  • Learn about Personality Disorders, Psychopathy and its causes and treatment.
  • Study eating disorders and their causes, including body image and self-esteem.
  • Explore Anorexia Nervosa and its symptoms and treatment.
  • Learn about Bulimia Nervosa and its symptoms, associated behaviours and treatment. 
  • Study obesity and psychological complications and treatment. 
  • Explore dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in terms of the types, causes, care and management.  
  • Learn about a holistic approach to mental health in terms of diet, exercise, body imbalances, psychological and psychosocial factors and self-control techniques.
  • Study the role of social support networks and self-help groups in the mental health space.
  • Study the services available for mental health issues including counsellors, psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, nurses, professional carers, crisis centres, telephone and online counselling, group therapy and complementary therapies.

 

Why Study The Mental Health Awareness Program?

A course in mental health awareness will help you understand the signs, symptoms and possible treatments of adult mental health problems. It will also give you the tools to help someone suffering from mental health issues help themselves. This could be by finding ways to alleviate symptoms which the individual has little or no control over, and then educating them to leverage practical strategies and techniques to help control those symptoms. 

Career opportunities in this rewarding sector are wide and varied, and the job opportunities in the health field are virtually endless. They include working in:

  • Relationship, family, couple, grief, substance abuse, rehabilitation or body image counselling
  • Careers counselling, life coaching or stress management
  • Private practice or in self-employment 
  • A school or government institution 
  • An HR department or as an organisation’s mental health coordinator 
  • The medical field as a GP or mental health nurse 
  • Social services or as a caseworker 
  • Aged care services
  • Sports, clinical, forensic, social, military, aviation, industrial, criminal, educational, industrial relations or developmental psychology fields 
  • The education, psychiatry or occupational therapist sector 
  • Mental health marketing or education

Case Study – Psychologist Marie Jahoda

We have already mentioned the World Health Organisation’s definition of ‘mental health’, but what does good mental health mean? 

Born in 1907, Marie Jahoda was an Austrian-British social psychologist who developed the theory of Ideal Mental Health in 1958. In her book, Current Concepts of Positive Mental Health, she criticised psychologists for focussing on mental illness and disease rather than on mental health and well-being. Along with this, she developed the idea of what became known as ‘positive psychology’, and argued that what we consider ‘mentally ill’ largely depends on social conventions. 

After surveying several doctors and psychiatrists, she discovered six characteristics formed the conditions for mental ‘normality’: 

· Personal growth and development

· Positive self-esteem and a strong sense of identity

· The ability to cope with stressful situations

· Autonomy and independence

· An accurate perception of reality

· A successful mastery of the environment, including relationships

These included factors, such as being able to:  

  • Manage time well 
  • Form relationships successfully 
  • Have meaningful social relationships
  • Work well with other people
  • Be regularly active 
  • Have high self-esteem 

In her work, Jahoda studied unemployed people and found that they were often unhappy because they did not have many of these qualities in their lives. For example, because they weren’t working with others, they weren’t regularly active, and their unhappiness was not ‘just’ because they were poorer because of their unemployment.

Many modern psychologists have supported her research. However, others have criticised it, often because of Western cultural values. Autonomy, for example, is considered not as culturally valid in more collectivist cultures, where cooperation is valued more than independence. However, her work at the time was ground-breaking and is still a fascinating concept in terms of how we define both mental health and mental illness. 

 

Keen to assist individuals to enhance their quality of life in these overwhelmingly stressful times? Our Mental Health Awareness Program will give you the knowledge and skills to make a real difference in people’s lives.

Certificate of Family Counselling – New Course! 

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Study family counselling and discover how you can assist families in need – whether it’s strengthening family dynamics, helping to heal emotional wounds, or leveraging interventions that will ultimately lead to positive change. What a rewarding way to spend your working week! 

When a family is healthy and happy, everything seems right in the world. Most families have a built-in resilience to the challenges that life throws at them, but even the strongest of families sometimes need help beyond their resources. A range of factors can also contribute to family breakdowns – from family crises and mental health challenges to financial hardship and even just the stresses of modern-day life, which is why family counsellors are so critical to today’s society. 

Why Study Family Counselling?

Family counselling is an area of counselling that is important for families because individual therapies often can’t heal broader family issues. This is particularly the case if all family members are affected by the behaviour of one individual, or the family itself has become fragmented and non-functional. A family counselling course can help you understand the different approaches you might take and give you a range of techniques that can be used in family situations. 

If you want to study family counselling, you’re choosing an in-demand occupation. The current average salary for a family counsellor in Australia is around $65K, and the growth of jobs in this sector is also predicted to be very strong.

This course is ideal for anyone working with or interested in helping families in distress. This includes those working or hoping to work in: 

  • Family counselling
  • Psychology
  • Counselling
  • Psychotherapy
  • Social work
  • Psychiatric nursing
  • Caring roles
  • Support work
  • Health professions
  • Health education
  • Teaching

Learning Outcomes

  • Explore the nature and scope of families
  • Learn about the different types of families
  • Explore the traditional family structures
  • Gain an understanding of how family dynamics are similar and different from the past 
  • Explore the common problems for both couples and families 
  • Learn about how families cope with problems in different locations and cultures 
  • Study family systems, life cycles and dynamics 
  • Gain an understanding of the cultural variations in families 
  • Learn about the various crises that occur in families 
  • Study the effects of changing cultures for immigrant families
  • Explore the evolving structures of families in terms of religion, changing parents, incoming grandparents, new or departing siblings or when two families merge 
  • Learn about the effects of family abuse, violence, breakdowns and death and illness in families 
  • Study the impact of changes in location or income on families 
  • Explore family disintegration and reintegration 
  • Learn how to see patterns and identify problems
  • Study critical and long-standing family incidents 
  • Learn about the support structures for families and how support services can be accessed 
  • Study the benefits of extended families, community services, social networks and religious connections
  • Gain an understanding of the types of counselling including individual and group counselling 
  • Learn about the approaches to family therapy 
  • Uncover how to conduct initial interviews and sessions and consider solutions 
  • Study how to determine family roles and establish rules 

A Day in The Life of a Family Counsellor 

Every family is unique, which is why a career in family counselling offers not only variety but unique and exciting challenges … practically every day! However, there are a few basic tasks that family counsellors perform consistently. They include: 

  • Asking questions that will help family members identify their feelings and behaviours.
  • Counselling clients on concerns, such as divorce and separation, unsatisfactory relationships, home management, child-rearing and financial difficulties.
  • Addressing personal issues, including family relationship problems and destructive patterns of behaviour.
  • Encouraging family members to develop and use strategies to confront their challenges constructively.
  • Developing and implementing individualised treatment plans.
  • Maintaining case files that include evaluations, activities, progress notes and recommendations.
  • Conferring with clients to develop strategies for post-treatment activities.
  • Conferring with doctors and other counsellors and professionals to analyse individual cases and coordinate counselling services.
  • Following up on the results of counselling programs to determine the effectiveness of programs.
  • Providing instructions to clients on how to obtain help with legal, financial and other personal issues.

 

Keen to help struggling families understand their issues and work towards resolving them? Embrace your compassionate nature with our Certificate of Family Counselling.

Certificate of Nature Park Management – New Course!

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Listed in 1872, the world’s first National Park was Yellowstone National Park in the US. However, Australia wasn’t far behind with what is now known as the Royal National Park in NSW, which was listed in 1879. By 1916, every other Australian state had a least one designated National Park, and today they cover more than a million hectares. And that’s only national parks – the mind boggles when you think about how many nature parks there are – from wilderness areas to camp and picnic grounds! 

Our point? With so much of this beautiful country to explore, we need experts who can provide recreational and educational experiences without comprising these natural environments. Study our Certificate of Nature Park Management, and you could be one of them! 

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Study the role of nature parks, including national parks, wildlife parks, zoos, reserves and picnic grounds
  • Learn about the role of community groups in nature parks
  • Explore the benefits of indigenous remnant vegetation and naturalised plants 
  • Learn how to identify and classify plants and animals 
  • Study basic ecology and its application, including climatic zones and the constituents of an ecosystem
  • Understand soil management in nature parks, including erosion, salinity, soil degradation and chemical residues
  • Learn about how to name, sample and improve soils, including exploring pH, nutrients and fertilizers
  • Study how to select plants in terms of costs, longevity and aesthetics
  • Discover natural gardening techniques, how to plant for succession and how to compost and dispose of waste
  • Explore the procedures for planting, including when to plant and how to stake plants
  • Gain an overview of the machinery used for park maintenance
  • Study nature park design including landscaping and design procedures 
  • Learn how to design animal enclosures, including cages, pens and open-range enclosures
  • Explore the characteristics of weeds and how to control them
  • Study plant pathology and how to inspect plants for suspected issues
  • Gain an understanding of insect biology and classification and the common fungal problems affecting plants
  • Learn how to manage pests and diseases, both chemically and non-chemically
  • Study how to grow indigenous plants, including techniques like pocket planting, wattling and slope serration 
  • Explore arboriculture, the roles and maintenance of trees and how to perform tree surgery
  • Gain an understanding of turf care, including choosing turf varieties and how to establish and maintain them
  • Find out what turf suits feature lawns, picnic areas and sporting grounds, gardens and parks
  • Study rehabilitation problems and solutions, including overcoming problem wet and dry areas
  • Explore the factors affecting rehabilitation – debris, water, topsoil, mass plantings and exotic organisms
  • Learn about the impact of recreation and park visitors on wildlife and natural environments 
  • Discover how to design and manage visitor amenities and provide interpretative facilities  
  • Study how to design access routes and walking tracks
  • Learn how to conserve and manage natural water bodies 
  • Gain an understanding of how to market and promote nature parks 
  • Study how to identify, minimise and manage safety issues and natural hazards
  • Learn how to prepare an appropriate risk management plan

 

Australia’s Top 10 National Parks

There are over 500 national parks in Australia with a range of breathtaking natural environments from lush rainforests and pristine beaches, to sandy deserts and snow-covered mountains. So nominating the top 10 is not easy! However, these are probably the largest, most well-known and the most frequently visited. (They are also in continentally-clockwise order to prove we’re not biased!)  

 

#1 – Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park, NT

Every year thousands of visitors from all over the world visit this World Heritage site, and not just because of Uluru (although it’s a pretty valid reason in itself!). Stretching over 1325 square kilometres, it’s not only a geological wonder, but it’s also filled to the brim with breathtaking scenery and generations-old rock art. It’s also the spiritual centre of its indigenous inhabitants, the Anangu people.

 

#2 – Kakadu National Park, NT

Covering almost 20,000 square kilometres, Kakadu boasts a diverse array of flora and fauna. Surprisingly, it’s also home to a third of Australia’s bird population. Listed as a World Heritage site in 1981, there are ample opportunities here for photos, including of the iconic Barramundi Gorge. It’s also a wonderful mix of barren landscapes and billabongs – although watch out for the crocs!

 

#3 – Daintree National Park, QLD

One of the world’s most ancient rainforests at around 110 million years old, the Daintree pre-dates the dinosaurs and the Amazon River. Wow! World Heritage-listed, it is home to an exceptional and unique biodiversity of animals, including cassowaries and tree kangaroos. Its waterfalls and swimming holes make for wonderful refreshment in summer. However, this time of year is also monsoon season, so be prepared for lots of rain!

 

#4 – Great Sandy National Park, QLD

The parks first section, Cooloola, stretches between Noosa Heads and Rainbow Beach. It is filled with subtropical bushland and ocean waters teeming with amazing marine life. Fraser Island – the world’s largest sand island – forms part of its second section and features endless beaches lapped by crystal clear waters. Iconic sites here include Lake McKenzie, Seventy Five Mile Beach and the Maheno Shipwreck. 

 

#5 – Kosciuszko National Park, NSW

New South Wales’ largest national park is also home to the country’s highest mountain, which rises to 2,228 metres tall. Here you can ski your way around Perisher or Thredbo in winter, and in summer it’s a perfect spot for kayaking, hiking and cycling. The Snowy Mountains region is here as well which is recognised as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Meaning? You’ll find animals and plants here not found anywhere else in the world. 

 

#6 – Blue Mountains National Park, NSW

Another World Heritage area, this area is filled with iconic landmarks including Wentworth Falls, the Three Sisters and the Jenolan Caves, which are over 340 million years old. This area offers a range of fantastic outdoor activities including swimming amid the waterfalls of the Leura Cascades. There is also a vast range of cycling trails and over 140 kilometres of hiking tracks – the adventurous at heart should try the Cliff Top Walking Track.

 

#7 – Port Campbell National Park, VIC

This dramatic stretch of coastline is part of the aptly named Shipwreck Coast, and its wild seas have shaped some spectacular natural formations including the Grotto, London Arch and the Twelve Apostles. While you’re here, it’s also worth taking a walk to Loch Ard Gorge. Several crew members sheltered in a cave here in 1878 after their ship ran aground on nearby Muttonbird Island. It’s also an excellent spot for photos – mainly of penguins! 

 

#8 – Flinders Ranges National Park, SA 

This area is the scene of several priceless heritage features including fossils, Aboriginal rock art and the ruins of early pioneering settlements. It’s also filled with rugged mountains, spectacular gorges and creeks lined with river gums. A must-see here is Wilpena Pound, a huge crater-like basin that spans over 100 kilometres. It was formed from the erosion of an ancient mountain range millions of years ago.

 

#9 – Purnululu National Park, WA

Home to the 350-million-year-old Bungle Bungles, this 240,000-hectare national park features an imposing mountain range in an area rich with indigenous artwork. Here you’ll also find some amazing orange-and-black-striped sandstone domes surrounded by a hidden world of craggy gorges and tropical swimming holes. Camping and hiking are the activities of choice here, in between enjoying an exciting 4WD adventure!

 

#10 – Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, TAS

Two massive landmarks exist in this park – its 1545-metre-high mountain and Australia’s deepest lake. This Wilderness World Heritage Area is surrounded by glacial valleys, ancient rainforests and the world-famous Overland Track. This 65-kilometre hike meanders its way among abundant waterfalls, towering mountains, beautiful meadows and the region’s highest peak, Mt Ossa.

 

Imagine a career that allows you to spend all of your working hours amid breathtaking natural environments. Now you can stop imagining because with our Certificate of Nature Park Management it could become your reality! 

 

 

 

Certificate of Biopsychology – New Course! 

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Biopsychology. Psychobiology. Physiological Psychology. Biological Psychology. All lovely words to describe a combination of biology and psychology – a science that offers insights into the workings of the human brain. Fascinating, right? 

But it’s not just an interesting science combo – biopsychology plays an integral part in understanding ‘normal’ brain functioning. It offers insights into how brain diseases and injury can influence our feelings, behaviours and thoughts. 

It also allows researchers and those who have done biopsychology courses to come up with new ways of treating potential health problems, including diseases like Parkinson’s, which currently affects around 40,000 Australians. It’s an exciting science, and we’re excited too – because we are now launching our Certificate of Biopsychology! 

Learning Outcomes

  • Explore the nervous system, including external and internal stimuli.
  • Gain further insights into the mind-body debate.
  • Study the senses, including sensory input and perception.
  • Learn about the nervous system, including neurons, and the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems.
  • Discover more about the endocrine system, including the effect of hormones on behaviour and physiology.
  • Explore the types of stressors and how stress affects the personality and physical body.
  • Study emotions including theories, homeostasis and physiological responses like eating disorders.
  • Learn about consciousness including the degrees, awareness and attention and altered states of consciousness.
  • Explore advanced biopsychology concepts like evolution, genetics and experience.
  • Learn about the research methods in biopsychology, including behavioural genetics and psychophysiological measures.
  • Study the models of memory, Korsakoff’s syndrome and the types of amnesia.
  • Examine language in terms of the brain, apraxia, diphasia and the theories of Broca and Wernicke.
  • Explore brain damage in terms of the causes and types including epilepsy, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. 
  • Learn about brain damage recovery, including the stages and the area of neuroplasticity.
  • Study the effects of drugs on the brain in terms of steroid, barbiturates and illegal drug addiction. 

Why Study This Course?

The average annual psychologist salary in Australia is currently around $77,000, and the future growth of jobs in this area is considered to be very strong. 

This specialty psychology course may be studied by itself or as part of a certificate or higher-level course, either as a career move or for professional development purposes. It suits: 

  • Health practitioners 
  • Health professionals
  • Counsellors
  • Psychologists
  • Psychotherapists
  • Fitness and sports professionals
  • Those working in research, teaching or health and biological science professions

History of Biopsychology 

While it might seem like a relatively recent development, the roots of biopsychology date back thousands of years to the time of the early philosophers, however, it’s worth noting that it’s only in recent history that we have come to understand the location of the mind! 

Philosopher Aristotle, for example, believed our thoughts and feelings arose from the heart. Greek thinkers like Hippocrates and later Plato suggested the brain was where the mind resides and that it served as the source of all thought and action. Later on, thinkers like René Descartes and Leonardo da Vinci introduced theories about how the nervous system operated. And while all of these early theories were essentially proven wrong, they did establish an important idea – that external stimulation could lead to muscle responses. 

The concept that certain parts of the brain were responsible for certain functions also played an important role in the development of future brain research – like the famous case of Phineas Gage. Gage was a railroad worker who suffered a devastating brain injury – a large iron rod was driven completely through his head, destroying much of his brain’s left frontal lobe. Astoundingly he lived to tell the tale and survived for another 12 years! 

Cases like this had an important influence on our understanding of how damage to certain parts of the brain can impact behaviour and functioning. Since those early influences, researchers have continued to make important discoveries about how the brain works. Research on neurons, neurotransmitters, evolution and the localisation of brain function, have all advanced our understanding of how biological processes impact thoughts, emotions and behaviours. 

10 Amazing Facts About The Brain 

  1. Your brain has about 100 billion neurons – that’s about as many stars as you’d find in the Milky Way! 
  2. Our brains continue to produce new neurons throughout our lifespan.
  3. While humans can’t regenerate central nervous system nerves, worms can! 
  4. Not all brain cells are the same – there are all shapes and sizes, and different types do different jobs.
  5. Because of something called neuroplasticity, the brain is constantly changing in response to experience.
  6. Signals in your neurons can travel at the same speed as a Formula 1 car (around 360 km/h)! 
  7. The left/right-brain dominance is a myth – no one side of the brain is used more than the other.
  8. The brain is the most energy-intensive part of our body, using 20 per cent of our energy even though it makes up just three per cent of our weight.
  9. The brain is mostly water – that’s why sometimes if you’re dehydrated you feel dizzy or light-headed.
  10. Your brain is hyper-efficient, running on just 20 watts of power as opposed to a computer, which needs 65 to 250 watts. So, switch off that computer and switch on your brain! 

 

Keen to delve into the fascinating science of Biopsychology? Start with our Certificate of Biopsychology, further your qualifications with our Advanced Course … and get psyched! 

Overcoming Business Challenges With Big Data – New Course! 

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The era of big data is well and truly here! Did you surf the net today?  Check your social media accounts? Buy something online or check the weather on your smartphone? If the answer is yes, then you generated data. However, you’re only one of the billions across the world that did. We live in an age when there has never been so much data and the amount we are generating is increasing at an exponential rate.

However, data itself is not significant – it’s the measuring of data patterns, trends and associations that is valuable -and demand for these unique analytical skills continues to rise. Harnessing data can ultimately help organisations find answers, whether it’s by facilitating research in the medical field, predicting future trends in the share market, or helping a retailer better understand their customers.

So why not create change (and valuable career opportunities) using data with our new course – Overcoming Business Challenges with Big Data

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Study the fundamentals of big data from a historical perspective and in the context of data operations and emerging technologies.
  • Learn about the big data stack and the open-source, Linux-based tools for working with data.
  • Understand some of the theoretical aspects of big data, including NoSQL databases, the Apache software foundation, and the functional and design principles of Hadoop.
  • Study the opportunities and challenges of big data including how it impacts business and the global community.
  • Learn how to interpret big data using business intelligence, visualisation and mining and integration tools.
  • Explore big data projects including DIY supercomputing and relational database management systems (RDBMS).
  • Discover how teams work in big data organisations, including the ‘use cases’ for big data.
  • Examine big data from a legal, corporate leadership, engineering, marketing, sales and strategic planning perspective.
  • Learn how to monitor big data operations and secure big data streams, and examine methods for application and performance testing.

 

Is This Course For You?

This course ideally suits those in the IT industry looking to up-skill and/or specialise in the area of big data and its associated operational systems. It is particularly relevant to those who are knowledgeable in computer programs including Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, SharePoint and SQL databases.

 

Why Study Overcoming Business Challenges With Big Data?

Big data is used to uncover hidden correlations, patterns and other insights that regular data keeps hidden. However, the technologies powering big data aren’t actually sufficient to handle the task. That’s why those who have studied a big data course can be enormously valuable to a variety of organisations!

In the E-commerce sector, it might be assisting with campaign management optimization, in finance dealing with risk and wealth management, and in healthcare working on patient care quality and outcomes analyses. Or you could be working in insurance carrying out claims fraud detection, in the retail sector managing a loyalty program or working in new product research and development in the telecommunications industry.

Then there’s the all-important issue of income … and the future is looking bright! According to a Deloitte study, those with big data skills are expected to earn almost $20K more on average by 2022 than they do today!

 

A Day In The Life Of … A Data Scientist 

 Ask someone who works in the area of data science about their typical day and be prepared for a classic eye roll. Because despite there being similarities in daily tasks, the reality is … there is no typical day! This is because although data scientists spend much of their time gathering, viewing, shaping and analyzing data, they do it in many different ways and for many different reasons.

The key feature of a data scientist’s role is that they are goal-oriented problem solvers. They seek to determine the questions that need answers and the challenges that need solutions, and they come up with varying approaches to solving complex issues.

As a data scientist, one day you could be communicating with a wide range of stakeholders in terms of answering a business need (and in simple not science-y terms). The next, you could be attending a conference, poring over industry-related white papers, or networking online in order to discuss technology advances. Basically, your job role will be as complex, exciting and varied as data itself is!

 

Fast track your IT career and leverage the power and exponential growth of big data into the 21st century with our Certificate of Big Data!

Excel 2019 For Windows – New Course!

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Microsoft is one of the most ubiquitous companies in the world – a fancy word that basically means it’s found everywhere! And the reason is simple – the company produces software, PC’s and related products that are ideally suited to a variety of private, business and academic uses.

Excel is the spreadsheet application that forms part of the Microsoft Office suite, with the Windows version of the software first released in 1987. Creating spreadsheets can be a daunting task for many of us, however, they are a valuable tool for today’s complex and time-poor home and working environments.

Microsoft Excel allows users to easily store and analyse large quantities of data using a grid of cells arranged in numbered rows and letter-named columns to organise data manipulations. And its functions range from basic mathematical equations to complex statistical analyses.

It sounds complicated, but the software is actually very user-friendly, which is why it has become the industry standard for spreadsheet generation. It is a must-have for those working in virtually any business, but also ideal for those keen to get personal data like their budget in beautifully spreadsheeted order! That’s why we are so excited to be launching our NEW course – Excel 2019 for Windows!

 

Learning Outcomes

 

  • Explore the interface and some of its features, including the zoom, ribbon, status bar and various view modes.
  • Discover how to insert and edit images, screenshots and shapes; insert hyperlinks and use the new Smart Lookup feature.
  • Analyse and present your data in a visually appealing manner, including inserting and customising charts and using trendlines.
  • Learn how to create, manage and save documents, insert headers and footers, and edit document properties and print documents.
  • Discover how to work with formulas, including built-in formulas like SUM and COUNT, perform rounding and ranking and generate random numbers.
  • Learn how to create custom formats for text, numbers, dates and times, as well as how to create and use conditional formatting.
  • Study how to share your documents – via email or by uploading them to OneDrive and SharePoint.
  • Monitor feedback by staying in the loop with document comments, and the version history and track changes tools.
  • Explore the different chart types and styles for presenting and analysing your data, including in Pie, Radar, Bubble, Scatter, Map and Combo charts.
  • Understand how Excel tables can be used to manage, analyse and manipulate data.
  • Learn how to sort, filter and perform calculations in a table and change its formatting and appearance.
  • Discover how you can align data, use colours and themes, resize rows and columns, and insert tables and borders to change the presentation of your data.
  • Explore the numerous ways to insert, edit and manipulate your data, including undo and redo, Flash Fill, spell check and transposing a data range.
  • Learn about the various methods for locating, displaying and manipulating data entries.
  • Discover the Find and Replace tools and manipulate data with the Group and Outline tools.
  • Explore absolute and relative cell references, using data across multiple worksheets and formula auditing.
  • Learn how to control what is displayed in your data range and how the values are organised.
  • Study how to perform basic and more advanced sort operations, filter data, use the column header tools and manage colour-tagged and duplicate entries.
  • Understand potential formula errors, use intelligent data types, set goals to reach targets and problem solve with the Solver and Forecast tools.

 

Why Study Windows Excel?

 

  • Organising and manipulating data can be complex and time-consuming. Excel not only speeds up the process but reduces human error in terms of miscalculations. Master its advanced features and you’ll also be able to undertake complicated forms of statistical analyses.
  • Excel is a universal language that can be used across the globe in a wide range of applications. Its accessibility also enables the free movement of information between people and businesses regardless of their location.
  • Because it’s part of the Microsoft Office package, outputs from Excel can also be easily transferred to other Microsoft software including Word or Powerpoint to aid in the delivery of documents and presentations.
  • Learning the Excel 2019 for Windows keyboard shortcuts will increase your productivity, meaning you’ll be well on your way to achieving Excel excellence!
  • Completing an Excel course will enhance your employability and career prospects, particularly in the area of analytical skills.
  • Because it’s the most widely used software programs of its kind in the world, it is a valuable skill to have across a range of sectors from the medical, education and business to admin, sales and finance.

 

Fun Facts About Excel

 

  • Other names initially considered for the software were ‘Master Plan’ and ‘Mr Spreadsheet’ (which we love). ‘Excel’ was eventually given the thumbs up because the creators believed it excelled over its competitors.
  • Version 3.0 was credited for introducing the toolbar, which has became a standard feature in a wide variety of desktop applications.
  • The software’s rows and columns have increased over the years, meaning it can handle a lot more cells than it used to. Versions up to Excel 95 had a limit of 16,384 rows. By the time Excel 2007 came along, it offered 1,048,576 rows and 16,384 columns – a total of 17,179,869,184 cells. Which is a lot of data! How much can the 2019 version handle? We dare you to find out.
  • The Excel 2016 version had around 484 functions. And the 2019 version? Again, we dare you.

 

Keen to up-skill with the most widely used software program of its kind in the world? Of course, you are! Get spreadsheet savvy with our NEW Excel 2019 for Windows course!

Powerful Presentations – New Course

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Finally, a presentation course that helps you to master your public speaking engagements. If you suffer from Fear of Public Speaking (affectionately called FOPS), you’re not alone. It’s often quoted as being in the top five of our biggest fears. But being able to communicate and present your ideas effectively can help you gain confidence, form strong collaborations and even advance your career!

 

However, whether your job includes leading team training, delivery sales pitches or designing PowerPoint presentations, your public speaking ability also needs to match the quality of your content to be successful. Our new course, Powerful Presentations, will help you do just that!

Learning Outcomes

 

  • Build a presentation that’s engaging, composed, confident and memorable
  • Learn how to present your ideas in a concise, convincing manner
  • Study how to consider your presentation’s audience and overall purpose
  • Learn how to define and understand your audience’s characteristics, knowledge, needs and responses
  • Enhance your presentation using eye-catching visual aids, including PowerPoint
  • Stage a presentation and learn how to control presentation nerves
  • Discover how to use both verbal and non-verbal skills including body language
  • Fine-tune your Q&A skills to enhance your credibility
  • Learn the fundamentals of business storytelling including strengthening your company branding
  • Improve the way you communicate with key stakeholders inside and outside of your organisation

 

Four Interesting Facts About Public Speaking

 

#1 – It Will Change Your Life

 

The cold, hard fact is that public speaking for many of us can be scary. However, much of the fear is due to how we interpret the situation. For many people it’s not the actual act of speaking in public that’s worrying, it’s something much simpler and more universal. Failure.

 

But public speaking can offer a range of benefits, so seeing it as an ‘opportunity’ rather than a ‘situation’ can help. It can enhance your confidence and be incredibly influential. And unlike some fears, you can prepare for it, which can downplay the negativity of the whole situation as well.

 

#2 – There Is No Such Thing As Failure

 

Much of the fear around public speaking is down to one simple assumption. People are afraid they are going to do a ‘bad’ job and even worse, ‘everyone’ will be there to see it. However, it’s harder to fail than you think because feeling isn’t fact. Which means what you feel isn’t always the reality. And often when you think you’ve done poorly, most people won’t even notice what you believe are mistakes.

 

Reframing your ideas about success and failure and focusing on learning from the experience (with the help of our presentation course) rather than fearing the outcome, will help it be less about perfection and more about curiosity.

 

#3 – Your Audience Is Behind You

 

Because the fear of public speaking is so common, and we all feel embarrassed at times, most people will be sympathetic with your nerves. This is because seeing you struggle through a presentation can often hit close to home! Also, in most cases, people want to hear what you have to say, not judge your delivery, so they want you to do well.

 

Even in a competitive environment, a landslide victory is not what people want either – they want engagement and entertainment. So the better you perform, the more fun it is for them!

 

#4 – The fear of public speaking is referred to as glossophobia

A cool and slightly geeky term, wouldn’t you agree?

 

Famous Historical Speeches 

 

Many remarkable people throughout history have managed to influence us in more ways than one. And the efforts, ideologies and opinions reflected in their speeches have led to life-changing situations. Here are three of the best.

 

  1. Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist who organised the British suffragette movement and helped women win the right to vote. She delivered her Freedom or Death speech in Connecticut in November of 1913.

 

  1. Martin Luther King was an activist and American Christian minister who became the spokesperson for the Civil Rights Movement. Before he was assassinated in 1968 he gave a speech, I Have A Dream, which called for an end to racism in the United States.

 

  1. Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. He was the first African American to be elected to the presidency and gave a rousing US Election Victory Speech in 2008.

 

Modern Day Motivators

 

There is also a lot to be gained from a host of entrepreneurs, writers and business leaders in the modern age. Follow these legends on LinkedIn for your daily dose of inspiration!

 

Richard Branson – Founder of the Virgin Group, Branson has more than 13.4 million LinkedIn followers, and his favourite themes include cherishing family, chasing your dreams and combating climate change.

 

Deepak Chopra – America’s best-known advocate for alternative medicine, Chopra’s content covers a variety of topics that touch on mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.

 

Tony Robbins – An author and motivational speaker, Robbins shares pointers, articles and inspirational quotes on how to achieve success in everything from finances to relationships.

 

Gretchen Rubin – Rubin is a prolific writer whose achievements include four New York Times bestsellers. On LinkedIn, she offers insights about human nature, making and breaking habits and fostering happiness.

 

For even more inspiration, check out TED’s (a non-profit devoted to spreading ideas around the globe) Most Popular Talks of All Time.

 

If you have glossophobia and would like to learn not just to plan and build presentations, but deliver them confidently and successfully, check out our NEW Powerful Presentations course! 

 

Talent Management Program – New Course

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Did you know that before the development of Human Resources Management, the industry was known as Personnel Management? Roles in this area involved only basic HR functions like keeping processes compliant with legislation and handling employee files (paper ones not electronic!). These days, HR roles are multi-faceted, highly skilled and centred around the entire process of recruiting, from hiring to retaining and developing the most talented employees in a given industry.

 

HR professionals are also valuable assets to any organisation. In fact, according to LinkedIn, companies with successful talent management programs in place earn up to 30% more per employee. So if you’re keen to not only place the right people in the right jobs but ensure those same people shine their very brightest, our new Talent Management Program is for you!

 

Learning Outcomes

 

  • Explore leadership theory
  • Understand career management strategies
  • Manage, develop and mentor talent effectively
  • Create development programs for all staff
  • Maintain a qualified talent pipeline through succession planning
  • Implement transformational HR strategies
  • Educate management on the importance of strategic partnerships
  • Understand individual behaviour and personality traits in organisations
  • Learn how to improve the attitudes, perceptions and behaviours of employees
  • Discover how to plan for skills needs to maintain competitiveness
  • Study performance management and how to conduct a performance appraisal

 

Why Study Talent Management?

 

A career in talent management doesn’t just involve HR process expertise. Talent managers have also generally developed:

 

  • A willingness to stay abreast of ‘best practice’ and the latest recruitment trends and ethics.
  • The ability to multi-task – employees, job seekers and businesses are continually shifting and evolving.
  • A strong sense of ethics to deal with company policies and confidential information.
  • Strong communication skills, including effective presentation, negotiation and conflict management skills.
  • Leadership abilities, including the ability to motivate others and foster employees’ belief in an organisation.

 

After completing our talent management course, you could score a job as an HR Manager or Recruitment Consultant, or specialise further for a role as an Occupational Health and Safety Manager, Training and Development Manager or Workplace Relations Manager.

 

The sector in Australia is expected to employ over 102,400 people by 2022, and salaries range from around $76K for an entry-level professional to over $112K for experienced Talent Managers!

 

The Future Of Talent Management 

 

The world of recruitment is continuously evolving along with the advances of new digital technologies. Companies who want to make effective HR decisions are increasingly turning to ‘people’ analytics. This includes using data science, machine learning techniques and software like Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS). Many of these programs assist with managing the entire recruitment process, from posting job ads and sorting applications to managing candidates and reporting.

 

Artificial intelligence (AI) is also beginning to play an important role in the form of natural language processing (NLP) and chatbots. NLP can analyse resumes to help remove human bias, which can increase candidate diversity. And chatbots can be used for more proactive tasks, including providing immediate, real-time feedback to potential candidates.

 

A Day in The Life Of… 

 

If you are after a job with heaps of day-to-day variety, then a Talent Manager role is for you! Tasks will vary depending on your role; however, most entry-level recruitment professionals will oversee the entire lifecycle of an employee, including:

 

  • Developing job descriptions
  • Writing and placing job postings
  • Conducting application and credential reviews
  • Undertaking screening interviews and background checks
  • Managing job offers and the hiring process
  • Ensuring a smooth onboarding process
  • Identifying and managing any employee skills gaps
  • Setting up additional on-the-job training
  • Sourcing and cultivating mentorships
  • Assisting with career planning, coaching and relationship building
  • Managing feedback, performance management and appraisal processes
  • Dealing with promotions, transfers and employee terminations

 

Are you a people person? Are you keen to help organisations recruit, hire, retain and develop the best talent? If it’s a double yes, then take a look at our new Talent Management Program! 

 

Boosting Productivity at Work for Success

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Boosting productivity at work doesn’t mean working harder or faster. Rather, it’s about working smarter so that at the end of a busy day you feel accomplished, not stressed!

So, what’s the secret boosting productivity at work? We spoke to the experts to discover productivity hacks that’ll have you out the office door before you hit the floor!

Sally Foley-Lewis, the author of The Productive Leader, says boosting productivity at work means first focusing on your personal productivity.

 

  1. Identify the procrastination triggers

 

Procrastination triggers are usually based on stress, explains Ms Foley-Lewis. Ask yourself, what is the stress that is triggering this procrastination?

 

“There are many types of procrastination and once identified it’s easier to minimise them. Given life is always full of ups and downs, it’s unrealistic to think you can rid procrastination forever. The trick is to identify it early and take positive and productive action.”

 

  1. Set tomorrow up for success today

 

Develop afternoon and morning rituals – they’re good productivity boosters.

Afternoon

At the end of the day

  • List tasks you know can trigger procrastination. Write them out in full, so you can’t waste time tomorrow
  • Identify one thing you’re proud of achieving throughout the day and/or thank someone for their help
  • Put on a timer for 2 to 5 minutes and tidy your work area, so it’s more inviting tomorrow.

 

Morning

At the beginning of the day

  • Prioritise a list of tasks according to the most value-laden and important first
  • Schedule those tasks into your calendar so you own your day first, and before others add appointments into your calendar
  • Schedule a block of time in your day marked private, even just 10 minutes as wiggle room.

 

“If you set up your afternoons and mornings daily, it helps to keep flexibility in your day.

If you must shift your important work for someone else, move your important appointment, don’t simply delete it.”

 

  1. Schedule you

Your health, wellbeing, self-awareness and personal development are how you fill up your tank to operate at your best, explains Ms Foley-Lewis.

“Most people want to perform well. It’s hard to give your best when you’re running on empty. Scheduling you into your daily or weekly calendar is essential.”

Beck Lomas, Marketing Director at Promotr, leads a team of busy and deadline-driven professionals in digital marketing and has the following productivity hacks.

 

  1. Take regular short breaks

    It may seem counter-intuitive, but short breaks refresh the brain between tasks and ensure team members are at maximum capacity when tackling a new task.

 

  1. Have fun

Fun is more invigorating than a food break, juice or even coffee, explains Ms Beck.

“I ensure there is a lot of ways to have fun at work during breaks, such as shooting hoops, funny quotes of the day, and sharing of funny social media content.

“A short laugh can invigorate both body and mind, boosting productivity.”

 

Boosting Productivity at Work – Happiness is Key

Eugenie Pepper, a counsellor, says science-backed research shows happy employees perform better and are more productive.

“The principles of positive psychology can be used in the workplace to improve wellbeing and productivity.

“When we are happier, our mood is up. And when we’re feeling positive, we are more motivated and efficient and therefore more successful and productive.

“Unhappy employees take more sick days – up to 15 more a year.”

Good leaders use positivity to motivate and maximise performance, and this positivity is contagious, explains Ms Pepper.

“Studies have shown that managers who provide recognition and encouragement increase productivity in their staff by 31 per cent.

“Just believing in your employees’ skills and intelligence can boost productivity. Positive belief is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“Giving employees the feeling that they have some control is also a driver of wellbeing and performance.”

 

Boosting Email Productivity

If most of your day involves sending, replying to and sorting emails, you’re not alone. Many of us waste countless hours on email at the expense of more important tasks.

If you’d like to boost your productivity at work, consider enrolling in Boosting Email Productivity to gain control over your workday.

Mindfulness for Career Success – New Course

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Mindfulness in the workplace is a hot topic that’s becoming increasingly popular with large corporations, such as Google, Apple and Nike, to boost employee motivation, engagement and empathy. But there are many benefits to practising mindfulness in the workplace both for work-related productivity and relationships. 

 

Mindfulness in the workplace increases productivity and encourages prosocial behaviour. When applied to your career, mindfulness can enhance your focus, boost creativity, develop your emotional intelligence and improve your career prospects.

 

Our new course Mindfulness for Career Success will help you to develop self-discipline, adopt a growth mindset and increase your personal power and credibility in the workplace.

 

In this mindfulness course, you will learn how to overcome procrastination, organise your time better, make mindful decisions, recognise and respond to unconscious bias and form mutually beneficial relationships at work.

 

On completion of this course, you will be able to implement mindfulness techniques in the workplace to increase your productivity and achieve career goals.

 

What is Mindfulness?

 

According to Sane Australia, “Mindfulness is a mental and physical technique you can use to focus your awareness on the present moment. Being in the moment helps you acknowledge, accept and cope with painful or intrusive thoughts, feelings and sensations.

 

“Mindfulness practice is simple, powerful, takes just a few minutes and can be done almost anywhere, so it can be a great addition to your everyday mental health self-care.”

 

Learning Outcomes

 

Mindfulness for Career Success will equip you with the skills and knowledge to:

 

· Organise to overcome procrastination 

· Develop a growth mindset 

· Listen well in the face of challenges 

· Overcome your unconscious bias

· Explain unconscious bias to others 

· Develop personal power and credibility 

· Gain techniques to overcome procrastination 

· Stay focused 

 

 

Is This Course for You? 

 

Mindfulness is for everyone, but it’s especially crucial for those in high-pressure roles. If you feel your job is negatively impacting your mental or physical wellbeing, mindfulness training will help you to implement techniques to regain control. 

 

Benefits of Mindfulness at Work

 

The popularity of mindfulness continues to increase with a growing body of research, demonstrating that it reduces stress and anxiety, improves focus and memory and promotes self-regulation and empathy.

 

A study by neuroscientist Sara Lazar, an assistant researcher in psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, was the first to provide evidence that mindfulness meditation can change the brain’s grey matter and brain regions linked with memory, emotional regulation and sense of self. 

 

Mindfulness training can help you at work in many ways, such as:

 

· Increased motivation, engagement and empathy 

· Increased productivity 

· Encourages prosocial behaviour 

· Enhances your focus 

· Boosts creativity 

· Develops your emotional intelligence 

· Improves your career prospects 

 

 

If you incorporate mindfulness into your workday, you’ll feel more accomplished, which will mean you can spend more time in the moment with the people who matter most to you.

 

Enrol in Mindfulness for Career Success today and enjoy the benefits of being more present at home and at work to enhance your wellbeing.

Certificate of Six Sigma – Yellow, Green and Black – New Course! 

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Six Sigma is a set of tools and techniques for process improvement used by many businesses around the world. Essentially it works by minimising process variability in terms of identifying and removing the causes of defects. Its use also creates a unique infrastructure of people within organisations who are experts at conducting projects and implementing improvements.

Those with Six Sigma certifications are in high demand in different roles across a range of industries. If your role involves being responsible for improving quality and processes at the departmental or organisational level, then our NEW Certificate of Six Sigma – Yellow, Green and Black course will add another (enviable) skillset to your CV!

If you are new to the world of Six Sigma certification, you begin by achieving a Yellow Belt certification, then a Green Belt and finally a Six Sigma Black Belt. If you already have Six Sigma qualifications, it’s simply a matter of choosing your next challenging level!

 

Learning Outcomes

Certificate of Six Sigma – Yellow Belt

If you are keen to undertake the Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification, you will be already familiar with engaging with an organisation’s problem-solving teams to effect change. Learning outcomes for this certification include:

 

  • Exploring the evolution of Six Sigma
  • Understanding Six Sigma foundations, principles and core concepts
  • Learning how Six Sigma can benefit your organisation
  • Discovering Poka-yoke and Kanban-pull methodologies
  • Learning about team basics, roles and responsibilities
  • Using quality tools, creating charts and interpreting histograms
  • Measuring process performance metrics including calculating yield, DPU and DPMO
  • Implementing the Voice Of The Customer (VOC) strategies
  • Discovering Six Sigma project management basics, including using diagrams and matrix and Gantt charts
  • Learning about basic Six Sigma statistics, classifying and collecting data and undertaking a system analysis

 

Certificate of Six Sigma – Green Belt

At the Six Sigma – Green Belt level of your career, you will already be assisting with data collection and analysis for Black Belt projects. Learning outcomes for this certification include:

 

  • Exploring Six Sigma methodologies
  • Identifying Six Sigma projects and their Lean Principles
  • Using DFSS tools for a project
  • Uncovering the similarities between DFSS and Six Sigma
  • Exploring the IDOV and DMADV methodology stages
  • Understanding the Six Sigma Voice of the Customer
  • Learning about the FMEA types, characteristics and process steps
  • Undertaking RPN calculations
  • Understanding DFMEA and PFMEA worksheets and differences
  • Gaining insights into Six Sigma project management essentials
  • Understanding Six Sigma process and performance capability measurements
  • Using Six Sigma control charts, cycle-time reduction and Kaizen Blitz
  • Exploring Six Sigma data classification, sampling and collection
  • Undertaking Six Sigma hypothesis testing and performance metrics
  • Using Six Sigma measurement systems analysis and waste elimination
  • Exploring Six Sigma process documentation and analysis

 

Certificate of Six Sigma – Black Belt

At the Six Sigma – Black Belt level of your career, you will be leading problem-solving projects and possibly training and coaching teams. Learning outcomes for this certification include:

 

  • Exploring the fundamentals of Lean and Six Sigma and their applications
  • Learning about Six Sigma project selection, roles and responsibilities
  • Undertaking Six Sigma strategic planning and deployment
  • Discovering the impact on stakeholders and benchmarking
  • Using business and financial measures in Six Sigma
  • Learning about Six Sigma team dynamics, roles and success factors
  • Exploring Six Sigma team facilitation and leadership
  • Studying Six Sigma team dynamics and training
  • Determining requirements by listening to the Voice Of The Customer
  • Undertaking a Six Sigma business case
  • Learning about process flow metrics and analysis tools
  • Exploring data types, sampling, collection and measurement
  • Using basic statistics and graphical methods
  • Undertaking probability and probability distributions
  • Determining process performance and capability
  • Measuring and modelling relationships between variables
  • Learning about the basics of hypothesis testing and tests for means
  • Undertaking tests for variances and proportions, ANOVA and goodness-of-fit
  • Exploring FMEA and other non-statistical analysis methods
  • Understanding DOE and planning experiments
  • Designing, conducting and analysing experiments
  • Learning about Lean Improvement methods and implementation planning
  • Undertaking statistical process control (SPC) and control charts
  • Using Lean control tools and maintaining controls
  • Sustaining Six Sigma improvements
  • Exploring common DFSS methodologies, robust designs and design for X (DFX)

 

Who This Course Suits 

People seeking Six Sigma certification come from a range of industries and perform at a variety of levels. Typically, job titles include engineers, process owners, quality professionals, production managers, frontline managers and anyone charged with the responsibility of improving quality and processes at the departmental or organisational level.

 

Six Sigma History

Formulated by American Motorola engineer Bill Smith in 1980, Six Sigma methodologies were also introduced to General Electric’s business strategy by CEO Jack Welch in 1995.

The term ‘Six Sigma’ originated from terminology associated with the statistical modelling of manufacturing processes. The maturity of these can be described by a ‘sigma’ rating, which indicates its yield or the percentage of defect-free products that are created.

Each Six Sigma project carried out within an organisation follows a defined sequence of steps with specific value targets. These can include reducing pollution, cycle time and costs, and increasing profits and customer satisfaction.

 

Six Sigma Colour Gradings

Six Sigma professionals exist at every project level, and each has a different role to play. While roles may vary, here is a basic guide to who does what (in order of expertise).

Master Black Belt: Often functions at the Six Sigma program level by developing key metrics and strategic direction. They can also act as an organisation’s Six Sigma technologist or internal consultant and may train and coach Black Belts and Green Belts.

Black Belt: Leads problem-solving projects and often trains and coaches project teams.

Brown Belt: Not traditionally used in Six Sigma projects, some organisations may classify a Brown Belt as someone who has their Green Belt and has passed the Black Belt certification exam, but hasn’t yet completed a second Six Sigma project.

Green Belt: Assists with data collection and analysis for Black Belt projects, and may lead Green Belt projects or teams.

Yellow Belt: Participates as a project team member, and often reviews process improvements that support the project.

White Belt: May work on problem-solving teams supporting projects but not necessarily as part of a Six Sigma project team.

 

Six Sigma Real-World Use

The following companies claim to have successfully implemented Six Sigma methodologies into their organisations in one form or other:

  • American Express
  • BHP Billiton
  • Caterpillar
  • Centrelink
  • Citibank
  • Commonwealth Bank
  • Dupont
  • Ernst & Young
  • Flight Centre Travel Group
  • Ford Australia
  • GE
  • Holden Ltd
  • Honeywell
  • IBM Australia
  • Kodak Australasia
  • Kraft Foods
  • Motorola
  • Nestle Australia
  • Pacific Dunlop
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers
  • Qantas
  • Rio Tinto
  • Suncorp
  • Sunrice
  • Sheraton Hotel
  • Siemens
  • Telstra

 

Fun Fact! 

Six Sigma processes are ones in which 99.99966% of all opportunities to produce some feature of a part are statistically expected to be free of defects!

 

If you’re after a Certification program to kick-start your career, and provide invaluable, in-demand process improvement skills for future job opportunities, then our Certificate of Six Sigma – Yellow, Green and Black is for you! 

 

Stress Management Program – New Course!

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Did you know that one in five Australians has taken time off work in the past 12 months because they’ve felt anxious, stressed or depressed? Are you one of those 21 per cent? 

We all deserve a life outside of work to enjoy our ‘downtime’. However, being continually stressed can lead to poor work performance and have adverse long-term effects on your physical and emotional wellbeing. 

People also react to pressure differently, so it’s important to identify what makes you stressed, and leverage techniques to manage what’s causing it. As a result, you’ll feel happier, healthier and improve your focus and productivity.

And that’s where our new course comes in! The way you complete our stress management course is also stress-free. Using our interactive, self-paced guide, you can take as much or as little time as you need – you’ll be reaping the benefits before you know it! 

 

Course Outcomes 

  • Explore the key concepts relating to stress
  • Understand how stress affects you emotionally and physically
  • Recognise the signs of burnout and the toll stress can take on your health
  • Discover the symptoms of stress and workplace pressure triggers
  • Learn how to change your perceptions and manage personal stress and pressure
  • Find out how to take action in high-pressure situations
  • Learn how to deal with over-analysis and over-confidence
  • Uncover how different work style types deal with pressure
  • Learn how to deal with stressed colleagues
  • Learn how to adopt relaxation and mindfulness techniques
  • Discover how to control stress with the ABC model 
  • Learn how to achieve a healthy work/life balance
  • Understand how your behavioural style affects your life balance
  • Explore the benefits of simplifying your life
  • Explore passive, aggressive and assertive behaviours
  • Learn how to set your limits and reframe situations
  • Understand the barriers that make change difficult

 

Common Causes Of Work Stress

A variety of things can cause stress, which can include the below. How does your workplace stack up? 

  • A toxic culture or lack of culture 
  • Trauma and/or loss of control, people or resources
  • Low or no-change management practices
  • Bad management practices
  • Client and colleague demands
  • Your working environment, including poor ergonomics
  • Employee relationships including role conflict
  • Mismatched team or individual skillsets

 

How To Tell If You’re Stressed

Life can be so busy that we sometimes lose sight of the fact that we are feeling pressured. Not sure if you’re exhibiting signs of stress at work? Then ask yourself:

 

  1. Do you always miss lunch to get work done? It does show dedication. However, it is unhealthy, won’t help your energy levels, and it’s also a sign that you’ve got too much work on your plate (excuse the pun!) 
  2. Do you often work at home after hours? Home should be your relaxation space, and working at night or on weekends can force you to avoid nurturing relationships and hobbies that are important to your wellbeing.
  3.  Is your work often rushed? Stressed employees who feel overwhelmed often rush through projects, which can result in outputs that are incomplete, incorrect or just sub-standard. 
  4.  Are you overly emotional, irritable or edgy? Stressed people often behave in uncharacteristic ways, like losing their temper over minor events, or crying over things that would not usually be an issue. 
  5.  Do your attention levels fade during meetings or do you randomly jump from one project to another? Having too much happening at once may cause you to lose focus and be unproductive. 

 

If you answered any of the above with a ‘yes’, our Stress Management Program will equip you with valuable tools that can help you negotiate the pressures of the modern working world. Super-charge your performance and your career!  

 

Note: If you are feeling overly stressed, depressed or anxious at work, several community services can offer assistance. These include Lifeline, Beyond Blue, the Black Dog Institute and Sane.

 

Prince2® Certification Program – New Course! 

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Project management is vital to business, as it ensures controls and governance are in place so that goals are achieved, and benefits maximised.

Prince2, which is an acronym for Projects IN Controlled Environments, is a structured project management program and process-based methodology for enabling ‘best practice’ in project management.

It is a complex system made up of six Aspects, seven Principles, seven Themes and seven Processes, and its ‘management products’ are divided into three main types – records, reports and baselines.

Prince2 was initially developed as a UK government standard for information systems projects and is now adopted by countries across the world, including in Australia.

So, we are so excited to be launching the Prince2 Certification Program as one of our new courses!

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Uncover the history of Prince2 project management.
  • Explore the benefits of project management using the Prince2 methodology.
  • Learn how to tailor Prince2 for your unique project environment and requirements.
  • Understand the Prince2 concepts, principles, themes, processes and stages.
  • Assemble a PID (Project Initiation Document).
  • Initiate a Prince2 project, direct it and control it.
  • Manage your Prince2 project, including its stages, team roles and delivery.
  • Explore Prince2 quality, change, progress and risk themes.
  • Work towards undertaking the Prince2 Foundation exam.

 

Is This Course for You? 

The Prince2 Certification Program suits a variety of project management professionals, including those who are Program Managers, Team Managers and Project Consultants. It is also a valuable skill-enhancer for employees who have a defined role within a project team currently operating in a Prince2 environment.

 

Why Study Prince2 Project Management?

Project management is a critical part of an organisation’s infrastructure and architecture. A survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers found that “higher-performing projects are significantly more likely to be staffed with certified project managers”.

Prince2 is an asset to your resume as it’s recognised as a world-class international product. In fact, many organisations with complex project management needs are demanding employees are Prince2 certified.

Studies by the Australian Institute of Project Management show that there are more jobs than candidates in some project management sectors. Project management is also one of the most sought-after professions, particularly in our digital climate with technology-driven changes such as big data, automation, and AI pushing organisations to new limits.

According to PayScale, Project Managers with Prince2 certifications can earn up to $111K, those in the IT sector up to $113K, and Senior Project Managers in the IT sector up to $139K.

 

A Day in The Life Of … 

Those with Prince2 certifications will most often be employed in high-level project management positions dealing with major projects and key stakeholders. However, life as a Project Manager usually means that no two days are the same!

Your role could involve working with Account Managers to ensure a smooth handover of projects for initiation, or in the IT world, collaborating with hosting teams on customer solutions. It could also involve working with Delivery Consultants, Solution Architects and Customer Stakeholders to ensure dependencies and prerequisites are met.

Or you could be working on a combination of jobs throughout the day and tasks could involve making project calls, documenting action, planning and scheduling upcoming projects, and creating Statement of Works for forthcoming projects. Other tasks may include arranging pre-sales resources for an Account Management team, working with clients and consultants to resolve project issues, and providing status reports of project progression to a Senior Management team.

 

Love the stimulating, fast-paced world of Project Management? Then take your career up a notch with our Prince2 Certification Program and graduate with the world’s most sought after PM qualifications! 

 

Strategic Thinking For Success – New Course! 

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Strategic Thinking for Success will equip you with the skills and knowledge to confidently deal with risks. This professional development course will also make you a valuable asset to organisations across a range of sectors. 

Risk is inevitable in any organisation, and it has the potential to inflict serious damage, which can have negative financial and efficiency impacts. Our strategic thinking course will help you to identify, assess and manage risk, and develop strategic plans to mitigate potential risks.  These are all in-demand skills critical to business success. 

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Discover how to identify risk using root cause identification and forecasting tools like the Delphi technique.
  • Learn how to differentiate between internal and external risks.
  • Plan, conduct and manage brainstorming sessions. 
  • Learn key risk assessment concepts, including opportunity and threat assessment using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
  • Discover how to create an effective strategy for responding to risk, such as risk exposure adjustment and contingency planning.
  • Learn how to think strategically, develop your capacity for creative thinking, and how to deal with complexity.
  • Use strategic thinking to consider the bigger picture, including understanding paradoxes and causality, and how to assess value and supply chains.

 

Is This Course For You? 

This strategic thinking course is ideal for public and private sector executive staff, including functional managers, departmental leaders and those who have managerial or executive responsibilities. It will enable professionals to move beyond purely operational service delivery to implementing ‘bigger picture’ strategies.

 

Traits of Analytic Thinkers 

According to psychologists, we all have a natural tendency to go with intuitive answers to problems and choose solutions that ‘feel right’. However, analytical thinkers take their search for a solution even further to find answers that can be proven to be correct. Some of the characteristics analytical thinkers display (and we bet you nod your way through the list!) are: 

  1. Your lifestyle can sometimes appear chaotic to other people because you like to concentrate on important, ‘thinking’ tasks rather than on domestic ones. 
  2. You can give sound reasons and explanations for all your decisions, including your favourite foods and your choice of hobbies! 
  3. You often need time alone, and you like to use it to absorb new information and working out complicated solutions.
  4. People turn to you when they have a question because they know you’ll either have the correct answer or make it your business to find out what it is! 
  5. You enjoy the company of like-minded friends who can match your quick thinking ability and inspire your intellect.

 

Why Study Strategic Thinking For Success?

According to an article in Forbes business magazine, multiple studies have shown that “strategic thinking is the leadership quality that correlated best with perceptions of ‘success’ and ‘effectiveness’ in the workplace.” Further, “employees respect and value leaders who are mindful of the future and always seem prepared for it”. 

As technology in today’s business landscape (including the rise of AI and automation), drives a higher rate of change, more and more organisations are seeking leaders with strong strategic thinking capabilities. The greatest protection an individual or a company can have is the ability to adapt quickly. Strategic thinking training provides a clear approach for leaders seeking to improve the way they plan for change. This valuable soft skill will give you a competitive edge and continued business and personal growth in an ever-changing world.

 

Key Skills Of Analytical Thinkers 

Analytical thinkers are valuable to organisations because of their ability to:

  1. Visualise how different parts of a process fit together and predict how small changes can influence the whole organisation.
  2. Strongly support procedures and policies.
  3. Exceptional knowledgeable about their area of work expertise.
  4. Be in the right place, at the right time, with the right information.
  5. Make decisions that are highly valid and can be supported by solid facts and figures.

 

Keen to leverage your analytical skills in your career? Our Strategic Thinking for Success course will fine-tune your talents to affect change and ensure your organisation remains competitive in today’s globally competitive markets. 

Adobe InDesign Program – New Course! 

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The world’s leading desktop publishing and typesetting software, Adobe InDesign has come a long way since its launch in 1999 (by the way, Happy 20th Birthday InDesign!) It was hot on the heels of the desktop publishing revolution. For the first time, individuals and organisations could directly and effortlessly design and publish almost any type of content. 

InDesign has traditionally been the software of choice for illustrators and graphic and web designers, who work in different capacities and a variety of industries. It essentially allows users to design visual communications and publication materials for print, digital and electronic media.

According to the government’s Job Outlook site, there are likely to be around 27,000 new job openings over the next five years for illustrators and graphic and web designers. As such, we are so excited to be launching the Adobe InDesign Program as one of our new courses! 

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Learn how to create documents, navigate your workspace and use guides, rulers and grids.
  • Discover essential editing functions like selection tools, smart guides, and how to split layout views.
  • Explore editing tools such as the scissor, transform, gradient swatch and gradient feather tools.
  • Learn how to use toolbars and panels, the object, pen and pencil tools and panels and palettes.
  • Discover how to create text frames and scale, skew, kern and track text.
  • Study how to group, align, distribute, arrange and transform objects.
  • Learn how to manipulate pages, and create tables, templates and books.
  • Discover how to work with stock and creative cloud (CC) libraries.
  • Learn how to apply stroke and fill, place, position and resize images.
  • Gain the skills that will allow you to publish completed designs in a variety of formats. 

 

Is This Course For You? 

Traditionally, Adobe InDesign was the software of choice for those needing graphic design skills, and who were keen to work as illustrators or graphic and web designers. Typically this work would be in the publishing, advertising and information media or telecommunications sectors.

However these days, it’s a valuable CV enhancer for almost anyone working in any sector, including Digital Marketing Managers, Social and Digital Communications Officers, Marketing Managers, Social Media Executives, and E-commerce Content Coordinators.

 

Why Study the Adobe InDesign Program?

The skills you learn in this graphic design course can assist you with producing all types of wonderfully creative designs for everything from flyers, posters and brochures, to branding elements like logos, stationery and marketing collateral. InDesign even allows you to publish content (like magazines and books) for tablet devices in conjunction with the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. 

Because graphic designers are critical to marketing, designers have the potential to earn excellent salaries. Many graphic designers also have the opportunity to run freelancing businesses or work on a contract basis for advertising agencies or an organisation’s in-house marketing team. 

According to PayScale, the average salary for a graphic designer in Australia is around $54,000. Virtually every business needs marketing collateral, so jobs are available in almost every industry you can think of, which is probably why demand is increasing! 

According to the government’s Job Outlook site, the number of people working in graphic design roles in Australia grew strongly over the past five years and is expected to continue to grow over the next ten years from 59,500 employees in 2018 to 67,000 by 2023.

 

A Day In The Life Of … 

Most graphic designers work in an office environment in front of a computer, and many specialise in one or two areas, such as in print, web design or corporate branding. 

Core responsibilities include collaborating with clients and account managers to understand the objectives of a project, and brainstorming and developing design briefs for client presentation.

They may also work with a team of copywriters, illustrators, photographers, web developers, marketing specialists and project managers. 

 

Fun Fact! 

Graphic designers have produced many of the most important visual media landmarks over the last century. Two notable examples are Storm Thorgerson, who built his reputation creating artwork for rock bands like Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd, and Sir Jonathan Ive, who became world-famous for designing a myriad of products over his ten years at Apple.

Keen to gain creative design skills to enhance your C.V? Study our Adobe InDesign Program and take your career to the next inspirational level. 

Certificate of Agile Project Management – New Course!

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The economy, technology and the political landscape are changing rapidly, and adopting Agile project management practices ensures organisations can adeptly complete in continually competitive marketplaces. In our new Certificate of Agile Project Management course, you will learn about the most common agile methodologies and frameworks and be ready to embrace a mindset, culture and leadership style that will propel your organisation into a transformative future.

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Explore the fundamental Agile concepts and learn why it’s crucial to cultivate a culture of agility.
  • Uncover the eight Agile values, the twelve Agile principles and the five phases of the Agile project management model.
  • Discover the characteristics that distinguish an agile mindset from a fixed mindset.
  • Learn about the most common Agile methodologies and frameworks.
  • Study the Agile enterprise and its benefits, key creation steps and factors for successful implementation.
  • Explore Agile planning activities, including creating personas and wireframing.
  • Learn about the most common Agile estimation techniques including story points, wideband Delphi and affinity estimation.
  • Explore key risk management and product quality, testing and integration strategies.
  • Uncover the benefits of using facilitation techniques like Agile games to foster cooperation and collaboration.
  • Discover how innovating with Lean techniques can help you build the right product and encourage strategic innovation.
  • Learn to maximise value and leverage best practices with A/B Testing.

 

Is This Course for You? 

This course is ideal for Project Managers, Project Officers, Change Managers, Business Analysts, Team Managers and Senior Managers who are seeking an Agile approach to product delivery. It’s also a valuable up-skilling qualification for those who are looking to enhance their resume qualifications with Agile project management skills.

 

Why Study Agile Project Management?

Project management is an exciting and dynamic business discipline that is on the rise in Australia, with over 121,000 professionals predicted to be employed by 2022. Employees with Agile project management skills are in high demand across both contract and permanent roles. Demand is mainly due to organisations increasingly requiring processes that are in sync with the fast and ever-changing pace of business and technology. 

 

Agile project managers can work in a variety of contexts in a vast range of different sectors from construction, manufacturing and engineering to finance, professional services, healthcare administration and information services and technology. 

 

And when it comes to wages? According to Payscale, the average national salary for an Agile project manager in Australia is around $118K.

 

A Day In The Life Of … 

One thing Agile project managers are guaranteed of is job variety! You could enjoy a variety of workplace roles, including at an enterprise level, where you may be leading and managing large, complex projects with multiple Agile teams that require integration. 

 

You may also be playing a team level role where you put the appropriate process, tools and people in place for project efficiency and effectiveness. This role could be at a consultant level and also involve coaching team members to optimise efficiency. 

 

Or you could be in a hybrid Agile role where you use your skills to develop an approach that achieves project goals with designated project constraints. Regardless, your focus will most likely be on managing timelines, deliverables, teams and external stakeholders.

 

Agile project managers are vital to business so you can look forward to a rewarding career in an ever-changing landscape. Because as Project Auditor Joy Gumz, sums up, “Operations keeps the lights on, strategy provides a light at the end of the tunnel, but project management is the train engine that moves the organisation forward.” 

 

Ready to flex your Agile project management muscle? Amp up your skills with our Certificate of Agile Project Management and prepare for a career at the forefront of business transformation.

Twitter for Professionals – New Course

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Twitter has emerged as a promising social media platform for professional development, but only if you know how to use it professionally. It’s also an integral social media platform to promote an organisation’s products and services in an increasingly digital work world. 

In our new online course, you’ll discover how to boost your career prospects and gain the knowledge and skills to promote an individual or organisation successfully. 

Twitter is a powerful and personal social media platform that can connect you with like-minded professionals, mentors and potential employers. As such, it’s the perfect social media tool to find new career opportunities and professional connections.

In Twitter for Professionals, you’ll learn how to use this valuable social media platform to stay informed on current trends in your industry, network like a pro and successfully promote an organisation. 

 

Learning Outcomes 

  • Gain the skills and knowledge required to analyse global trends and engagement.
  • Explore audience metrics.
  • Track tweet interactions and conversions.
  • Learn how to promote a business on Twitter by identifying trends, using hashtags and implementing business-specific features.
  • Discover how to generate Twitter polls.
  • Optimise hashtags.
  • Install call-to-action links.
  • Upload GIFS, videos and images.
  • Create successful advertising campaigns.

 

Is this Course for You? 

Whether you’re considering freelancing as a social media professional, want to market yourself on Twitter to advance your career or learn how to promote an organisation on Twitter professionally – this course is for you. 

 

Why Study Twitter for Professionals? 

On completion of this course, you will feel confident to promote yourself and an organisation on Twitter and to create compelling advertising campaigns.

The ability to use Twitter professionally to promote an individual or an organisation’s products or services is crucial to the role of a Social Media Professional. 

 

A Day in the Life of a … Social Media Professional 

The social media marketing space is a unique, exciting and fast-paced industry where no one day is ever the same.

Social media professionals (or social media marketers), use social media platforms and social networking websites to promote products, services or individuals to an online audience.

There are many key skills that a social media professional requires – in addition to a comprehensive understanding of the various social media platforms. 

 

Key Skills for Social Media Professionals:  

  • Copywriting – if you have a way with words, the social media marketing gig might be for you. As a social media professional, you’ll be writing tons of content for advertising, social media posts and blogs. 

 

  • Creativity – it takes a lot of creative thought to come up with fresh content and new ways to capture an online audience’s attention – with all the social media ‘noise’ out there. So, if you’ve got a unique way of looking at the world, you’ll be highly valued in this industry. 

 

  • Analytics – being able to analyse data on how well your social media posts are performing is an essential part of the job as a social media marketer, so you need above average analytical skills. 

 

  • SEO Knowledge – Search engine optimisation is crucial to rank with Google, so you’ll need a solid knowledge of how to optimise your content and social media posts. 

 

  • Organisation Skills – The many types of social media platforms and content assets available to an organisation mean that impeccable organisation skills are a must-have for all social media professionals. 

 

Careers Outcomes 

  • Social Media Manager 
  • Content Writer 
  • Social Media Coordinator 
  • Social Media Assistant 
  • Social Media Marketing Specialist 
  • Social Media Strategist 

Boosting Email Productivity – New Course

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Do you feel like you’re swimming in a sea of emails? Considering 28 per cent of our workweek is spent reading and answering emails, you’d be forgiven if you feel like you’re drowning most days.

Luckily, with strong email productivity skills, you’ll be able to minimise the time you spend reading, writing and replying to work and personal emails and increase the time you have for ‘real’ work.

Boosting Email Productivity is a new professional development course that will provide you with practical skills and knowledge to manage your emails to increase your productivity.

 

Learning Outcomes

  • Gain the skills and knowledge required to manage and write emails effectively.
  • Learn about email etiquette
  • How to use folders and filters to organise emails for increased efficiency
  • Discover guidelines for writing emails quickly and concisely
  • Organise email folders
  • Flag emails appropriately
  • Address and distribute emails and instant messages to multiple recipients
  • How to recover crucial information should you lose an email.

 

Topics Covered:

  • Managing email communication
  • Addressing and distributing emails
  • Email and instant messaging basics

 

Is This Course for You?

If you’re spending too much time writing, responding to and reading emails, this course will help you to organise your emails for increased efficiency. As a result, you’ll be more productive at work, spending time on getting the ‘real’ work done.

 

Why Study Boosting Email Productivity?

On completion of this course, you will have gained the skills and knowledge required to use correct email practices and etiquette to increase your productivity at work.

So, if you’d like to reclaim your time by managing emails better, enrol in Boosting Email Productivity today.

5 Reasons Why Personal Development Courses Matter

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Personal development courses are an investment in you. They’re an education in how to be the best you can be – in your career and your personal life.

After all, one influences the other. If you’re struggling in your career, it’s bound to carry over to your personal life and vice versa.

And if you’re doing well in your career – your personal life will reap the benefits.  As long as you’re not a workaholic, of course!

But there are differences between professional development and personal development courses (or self-development courses).

 

Professional Development V’s Personal Development

While professional development improves your skills and knowledge in your career, personal development courses aim to develop you as a whole person.

Clayton Jan, a business communication consultant, says it’s not easy to define personal versus professional development.

“You could say they’re not categories but a continuum, from personal development through to professional development.

“Some activities are evidently one or the other and some are a mix of both. What could be professional development for one will be personal development for the other.

“The question is, what is the benefit? Is it for you personally, or for economic reasons? I learned about time management and organisation, for example, as part of preparing for an office reorganisation, rather than for personal development,” says Jan.

 

Professional Development 

Professional development courses build your knowledge and skills in your job. These skills generally don’t carry over to your personal life.

They do enable you to move forward in your career with confidence. A confidence that comes from knowing your skills are in demand.

An example of professional development skills include:

  • IT training  
  • Occupational health and safety knowledge 
  • Accounting
  • Legal expertise 
  • Health and medical terminology 

 

Personal (Self) Development 

Personal development courses concentrate on building skills that are useful in your career and your personal life.

Personal development is about investing in your greatest asset – you. It helps you improve your self-awareness and identify. It also develops your talents to find your true potential, which improves the quality of your relationships and helps you achieve your life goals. 

An example of personal development courses include:

  • Assertive communication
  • Conflict management
  • Building emotional intelligence
  • Developing a growth mindset
  • goal setting
  • Organisation and prioritising 
  • Anger, time and stress management

 

5 Reasons to Invest in Personal Development 

There are five main reasons to study personal development, according to Mr Jan. 

 

  1. Confidence with others. If you find yourself uncertain of something or missing a skill, you can learn about it and be confident in it, whether that’s for purely personal, social, or work-related reasons.
  2. Comfortable within yourself. Learning about yourself, what makes you ‘tick’, what your weaknesses are and why, and how to address it or work around it, makes a huge difference in making life comfortable.
  3. It makes life easier. It gives you tools to cope—you never know when something is going to happen that forces you to deal with a situation you never thought of before. If you’re used to always trying to improve yourself, you are more likely to face those times with a positive mindset.
  4. It’s fun. I learned Adobe InDesign for work. I learn about astronomy for fun (an appreciation for our environment puts problems into perspective).
  5. Personal development is a lifetime activity. I knew someone who, in her eighties, decided she wanted to go to Rome and so learned Italian. When I studied French, it was for purely personal enjoyment (and I wanted to do something I couldn’t ‘theorise’ y way through, as a way to learn how to be comfortable being uncomfortable).

 

“For someone starting out, foundational understanding is useful, for example, time management, work-life balance, organisational skills, communication, and goal-setting.

“I have been doing personal development for so long, I can see that I don’t have a typical list. For example, things like time management, work-life balance, or developing goals are no longer challenges, just things to manage. I am now focussing on leadership and mentoring.”

 

Professional and Personal Development Are Complementary 

Personal development courses and professional development go hand-in-hand, says Mr Jan.

“While professional development focuses on knowledge, skills and techniques, personal development focuses on how you can bring that professional development to bear.” 

Professional development can benefit you personally. But personal development has a greater potential to overflow into your personal life, explains Mr Jan, and both should be lifetime activities.

“I was given the opportunity to undertake a 360-degree team assessment. The results were surprising. I was one of the most invested in the enterprise and yet was seen by others as the least invested. 

“In response, I undertook a range of development activities in my weak areas, from learning workplace training facilitation to engaging an executive coach.”

The results were impressive, says Mr Jan, including improved relationships, the ability to influence others, network and negotiate.  It also set the foundations for future personal and professional growth. 

“It also gave me insight into what I can and cannot do. There are some things I am not good at, and I know why. I know myself well enough to make those calls based on information rather than fear.”

 

Personal Development is Ongoing 

 Personal development shouldn’t be considered a distinct or occasional activity, but ongoing and part of life, says Mr Jan. 

“Seeing a limitation in your capabilities and taking action to either improve it or work around it becomes a normal part of life, and that’s what makes things better over time.”

In a way, it’s Socrates’ dictum, “The unexamined life is not worth living”: we examine ourselves, and improve our quality of life, through undertaking what would be personal development for us.

 

The Ultimate Self-Development Program 

If you’ve been considering personal development courses, take a look at The Ultimate Self-Development Program. 

In this comprehensive personal development course, you will enhance your communication, negotiation and organisation skills.

You will also gain the skills and knowledge to manage time, stress, anger and gain critical insight into conflict resolution to manage your relationships – both at work and in your personal life. 

You will also learn about a growth mindset and be able to identify a culture that has a growth mindset, and how to develop it in yourself and others for greater personal and professional success. 

Discover many professional and personal development courses online and enrolling now – be the best you can be. After all, there’s no time like the present. 

Find your new direction today!

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