Navigate & Manage Remote Work Like a Pro!

Navigate & Manage Remote Work Like a Pro!

The business landscape has dramatically changed with the advent of COVID-19. More people are working remotely and with that comes other challenges, particularly for those in charge. Our Managing Remote Work course will give managers, supervisors, remote workers and virtual assistants insights into managing teams, staff and projects remotely — collaboratively and successfully.

In this managing remote work course you will learn about the nature of the remote workplace, the benefits of remote work, how to balance the benefits and challenges, and how to adapt to remote work in different sectors. You will also discover technology that aids remote work and client interaction, including live chats, webinars, live streams and online events.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a managing remote work course include:

  • Learning about the nature and definition of remote work
  • Exploring the ongoing shift towards remote work
  • Gaining an understanding of traditional forms of remote work, industry and employment
  • Studying how to create a home workspace
  • Examining workplace obligations for satellite remote work sites and home offices
  • Understanding building codes, insurance and materials
  • Attaining knowledge of the scope of remote workplaces for different goods and service business structures
  • Gaining insights into the challenges and benefits of working remotely
  • Learning about productivity, time management and social loafing
  • Exploring interruptions and insufficient coordination
  • Gaining an understanding of time management, travel time and achieving flow state
  • Studying trust, talent acquisition, confidentiality and data protection
  • Examining the impact of remote work on businesses, employees, remote workers and the environment
  • Understanding working in different industries and comparative practices
  • Attaining knowledge of accessing technological equipment, supporting Telehealth workers and managing chronic, rehabilitative and long-term care
  • Studying how to maintain focus and student motivation
  • Examining the retail sector, basics and groceries, luxury goods, non-essential goods, food services and financial/admin services
  • Understanding the technologies used in communicating remotely
  • Attaining knowledge of face to face vs. remote communication
  • Gaining insights into how to create a positive share culture in the workplace
  • Learning about feedback, engagement, knowledge sharing, one-on-one meetings and how to effectively use different types of remote communication
  • Exploring letters, emails, telephone calls, SMS, instant messaging, online chats and working remotely with clients
  • Gaining an understanding of managing and supporting staff remotely
  • Studying leadership and group culture, accountability and remote working
  • Examining communication, personality, motivation and monitoring employee output and work quality
  • Understanding how to build and sustain a remote work culture, review staff, perform appraisals and recruit and train
  • Attaining knowledge of hiring and training staff and manage professional development
  • Gaining insights into stress, burnout and the symptoms and effects of stress
  • Learning about staff wellbeing, unmotivated staff and occupational health and safety considerations
  • Attaining knowledge of breakout rooms, one-to-one meetings, virtual booths and live chats and streams
  • Gaining insights into team building and planning an online event
  • Learning about developing a plan for remote working
  • Exploring how to schedule work, manage and track time and time block
  • Gaining an understanding of the pomodoro and interval methods
  • Studying how to plan for resources and risks and contingency
  • Examining files, materials and backups
  • Understanding homecare, childcare and illness

And more!

Australian Remote Working Statistics

According to new workforce data, three in ten Australian businesses currently allow staff to work remotely, and a majority of them expect the trend to continue in the long-term.

A report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) earlier this year outlines how companies are adapting to life after the COVID-19 shutdowns of 2020, and how many plan to turn what was necessary into an established business practice by managing remote work.

Prior the shutdowns, one in five organisations nationwide already permitted some form of teleworking. In September 2020, this figure peaked at four in ten, although it has tapered off as government restrictions ease. However, 80 per cent of companies still permit a portion of their workforce to work from home or anywhere that has internet connection (coffee anyone?)

Although some sectors do have concerns. These include the commercial real estate industry which is pushing for a return to the physical workplace as it believes it stimulates nearby businesses and boosts workplace culture. Some tech companies that originally pushed for the work-from-home transition are also asking questions, including what will happen to business camaraderies and will extended periods away from the office encourage workers to work overtime or hardly work at all?

However, the ABS data does answer some of the lingering concerns around workplace affinity and burnout. In fact, 45 per cent of businesses that permitted remote work reported an increase in staff well being and a quarter said productivity has increased. But there is a clear bias in the figures towards industries which don’t strictly require work on-site. Overall, the report suggests that remote work isn’t ideal for every business, but neither is a working week that is confined to being in the office. How things have changed!

Source:

2021, 4 in 5 Australian businesses say that remote work is here to stay long term, even as offices reopen nationwide, Business Insider Australia

 

Four PC Business Telecommuting Tools

As managing remote work becomes the norm, it’s vital that businesses build a portfolio of tools that will help them stay connected and productive. Thankfully, the IT sector wasn’t caught unawares in terms of software with the advent of COVID-19. Several tools were designed during the drive for digital transformation over the past few years that have enabled employees to be more connected in different geographic areas, including in the areas of project management and online collaboration. Here are four telecommuting tools recommended by PCMag Australia.

  1. Slack

Slack is a market leader among business messaging apps because it is highly intuitive with a range of features. Essentially this app is about easy, fast and focused communication between employees. It is also highly customisable in terms of other service integrations and software. The app is easy to deploy quickly and its more advanced features can be accessed easily, including the ability to conduct video calls, assign discussion channels to business topics, and leverage integrations allowing users to access to apps like Google Analytics. It also has business messaging and collaboration and file-sharing features. Slack also continues to evolve with new mobile and desktop apps that make communication and collaboration between teams more intuitive.

  1. Zoom

Although Slack offers basic video calling, Zoom is a dedicated video conferencing solution. It is easy to use and has a competitive set of features. This includes users not needing to download a client to access Zoom’s features — you just click a link to join a call with full capabilities. What really sets it apart from its competitors, however, is easy access to other advanced features like precise audio and video controls, the ability to blur or add backgrounds, and easy scalability for larger groups so you can not just conduct meetings, but also webinars and classes. Along with these benefits, Zoom has top performance, non-fuss connectivity and is affordable, with its selection of free plans.

  1. Microsoft OneDrive for Business

One of the key issues when it comes to remote work is the issue of data safety. Employing a flexible, reliable and easily-accessed file sharing and cloud storage solution is vital for businesses with staff working remotely. It ensures your organisation’s documents can be accessed while keeping data accessible, secure and backed up. Microsoft OneDrive for Business is a clear leader among the business file sharing solutions, and is ahead of its competitors due to its pricing structure and ability to integrate with Microsoft’s portfolio of business productivity apps. It is an ideal solution for small to mid-size businesses that already use other Microsoft solutions like Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Office 365.

  1. Asana

Keeping workers productive during COVID-19 has become complicated. Managers need to be more focused on making sure their staff stay engaged, social and connected with their team members. However, they also can’t lose focus on deadlines, tasks and task ownership. Asana is a people and project management tool that combines the best of online collaboration with time management and project and team-oriented task tracking. It’s also fairly simple to learn and easily deployed. It takes into account flexible work hours and shifting time schedules, maintains a flow of communication through a variety of integrations with other tools like Slack, and offers an affordable subscription pricing model.

Source:

2020, 5 Tools For Your Business Telecommuting Toolkit, PCMag

 

Gain the skills and knowledge to confidently manage remote work projects and staff with our Managing Remote Workcourse.

Events Management Course to Launch Your Career?

If you’ve ever thought about becoming an events manager, you’ve probably wondered what’s involved and how to gain entry into this competitive career. An events management course can provide you with the skills you need to launch your career, but first, let’s look at this exciting role to see if it’s all that you imagined!

Events managers are responsible for overseeing the design, set-up and execution of events, whether for business or pleasure. An event manager could be responsible for a wedding one week and corporate wellness retreat the next. It’s certainly a job that offers variety with no two days ever being the same!

What’s obvious is that no matter the occasion or event, these people-centric professionals must put on a show! The endgame for all event managers is to ensure that people enjoy and get the most out of the events they attend.

What is Event Management?

Events management is a project management role that is specifically about organising and executing events. The duties of an event manager are varied, from finding a suitable location to follow-up on attendee satisfaction.

The following duties are typical in event management:

  • Promote conferences, conventions, trade shows to clients
  • Respond to enquiries about services and costs of equipment hire, catering and related expenses
  • Meet with clients to discuss their needs and outline options
  • Arrange and coordinate services – facilities, catering, signage, displays, audio-visual equipment, accommodation, transport, activities
  • Organise registration of attendees
  • Plan and organise the events, keeping within financial and time constraints
  • Book venues and schedule guest speakers
  • Meet with clients to coordinate the event
  • Assess and compare options for catering, decorators, musicians etc.…
  • Negotiate with business/services to achieve the most favourable terms for the client
  • Hire, train and manage staff involved in the event
  • Appraise staff and provide reports
  • Manage all event operations – preparing the venue, invitations, food, drinks etc.
  • Track and record event expenses regularly
  • Do event budget planning
  • Stay within the budget
  • Oversee event activities
  • Propose solutions to problems as they occur
  • Evaluate event’s success, follow up with attendees and submit reports

What Skills Do You Need to Be an Events Manager?

The events manager must be multi-skilled to create a successful event plan that meets client and attendee needs. So, with that in mind, here are the top ten skills that we think event managers need to be successful in their careers. Keep in mind, these skills can be acquired or improved with work and events management courses.

  1. A Marie Kondo-like ability to stay organised
  2. Multitask like a magician
  3. Content to work nights, weekends and public holidays
  4. Strong communication and listening skills
  5. Creative – an ideas person
  6. Energetic – enjoy the fast-paced nature of the role
  7. Ability to be calm and focused during chaos
  8. Flexibility when inevitable challenges arise
  9. Confident and calm decision making
  10. Willingness to learn and expand skills
  11. Passion for the dynamic events industry

What’s the Outlook for Events Managers?

According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook, there were 23,400 Conference and Event Organisers in Australia, which is projected to increase in the next four years to reach 23,600.

Employment Snapshot

  • Size: This is a medium-sized occupation.
  • Location: Conference and Event Organisers work in many regions of Australia.
  • Industries: Most work in Administrative and Support Services; Accommodation and Food Services; and Arts and Recreation Services.
  • Earnings: Full-time workers on an adult wage earn around $1,347 per week (similar to the average of $1,460). Earnings tend to be lower when starting and higher as experience grows.
  • Full-time: Many work full-time (71%, higher than the average of 66%).
  • Hours: Full-time workers spend around 44 hours per week at work (compared to the average of 44 hours).
  • Age: The average age is 34 years (compared to the average of 40 years).
  • Gender: 75% of workers are female (compared to the average of 48%).

Certificate of Wedding Planning and Event Management  

There are many fast-paced and exciting jobs in event management. So, if you have a passion for planning, a love of people and enjoy surprises, this double wedding and event management course is the perfect combination for a rewarding career!

The Certificate of Wedding Planning & Event Management is an online program that will teach you wedding and event management fundamentals to create the perfect event for any occasion.

In this wedding and events management course, you will understand all aspects of planning and managing events. You will learn the management, organisation and event planning skills required to be a successful event planner.

Discover the different styles of weddings, types of ceremonies and receptions, working with caterers, photographers, reception venues and celebrants to create the perfect wedding for your clients.

You will discover event concept development and how to manage physical and human resources, project logistics, marketing, finance and operations. So, whether it’s conferences, concerts or weddings, you’ll feel confident to plan and manage events of every type and size.

On completion of this course, you will feel inspired to launch your career in the dynamic and exciting world of wedding and event management or start your own business, such as a boutique wedding venue!

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a painting and decorating course include:

  • Wedding planning skills
  • Wedding ceremony types
  • Legalities
  • Types of receptions
  • Themed weddings
  • Reception venues
  • Destination weddings
  • Managing people
  • Conflict handling techniques
  • Anger management
  • Venues, locations
  • Wedding photography
  • Table and seating planning
  • Managing the program
  • Schedules and travel
  • Managing services
  • Wedding cakes, stationery, invitations, wedding dress, floristry, photography, gifts, beauty and hair
  • Managing the client
  • Contracts, cancellations and contracts
  • Wedding planner’s survival kit
  • Planning a wedding business
  • Planning an event or conference
  • Developing a concept
  • Hiring equipment
  • Safety in planning
  • Public events
  • Managing physical and human resources
  • Logistics, contingencies, legalities
  • Minimising risks
  • Public relations
  • Sponsorship
  • Developing a business plan
  • Financial management
  • Staging the event
  • Measuring success
  • Dealing with complaints
  • Evaluation checklist

And more …

 

Gain the knowledge and skills required to start your career as a wedding planner and event manager with an events management course, such as our Certificate of Wedding Planning and Event Management.

Learn Top Tips For Starting a New Business

Ideal for entrepreneurs and those who are thinking about starting a new business, our Develop New Business Ventures course will give you insights into planning and developing a new business venture for an existing organisation or for a business generating self-employment.

In this course, you will explore how to investigate new business opportunities by analysing new trends and market information, and gather essential data and source information that supports business concepts and ideas.

You will also discover how to develop and present professional business proposals, communicate risks to stakeholders, and understand standards, legislation, policies, procedures, codes of practice and resource and financial requirements.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a course in starting a new business course include:

  • Learning how to investigate business opportunities and analyse market information for potential opportunities
  • Exploring business ideas and concepts and how to gather data and source information
  • Gaining an understanding of how ideas might be influenced or limited
  • Studying features and benefits, product mix and organisational capability
  • Examining record maintenance and financial, business, technical and digital technology skills
  • Understanding how to identify market segments and market trends and developments
  • Attaining knowledge of ethical and cultural requirements and factors impacting business opportunities
  • Gaining insights into needs, factors and potential impacts
  • Learning about promotional activities and campaigns
  • Exploring personal motivations and aspirations and how to identify personal strengths and weaknesses
  • Gaining an understanding of the criteria that determines the viability of a business opportunity
  • Learning how to undertake a SWOT analysis
  • Exploring how to develop and present business proposals
  • Gaining an understanding of business opportunities and the factors influencing business financial viability
  • Studying how to record evaluations, the risks associated with business and the key risk categories
  • Examining risk management systems, planning and assessment and how to communicate risk to stakeholders
  • Understanding the four strategies for risk management
  • Attaining knowledge of proposal audiences, presentation methods and how to deliver a business description/ proposal
  • Gaining insights into cash flow and reports
  • Learning about feedback and standards, legislation, codes of practice and policy and procedures
  • Exploring how to organise finances for new business ventures
  • Gaining an understanding of available funds and commitments, equity finance, business mix and start up and running costs
  • Studying how to estimate income and calculate income based on price per unit and on an hourly charge-out rate
  • Examining how to estimate costs and the first year’s expenses and income
  • Understanding how cash flow works, how to prepare a cash flow budget and project cash flow
  • Attaining knowledge of finance sources, how to seek financial advice, debt financing, leasing and hiring and grants and subsidies
  • Gaining insights into gifts and bootstrapping, how to access finance, refinancing and how to apply for a business loan
  • Learning about accounting software, sales and marketing, how to have a finance focus and workplace procedures
  • Exploring how to determine the resource requirements for new business ventures
  • Gaining an understanding of business venture profiles, the required personnel, employees and business advisors/consultants
  • Gaining an understanding of how to undertake a cost benefit analysis, the type and quantity of resources required and the methods of acquiring resources
  • Studying the risk, cost and ease of access to services and support
  • Examining how to professionally engage with suppliers and key people, negotiate arranges and the systems and procedures for resources
  • Understanding resource storage and use of resources and the installation of equipment, machinery and software
  • Attaining knowledge of repairs, maintenance and replacement
  • Gaining insights into human resources

And more…

Developing a New Product

Part of developing a new business venture or starting a new business often involves developing new products … and that means you need to develop a plan! It will help you identify the timeline and process to design, create and build your product. A well thought-out product development plan will help you avoid wasting money, time and business resources. It will also:

  • help you organise your product planning and research
  • understand your customers’ expectations and views
  • accurately plan and resource your project

Your plan will also help you avoid:

  • misreading and overestimating your target market
  • launching a poorly designed product or a product that doesn’t meet the needs of your target customers
  • incorrectly pricing your product/s
  • spending resources you don’t have on higher than anticipated development costs
  • exposing your business to risks and threats from unexpected competition

There are six key steps to start developing your plan:

  1. Research your idea — this involves a thorough business analysis that involves defining or describing your idea and identifying your target market.
  2. Build or make and test your prototype — this involves thorough testing, misusing it to find any faults and listening to your target market so you can improve your product as you go.
  3. Write a marketing strategy plan — once your product is in place, you should then figure out a strategy to market it to customers. This will direct your product launch and make the most of opportunities to promote your product or business.
  4. Launch your product — deciding how, when and where to launch your product will determine its impact on the market. Launches help you showcase your new product to potential customers and builds momentum and anticipation.
  5. Keep reviewing your product — once you’ve launched your product, it’s important to keep innovating so that you are ahead of other businesses and products. It will also help you anticipate changes to your market, customers and competition.
  6. Protect your idea — once you’ve development and refined your product, you should get the correct intellectual property(IP) to protect your idea. Automatic protection is given to confidential information, trade secrets, copyrights and circuit layout rights.

Research and Innovation

Innovation means coming up with new ways to do things enabling you to change processes or create more effective ideas and products. It can also help you save money and time and is key to your business developing a competitive advantage and creating a culture of problem solving and innovative thinking. It’s worth noting that your business can be innovative without actually inventing something new. Innovation can be experimenting with marketing, changing your business model, or adapting to changes in the environment to deliver better services or products.

If you are starting a new business, here are some resources to help you be more innovative:

Marketing Your Product

Marketing your product well will help you reach your customers, get online and stand out from your competitors. It involves:

Business Marketing

Business marketing can help your business reach its target audience, attract new customers and ultimately increase your profit. Good marketing tells a story about your business and gives your customers a reason to purchase from you rather than your competitors. And writing a marketing plan can help you define certain aspects of your business and focus on your priorities.

Identify Your Target Market

Identifying and understanding your customers is an essential part of your marketing plan and your business. Not everyone is a potential customer, so it’s important to have a clear understanding of your target market early on. It will also help you analyse your market and define your customer segments.

Research Your Market

Market research is a valuable tool for all businesses. It can help you to understand potential customers, competitors, products or services, suppliers, business location and your local area and industry and market trends. The Australian Bureau of Statistics is Australia’s official statistical agency and provides a wide range of social and economic statistics.

Develop Your Marketing Plan

Writing a marketing plan can help you define your marketing strategy and identify the best channels and activities to market your services or products. It can also help you to:

  • identify your target market and how your product or service can benefit it
  • identify how you might attract new customers
  • encourage your existing customers to continue purchasing your product or service
  • set goals and time frames for your marketing activities
  • map out a strategy to reach your target audience, including the messages, channels and tools you’ll use
  • evaluate your marketing activities
  • provide a marketing budget and see your return on investment.

Market Your Business

Thinking about all your business activities can help you to position your business, and your products or services in the market. The five Ps of marketing (product, price, promotion, place and people) can help build your business brand and target your customers’ needs.

Advertise Your Business

Advertising is a marketing activity that can help you to reach out to potential customers and encourage them to buy your products or services. An effective advertising campaign can help you to:

  • increase customer reach
  • build customer awareness of your business and brand
  • promote the benefits of your products or services
  • communicate information about your business
  • increase sales and demand
  • gain an advantage over your competitors.

Tools and Software to Market Your Business

Marketing tools and platforms can help you conduct your retailing and online promotion. By streamlining how you deliver targeted messages to your customer, they can help you achieve your business goals, and the type of tool and platform will depend on what you want to achieve. They can also help you:

  • retain customers
  • keep customers and clients up to date
  • track your customers’ purchasing behaviours
  • personalise messages to your customers.

 

Gain the skills and knowledge required to plan, present and implement new business ventures confidently with a course on starting a new business such as our Develop New Business Ventures course.

Marketing Online Course to Boost Profits!

If you haven’t studied marketing before, or you are a salesperson, business owner or marketing or advertising assistant, this is the ideal course for you

Our Certificate of Marketing Systems course will give you insights into the types and importance of marketing systems, how they operate, and how to develop new systems for a business. In this marketing online course you will learn about the types of retail systems and the factors that influence retail strategy and wholesale systems.

You will discover the importance of specialist marketing services, from labelling and packaging to signs and public relations. You will also study negotiation skills, how to perform a market analysis, and how to market to local and international customers.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a marketing online course include:

  • Learning about marketing systems, marketing channels and how innovation leads to success
  • Exploring how to choose the right system, the different types of customers and monopoly and competition
  • Gaining an understanding of pure and monopolistic competition and oligopoly and monopoly
  • Studying globalisation and demographics and promotions in internet marketing
  • Examining the world wide web, how the internet works and how to target internet users
  • Understanding supply systems and mailing lists
  • Attaining knowledge of retailing systems and strategies
  • Gaining insights into shows, pyramid schemes and telephone sales
  • Learning about mail order and online retailers and shows and exhibitions
  • Exploring retailing strategies, the retail life cycle and factors influencing retail strategies
  • Gaining an understanding of marketing terminology
  • Studying wholesale systems and strategies
  • Examining self-marketing, cooperatives, agents and regulated systems
  • Understanding wholesale, independent and manufacturer-owned intermediaries
  • Studying branding and specialist marketing services and social media managers
  • Examining packaging, labelling, displays, signs, merchandising and public relations
  • Understanding receiving money – credit, cash, card etc.
  • Attaining knowledge of personal, mail order and self-service
  • Gaining insights into shop layouts, packaging, labelling, branding and product lines and mixes
  • Attaining knowledge of customers and markets and the local environment
  • Gaining insights into personal selling skills, preparation and approach, presentation and negotiation and how to close the sale
  • Learning about customers, markets, follow-up and after-sales service
  • Exploring marketing organisations and distribution enterprises
  • Gaining an understanding of advertising agents, PR and sales enterprises, marketing tasks and market research
  • Studying merchandising, promotions, transport, record keeping, marketing strategies and diversification
  • Examining how to gather data and implement research results
  • Understanding the marketing mix and marketing and strategic planning
  • Attaining knowledge of mission statements, organisational objectives and PEST and SWOT analysis
  • Gaining insights into SBUs – strategic business units
  • Learning about portfolio analysis, growth strategies, tactical planning and procedures for marketing planning
  • Exploring international marketing in terms of which countries to choose
  • Gaining an understanding of economic communities, international marketing strategies and how to choose overseas markets
  • Studying how to choose a market entry strategy and how to implement it
  • Examining price, product, promotion and distribution

And more!

The Importance of PEST and SWOT Analyses

As you will discover in this marketing online course, PEST and SWOT analyses are vital for business adaption, particularly in these challenging health and economic times. COVID-19 has had profound impacts on all nations, causing some markets to evaporate and driving others into economic recession.

PEST Analysis

This refers to Political, Economic, Social and Technological factors. This analysis looks at larger macro factors that dominate the market to better understand the key drivers that will most directly impact the marketplace moving forward. A PEST analysis is always conducted before a SWOT analysis as it allows business to analyse the marketplace and then based on its own resources and circumstances, feed the findings into a SWOT analysis as either threats or opportunities. Key drivers include:

  • Political/legal and other controlling statutory bodies — these groups determine and change the rules and laws that a business must follow to compete within a given market.
  • Economic — this is the state of the economy now and in the future both locally and abroad.
  • Social/cultural/environmental factors — these are the prevailing views, beliefs, attitudes and opinions that people within a market have about any issue and the existing environmental circumstances that underpin those beliefs.
  • Technology — this is the dynamic and ever-changing area driven by innovation that sees the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. It helps industries to produce faster, better and more cost efficient equipment, machinery and processes.

SWOT Analysis

This refers to Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats and is a tool that can be used to determine a business’:

  • Internal strengths and weaknesses — these are the points of relative disadvantage and advantage that a business has in comparison to other rivals competing for the same customers within a market, and they are controllable by a business. In terms of understanding strengths it allows a business to better leverage marketing opportunities, and in terms of understanding weaknesses provides greater insights into the areas of development that need to be addressed to ensure the business is able to effectively compete within a segment, niche or market.
  • External opportunities and threats — these highlight to a business the potential areas within the outside market that offer potential areas of concern and growth.  These market forces are uncontrollable by a business, yet are critical to identifying the best path a business needs to pursue in order to prosper. The basis for these come after the PEST analysis.

COVID-19’s Affect on Businesses

The affects of COVID have been monumental for many sectors and businesses — in both positive and negative ways. Undertaking a PEST and then a SWOT analysis will enable businesses to better understand the impacts. And any business that follows the process, regardless of its market, positioning or size can more fully prepare for what may be coming next.

Businesses will have the time to strategise on how best to adapt critical marketing elements such as unit volumes, product range, service delivery and target audience that will impact overall positioning, logistics, core messaging and pricing strategies. Internal business adjustments may also need to be made which include refinancing, recruitment and restructuring. The following examples demonstrate that as people’s behaviour has changed due to COVID-19, the specific delivery and type of services and products offered in Australia has also changed.

  • Gyms and fitness classes have been negatively impacted, however, home gym equipment sales and hire and personal trainers have been positively impacted.
  • Cafes, bars, restaurants and eateries have been negatively impacted, however, home food delivery services have been positively impacted.
  • The sports industry has been negatively impacted, however, sports streaming services have been positively impacted.
  • Theatres and entertainment venues have been negatively impacted, however, live streaming services have been positively impacted.
  • Public transport has been negatively impacted, however, car rentals and taxi services have been positively impacted.
  • In-store book sales have been negatively impacted, however, eBooks and online books sales have been positively impacted.
  • TAFEs, universities and in-person courses have been negatively impacted.  However, online educational providers (like those that provide courses like our marketing online course) have been positively impacted.

The Different Types of Competition

Customers have many choices when it comes to goods and services as there are so many suppliers in the market! These competitive forces and the skills you will learn in our marketing online course can enable your business to keep prices lower and be more efficient. There are four main types of competition:

Pure Competition

In this instance, there is an unlimited number of competitors. It is relatively easy for new competitors to emerge if old ones disappear. This is partly because the product is undifferentiated and generally relatively easy to supply. Promotion is typically not a key factor for success and price is not usually very important.

Monopolistic Competition

This occurs when there are many competitors. So, it is not always easy for a new business to enter the market. If a business wants to enter this type of market, they will probably need money, time and a level of expertise before they can commence business. Promotional campaigns and price competition are not very important here, but the market place does tend to be differentiated. Hence, there are often optional services or products which a customer can choose to buy in place of your services or products.

Oligopoly

In this instance, there are relatively few competitors, and it is difficult for new businesses to enter the market place and secure any significant proportion of the market. There may be many barriers to entry, for example, a large financial investment may be required. Price competition can also be strong, so promotion can be very important.

Monopoly

In a monopoly, there is only one supplier of a particular type of product or service. As such, the entry of new businesses into the market can be restricted because of the overwhelming economic dominance of the supplier or sometimes by law — for example, in the public utilities sector.

 

Gain insights into the local and global world of marketing and make better decisions about where to market your products or services with a marketing online course such as our  Certificate of Marketing Systems.

Launch a Career in Landscape Photography!

Capturing the beauty of the natural world is a passion for many, but turning it into a career begins with a landscape photography course.

Study the art and method of professional landscape photography to inspire a career or to pursue your passion as a hobby photographer.

Our Certificate of Landscape Photography is an online professional development course that will help you explore and develop your creativity! Learn how to use lighting, filters, equipment, camera settings and digital technology to develop your own photographic style and create stunning landscape photography.

You will also discover how to photograph in natural settings, from tropical rainforests to snow-capped mountains and deserts, and city and streetscapes, including historic buildings and modern architecture.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking landscape photography course include:

  • Review of the basics of landscape photography.
  • Building a resource file.
  • Applying principles of landscape photography to evaluate published photos.
  • Choosing equipment and materials appropriate to specified needs.
  • Using filters to create different effects.
  • Dealing with a range of problems found in natural areas, including uneven light, shade, glare, etc.
  • Photographing buildings and streetscapes.
  • The characteristics of water and its effect on photography.
  • Selecting and composing a photograph to create the predetermined effect.
  • Create a folio of landscape photographs.
  • Identify and explain the equipment and materials used for landscape photography.
  • Create different effects photographing the same landscape.
  • Compose a well-balanced photo.
  • Utilise form to create a three-dimensional effect.
  • Develop your own photographic style.

And more!

5 Famous Landscape Photographers of Australia

If you’re looking for a bit of inspiration, look no further than these successful Australian landscape photographers.

  1. Peter Lik

Born in Melbourne, Peter has been capturing the beauty of landscapes both in Australia and throughout the world almost his whole life. It all began at eight years old, when Peter took a photograph of a spider web in the family’s garden with his Brownie Kodak camera, which was a gift from his parents. Since then, he’s established himself as one of the world’s most celebrated fine art photographers.

  1. Ken Duncan

Ken Duncan OAM is a world leader in landscape and wildlife photography. He is regarded as one of Australia’s most acclaimed landscape photographers, gaining prominence for pioneering work with panoramic landscapes and limited-edition photographic prints.

  1. Julie Fletcher

Julie is an enthusiastic Australian landscape photographer who loves the challenge of capturing wildlife. She’s passionate about teaching and inspiring the next generation of photographers – especially women. Julie’s work is featured in many national and international publications. She’s also a proud recipient of over 50 awards.

“My passion for photography centres on my love for Australian adventure and the great outdoors. I’m always in search of new and unique locations, avoiding cliché where possible and travelling to remote parts of Australia to capture the fresh and unique landscape and nature images.”

  1. Mark Gray

Mark Gray is a leading international panoramic photographer based in Australia. He specialises in panoramic fine art landscapes of Australia and the world. He’s entirely self-taught and has a growing list of 260 international awards. Many of Mark’s works sell for up to $44,000 and are collected in 32 countries worldwide.

“For me, my camera is simply a tool which allows me to capture the breathtaking artwork of the master painter – so that all can see beyond any doubt that heaven exists…”

  1. Luke Tscharke (“Sharkey”)

An Australian landscape and nature photography, Luke is a recipient of many photography awards and is a regular contributor to Australian Geographic and Australian Photography magazines.

“I’ve been fascinated by the natural environment ever since I was a child, and have been able to merge this interest with a love of bushwalking to photograph some of Australia’s most stunning and wild natural environments. My favourite place to photograph is Tasmania where I’ve explored …. the World Heritage Listed wilderness.”

How to Work as a Landscape Photographer

As your portfolio expands, your chance of being employed or commissioned for your photography grows.  Whether your portfolio consists of paid pieces or works you’ve created for yourself – every bit helps.  As long as your portfolio demonstrates past success and talent, you have a sales tool that will help build your career or business.

An online landscape photography course will help you get started, but it’s just the beginning of the journey to becoming a professional. You’ll need to get experience and exposure to hone your skill and market yourself, and there are many ways to achieve this as a beginner.

Get experience, even if it is unpaid

Your photographs are your passion so why not share them with the world for free to build your portfolio. Volunteering is a great way to get started in your career as a photographer. You could put yourself forward as the ‘official photographer’ at school events, music festivals, garden shows or for businesses, such as a tour company or community magazine.

Become a freelancer

Many professional photographers freelance. When you’re starting out, remember no job is too small when you’re trying to gain experience. Every job is a learning experience, providing an opportunity to develop your skills with lighting, creative framing and more.

Submit work to publications

When you’re starting out as a photographer, it’s useful to send your work into publications. Look at newsletters, magazines, blogs or websites that might benefit from your work. Make sure to ask for any guidelines that the publication adheres to before you submit your piece.

Networking is critical

Learn how to network in our landscape photography course. Unfortunately, sometimes it’s who you know (as well as what you know) that helps you get the job.  Join and get active with as many social media platforms as possible. You can also join photographic clubs or societies and attend photography events like exhibitions.

Enter photography competitions

Enter as many photographic competitions as you can when you’re starting out as a photographer. It doesn’t matter if you don’t win – your name and work will still gain some recognition.

Prepare a portfolio

A photography portfolio is a collection of all your work that illustrates your style and skill. A portfolio website is ideal, allowing you to showcase your work to the world. Adobe Portfolio is an excellent platform to showcase your work and is free with a Creative Cloud subscription or for a small monthly fee.

 

Gain the confidence to take on a significant landscape photography project for work or pleasure with a landscape photography course, like our Certificate of Landscape Photography.

Join a Burgeoning Industry With an Online Cleaning Course

Virtually every public building employs cleaners from offices, restaurants and shopping centres to hotels and community centres. Cities employ cleaners to clean public places and sweep the streets. Transport companies employ cleaners to clean planes, trains, ferries, cars and trams. And private households are increasingly employing part-time cleaners due to being time-poor or to reduce the amount of housework they need to do!

However, if you are considering working as a cleaner, starting your own cleaning business or purchasing a franchise, you need to perform well and to do that you need certain skills. Those new to the cleaning industry may start with a small number of clients, but if they are happy with your services, they will often recommend you to others. If you understand how to clean different things in different ways by studying an online cleaning course, you will set yourself apart from the competition, making you an attractive prospect for a client or employer and your business will grow!

The Certificate of Domestic and Commercial Cleaning will provide you with the skills and knowledge to be a cleaning professional. You will learn about both domestic and commercial cleaning, how to use the appropriate techniques to ensure a thorough clean and how to select the right equipment and products for the job.

You will study specialist techniques — from removing stubborn stains and cleaning artwork to floor and furniture cleaning for safe and optimum results and to avoid damage to furnishings and buildings.  Gain insights into how to set up your own cleaning business, including advertising, administrative skills and how to handle complaints.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking an online cleaning course include:

  • Learning about the nature and scope of cleaning including standard cleaning types
  • Exploring bond cleans and outdoor work
  • Gaining an understanding of cleaning roles including general and specialist cleaners
  • Studying chemicals, products and natural versus synthetic products
  • Examining general procedures including over 25 product types
  • Understanding equipment, tools, inventory and resourcing
  • Attaining knowledge of how to report concerns, dispose of waste and comply with legislation
  • Gaining insights into sustainability, maintaining your reputation and controlling pests including spiders, rodents and insects
  • Learning about the categories of stains and specialist cleaning techniques
  • Exploring protein, carbohydrate, lipid, pigment and resin stains
  • Learning about tiles including porcelain and stone tiles
  • Exploring concrete/cement and bamboo floors and linoleum
  • Gaining an understanding of outdoor ground service cleaning
  • Studying tiles, paving, timber, concrete and artificial grass
  • Examining furniture versus furnishings
  • Understanding how to clean furniture including general and deep cleaning of upholstered furniture
  • Attaining knowledge of wood fixings, waxing furniture, policing and cleaning leather, linen and furnishings
  • and floor cleaning
  • Attaining knowledge of rubbish removal and disposal
  • Gaining insights into vandalism, workplace health and safety, how to avoid falling and caustic and corrosive cleaners
  • Learning about kitchen hygiene and cleaning including storage cupboards
  • Exploring sink and drainage areas and drain blockages
  • Gaining an understanding of oven cleaning including oven doors and cooktops (gas, ceramic and metal etc.)
  • Studying freezers, refrigerators, de-icing, freezer drains and how to defrost a freezer
  • Examining dishwashers, waste disposal and organic waste disposal
  • Understanding commercial cleaning, the divisions of commercial cleaning and janitorial work
  • Attaining knowledge of cleaning skills, building maintenance and administration
  • Learning about the future of the cleaning industry
  • Exploring residential cleaning including cleaning, advanced, general and administration skills
  • Gaining an understanding of cleaners versus housekeepers
  • Studying how to join a franchise, set up on your own and get your first client
  • Examining digital advertising, introductory offers, long-term continuing advertising and complaints

And more!

The Future of the Cleaning Industry in Australia

Given the current challenges with the COVID pandemic, many businesses have suffered. However, one sector that it is predicted will grow is the cleaning industry. So great news for those undertaking an online cleaning course!

In the past ten years, cleaning services have gained popularity due to a range of factors. These include investment in real estate, the growth of construction, and the increasing need for proper sanitation in public buildings. According to a report by Allied Market Research, the global cleaning services market is expected to reach over $74 million by 2022, which is a growth rate of over 6.2 per cent!

In terms of Australia, a report by industry research company IBISWorld indicates that there are currently over 32,000 commercial cleaning businesses across the country, employing over 151,000 people. It is also expected that the total number of employees in the sector is expected to grow even more up to 2022. Due to these fast-increasing numbers, the Australian commercial cleaning industry is currently worth about $12 billion and is foreseen to become a key employer in the next few years.

The cleaning industry in Australia includes a wide range of services required by the residential and commercial sectors. It is divided into three main categories — Commercial, Residential and Industrial Cleaning. Under these broad segments, there are also many niche services ranging from domestic services like barbecue, oven, commercial window, bond cleaning and everything in between.

Due to the market’s diversity, starting a business or buying a well-established cleaning franchise in Australia is highly achievable. There is considerable potential for high-profit margins, particularly if you research your niche and make a smart investment. Overall, a range of quality solutions offered to both commercial and residential clients will typically generate a good source of income.

Trends and Opportunities in the Cleaning Industry

If you are thinking about doing an online cleaning course, it’s worth considering some of the trends that may impact your business in the future. They include:

“Green” Cleaning

Many people these days are looking for safer and healthier choices in their lives, including the products they use for cleaning their homes. This trend has led to the increased popularity of sustainable and eco-friendly products, and many households also rely on natural ingredients found in the home preferring them over chemical-based cleaning solutions.

In terms of the cleaning industry, aside from environmental concerns, natural cleaning improves the health and well-being of clients and workers in the sector. For this reason, many quality cleaning companies avoid harsh chemicals, adopt “green” practices and use water-based cleaning systems. An additional benefit is a fact that such cleaning methods reduce repair expenses in the maintenance of buildings.

Some “green” trends used in the industry include:

  • Using microfibre mops and cloths which require only water to remove bacteria,
  • Establishing steam cleaning systems that use pressurised water to clean rugs and carpets.
  • Businesses help clients find eco-friendly cleaning methods and encourage clients to use natural cleaning solutions.

Smart Cleaning

In this era of globalisation, high technologies have an impact on every aspect of human life. For many years, industrial cleaning has relied on both machinery and manpower. However, lately, the main focus is on machinery.

Recent trends in the industry show that companies are using “smart” machines to speed up the process and make it more consistent. This is not surprising, because after all, a robot is always ready for the next cleaning session and never gets too exhausted to work!

According to a comprehensive analysis of the cleaning industry in the UK, Singapore, the US and Australia, cleaning businesses are starting to roll out more “smart” cleaning robots in the future. In 2018, the first robot cleaner, a fully autonomous vacuum sweeper made by a Japanese company called Softbank Robotics and named Whiz, started work at Singapore’s National Gallery. Robots like these will completely reinvent commercial cleaning.

Potential Growth

In the last few years, the Australian cleaning industry has recorded high growth potential due to the increase in the number of businesses in the sector.

According to a report on Administrative and Support Services published by The Australian Bureau of Statistics, the main factor that contributed to the growth is the fact that more organisations prefer to outsource cleaning so they can concentrate on core company activities.

Another reason for the high growth rate in the industry is the increasing number of households seeking support for domestic services in order to save time. Cleaning is a necessity for everyone, and due to limited free time and busy schedules, many families choose to hire professional cleaners for their homes.

So whether you decide to start a new business, work in a cleaning business or buy a cleaning franchise, the growth potential remains high. Regardless, you or your employer should develop a successful business strategy that delivers high-quality services so the business can stand out from the competition and adequately fulfil your customers’ needs.

 

Feel confident to provide professional and specialist cleaning services or start your own business with an online cleaning course such as our Certificate of Domestic and Commercial Cleaning.

Support Clients and Colleagues With an Online Disability Course

When you work with people with a disability you are supporting people in a way that profoundly impacts their life. How rewarding and life-changing is that? This online disability course is ideal for those who currently work in the sector or those aspiring to work in the industry.

The Induction to Disability course offers professional development for disability workers, including providing skills to facilitate the induction of staff and volunteers into various health and disability service roles. You will learn how to facilitate the empowerment of people with a disability and communicate confidently in disability services. You will also study how to follow safe work practices in direct client care and manage personal stressors in the work environment.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking an online disability course include:

  • Learning how to facilitate the empowerment of people with a disability
  • Exploring legal and social frameworks and disability and support services in Australia
  • Gaining an understanding of the types of disability and legal, political and social frameworks
  • Studying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
  • Examining the Charter of Human Rights, Australian legislation, privacy legislation and national and state/territory anti-discrimination legislation
  • Understanding mandatory reporting legislation, child protection legislation and Duty of Care
  • Attaining knowledge of the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and the National Standards for Disability Services
  • Gaining insights into access and equity policies, ethical requirements, the dignity of risk and service provider strategies
  • Learning about social justice, social models of disability, social construct and community attitudes, discriminatory attitudes and disability sector values
  • Exploring advocacy services, rights-based service delivery, communication techniques and person-centred approaches
  • Gaining an understanding of family partnerships, how to engage with carers and families and augmentative and alternative communication
  • Studying adaptive technology, interpreter and translation services and collaborative decision making
  • Examining how to provide individualised support, confirming plan details and client’s goals and expected outcomes
  • Understanding how to assist with bathing, showering, dressing, oral hygiene, elimination and meals
  • Attaining knowledge of independence, decision making, health and safety standards and procedures and Standard Operating Procedures
  • Gaining insights into protocols, developing and maintaining trust and a person’s preferences and strengths
  • Learning how to assemble equipment including transport equipment
  • Exploring negligence, the dignity of risk and safe, comfortable and healthy environments
  • Gaining an understanding of how to seek assistance from professionals and case management administration
  • Studying regular performance evaluations, reviewing individualised plans and self-determination
  • Accessing communication protocols, industry terminology and how to deal with difficult or complicated situations
  • Studying threatening behaviours, barriers to effective communication, assertive communication and how to avoid, defuse and resolve conflict
  • Examining how to report difficulties to your supervisor, mandatory reporting and equal opportunities and anti-discrimination
  • Understanding client and employee rights and responsibilities, how to complete documentation and how to continuously improve
  • Attaining knowledge of how to follow safe work practices for direct client care
  • Gaining insights into policies, procedures, codes of practice, safe work practices, health and safety policies and legislation and how to report and manage work hazards
  • Learning about behaviours of concern, work and occupational violence, risk management and how to perform a client home checklist
  • Exploring violence incident report forms, how to work off-site safely and securely, document control and manual handling and lifting procedures
  • Gaining an understanding of hygiene and inflectional control, waste disposal and how to report risks of infection
  • Studying safety signs and symbols, how to conduct safety audits and implement safe workplace policies and procedures
  • Examining how to manage stress and fatigue and evaluate training, commitment and systems

 

And more!

Opportunities in the Disability Sector

In August last year the Business Council of Australia chief executive, Jennifer Westacott, put forward a plan to help lift the country out of the COVID recession and address the mounting issue of Australia’s unemployment rate. She urged the government to focus on ten industry “winners” to support sectors in which Australia could be a world leader. One of those winners was the disability sector, mainly because it is an industry that strengthens communities, helps people and drives social change.

Dubbed the “greatest nation-building project on earth”, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is set to deliver $22 billion in services and support to Australians every year. These funds go directly to people with disabilities and their families, who use it to access services from businesses, local providers and therapy centres.

Funding is not money that can be spent elsewhere or saved by individuals, so every dollar of NDIS funding will bolster the Australian economy. As the Minister for the NDIS, Stuart Robert, commented, “It is expected that the NDIS will require an additional 90,000 workers over the next five years, almost doubling the currently estimated workforce of 100,000. This represents one of the largest job creation opportunities in Australia’s history.”

The majority of these new jobs are likely to be support worker roles that, as Robert explains, “means more young people, students, out-of-work job-seekers and people returning to work will be able to gain meaningful employment – work that fundamentally connects us and makes us kinder to each other”.

In addition, to support workers, new job roles in the sector will include therapists, coaches, social workers, inclusion specialists and assistive technology equipment providers. It also includes those in more specialist roles such as psychologists and behavioural support practitioners. And new and growing companies in the sector will require in-house staff across a range of departments from marketing and finance to IT and product design.

There is also an area of innovation around disability including online services like Telehealth and support worker platforms through to the development of cutting-edge technologies and hardware such as 3D printing. So the potential for start-ups, entrepreneurship and innovation in this sector is huge.

Then there are also the 365,000 plus NDIS participants to consider, which is estimated to grow to 500,000 participants over the next five years. With increased support and funding comes an increased capacity for these individuals and their family members to join the workforce. Over the coming years, this will have a massive impact on the nation’s recovery and also lead to a more inclusive society.

As experts have said, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reset the way we think about the Australian disability sector, positioning it as central to our entire community’s recovery and future prosperity. The industry is already benefiting from a world-first insurance scheme and, despite the current economic turmoil, it has led to a boom in disability service jobs. And you can be a  part of it with the skills and knowledge you will gain from undertaking an online disability course!

Future Trends in Disability Support

The NDIS was launched in July 2013, and since then it has delivered tangible change on many levels from technology to legislation. When you study an online disability course, you will become familiar with some of the trends that are set to change the entire disability landscape. Some of these include:

Home-based support

There is a wider trend of individuals choosing to move away from group supports particularly in large facilities. In many instances, this trend has been accelerated due to the challenges of COVID.

Support relationships

Building on the above trend of increased demand for home-based support, there is a strong trend towards establishing regular Support Workers and building robust relationships with them. Relationship building focuses on customer-first service as the primary goal, and again, in the current COVID climate, provides a much safer option by limiting the number of interactions with different people.

It is thought that this more person-centred and personalised support will lead to opportunities and skill development, and as we move out of COVID restrictions will see participants building more natural support networks and engaging more in their local communities.

Technology

Technology that enables client-directed choices to book and match with support workers seamlessly has moved forward in leaps and bounds. Optional accessible programs like the NNA Direct Support Service places control in the hands of the client and provide a simple way of finding and engaging a Support Worker.

Customer-first service delivery

This involves providing ways for greater choice and control moving forward as well as increased ways to deliver choices. It leads to increased quality and safeguarding, ensuring clients that purchase support have ways to confirm they are receiving the support they are paying for. It also involves independent checks to ensure providers are delivering quality support.

NDIS plan flexibility

A review undertaken in 2019 found elements of the NDIS Act were too rigid and a range of changes was proposed. This included providing more information for participants to support how they engage with the NDIS scheme, limiting wait times and increasing transparency on NDIA decisions. Hence, plans have been implemented to offer greater flexibility around how participants can spend their funds including making

Core and Capacity Building funds flexible. This opens up the ability for participants to get the support they need when they need it.

Health reviews

Australians with a disability were found to be three times more likely to delay seeing or not see a specialist because of cost. Two in five have also had difficulty physically accessing medical facilities and one in six experienced discrimination by health staff.  With NDIS participants wielding more control over how their core funds are utilised, services such as NNA Direct Support’s NDIS nursing services will therefore reduce, rather than increase support and increase a participant’s overall wellbeing.

 

Source: Joanne Kerno, 2020, Predicting the Future of Disability Support Services: A Service Manager’s take, Clickability

 

Feel confident to support clients and the induction of new workers and volunteers into various disability services roles with an online disability course such as our Induction to Disability.

Kickstart Your Turf Management Career!

Build a profitable business in the turf industry or successfully manage turf in your gardening or landscaping career with our Certificate of Turf Care.

In this turf management course, you will understand the basics of soil management, turf grass varieties, irrigation and cultivation techniques. You will also learn how to establish, plant, maintain and repair laws for various locations including bowls clubs, golf courses, sports grounds and even your own home!

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a turf management course include:

  • Learning about turf varieties
  • Exploring the history of turf
  • Gaining an understanding of lawn mixes and what to grow where
  • Studying turf variety reports and how to lay them out
  • Examining turf grass physiology
  • Understanding how to grow turf
  • Attaining knowledge of grasses, the morphology of a typical grass and turf grass roots
  • Gaining insights into flowers
  • Learning about shoot ratio and development
  • Exploring recuperative potential and ways to identify grass
  • Gaining an understanding of fescue, bent grass, bluegrass, carpet grasses, couch and paspalum
  • Studying grass diagrams
  • Examining turf establishment and soil preparation
  • Understanding seeding, sodding, instant turf and chitted seed
  • Attaining knowledge of drainage
  • Gaining insights into work scheduling, work sheets, costing guides and project component estimate forms
  • Learning about admin, materials, equipment and insurance, wage costs and hourly rates
  • Exploring profit
  • Exploring soils — texture, blends, types, structure and pH
  • Gaining an understanding of how to improve soils and soil fertility
  • Studying how to calculate soil quantities, cation exchange capacity and plant nutrition
  • Examining nutrient elements and macro and micronutrients
  • Understanding drainage, fertilising turf and improving soil permeability during garden construction
  • Attaining knowledge of improve surface drainage after construction and the layout and types of drains
  • Gaining insights into turf weed problems, weed management and how weeds are spread
  • Learning how weeds are spread and how to prevent dispersal
  • Exploring non-chemical control methods, herbicide use in turf and how to spray at the recommended concentration
  • Gaining an understanding of how poisonous they are, examples of commercial formulations and the domestic range of herbicides
  • Studying turf pests and diseases, turf health problems and non-parasitic problems in turf
  • Gaining an understanding of how to establish ornamental turf
  • Studying shade and establishment and how to plan for the environment with golf courses
  • Examining how to undertake an environmental audit and its inclusions

And more!

Main Types of Sports Grass

Sports grass requires turf management to maintain its functionality and keep it looking good, but another important factor involved in its care is choosing the right type of grass from the get-go. So whether you are looking to create your own sports field or have a new property and are keen to lay down grass for your outdoor sporting activities, here are the main types of sports grass.

Eclipse Stabilised Turf

This turf is a combination of natural and artificial grass and can be found on sporting fields across the country. Natural grass grows above the synthetic fibre, the final product is carpet-like and it can be grown at a turf farm and then delivered as a ready-to-play option. The first club to install this type of grass was the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 1999, with a subsequent re-surfacing program occurring in 2014.

Couch Grass

This is a variety of grass that can handle drought, high levels of salt and high amounts of wear, so is ideal  for a versatile lawn or a sporting field. There are a variety of types including Conquest Couch, Oz Tuff, Stadium Sport Couch and Grand Prix Couch … to name a few! Stadium Sport Couch in particular is used on golf courses, sporting facilities and on council grounds across the country.

Zoysia Grass

Best suited to temperate climates in Australia, this variety of grass is slow-growing, low-maintenance, drought-tolerant and can handle wear, so is ideal for sporting fields. It also has a natural resistance to many common diseases and weeds and requires very little water to survive and thrive. Types include Zoysia Macrantha, Empire Zoysia, Zoysia Japonica and Zoysia Matrella.

Australia’s Best Stadiums

If you love your sport, you’ve no doubt visited a variety of sporting stadiums. And if you’re interested in

turf management, you’ve probably also admired not just the performance of your favourite team, but the lushness of the sports grass! If not, here are some of Australia’s best stadiums you should check out for some inspiration.

Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

Known locally as “The G”, the MCG is located in Yarra Park in Melbourne and it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere. It was built in 1853 and served as the centrepiece stadium for the 1956 Summer Olympics, the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 1992 and 2015 Cricket World Cups.  The stadium hosted both the first test match and first One Day International played between Australia and England in 1877 and 1971 respectively. It has also become the principal venue for AFL matches, including the AFL Grand Final, the world’s highest attended league championship event. It has also hosted other major sporting events including international rules football matches, international rugby union matches, State of Origin games and FIFA World Cup qualifiers. With a total capacity of over 100,000 people, it is also home to the National Sports Museum.

Adelaide Oval

Located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide, Adelaide Oval is predominately used for cricket and Australian rules football, but has also played host to rugby union, soccer, rugby league and tennis. It has also been headquarters to the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) since 2014 and the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) since 1871.

Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)

With a capacity of 48,000, the SCG is used for Twenty20, Test and One Day International cricket, as well as rugby league, Australian rules football and rugby union. It is the home ground for the Sydney Sixers of the Big Bash League, the New South Wales Blues cricket team, and the Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League.

Perth Stadium

Also known by naming rights sponsorship as Optus Stadium, this is a multi-purpose stadium located in the suburb of Burswood. It was completed in late 2017 and officially opened on 21 January 2018. With a capacity of over 60,000 people, it is the third-largest stadium in Australia after the MCG and Stadium Australia. It is primarily used for cricket and Australian rules football. Perth’s two AFL team (the Fremantle Football Club and the West Coast Eagles) relocated their games from Subiaco Oval to this stadium, and the Perth Scorchers also play their Big Bash League here.

Suncorp Stadium

Also known as Lang Park and the Brisbane Football Stadium and nicknamed “The Cauldron”, this is a multi-purpose stadium located in Milton, Brisbane. The current facility has a capacity of 52,500 people and this three-tiered rectangular sporting stadium is primarily used for rugby union and ruby league. The stadium’s major tenants include the Queensland Reds, the Brisbane Broncos and the Australian Wallabies. It was established in 1914 and in its early days was home to a number of different sports, including soccer, athletics and cycling.

The lease of the park was taken over by the Brisbane Rugby League in 1957 and it is the home of the game to this day. It has also hosted the 2008 and 2017 Rugby League World Cup Finals and the 2021 NRL Grand Final. The venue will host several matches for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as well as the football component of the 2032 Summer Olympics.

Stadium Australia

Formerly known as Telstra Stadium and ANZ Stadium, Stadium Australia is a multi-purpose stadium located in Sydney Olympic Park. It was completed in 1999 at a cost of $690 million to host the 2000 Summer Olympics. It was originally built to hold 110,000 people, making it the second largest stadium in Australia after the MCG. In 2003, reconfiguration work was completed to shorten the south and north wings and install movable seating. These changes reduced the capacity to 82,500 for an oval field and 83,500 for a rectangular field.

The Gabba

Also known as the Brisbane Cricket Ground, the Gabba is located in Woolloongabba in Brisbane (hence its nickname). Over the years, it has hosted cricket, athletics, baseball, Australian rules football, cycling, rugby union, rugby league and pony and greyhound racing. At present, it is the home ground for the Queensland Bulls, the Brisbane Heat and the Brisbane Lions. It will be the centrepiece of the 2032 Summer Olympics and will be upgraded for the Games in order to increase its capacity to 50,000.

Docklands Stadium

Currently also known by naming rights sponsorship as Marvel Stadium, Docklands is a multi-purpose stadium in Melbourne. Construction started in 1997 and was completed in 2000 at a cost of $460 million. It is primarily used for Australian rules football and, with a capacity for 53,000 people for sports, it is the second-largest stadium in Melbourne. It has also hosted other sporting events including ruby union, rugby league, Melbourne Victory soccer and Twenty20 cricket.

 

Gain the confidence to plant, establish and maintain quality lawns and sports turf with a turf management course such as our Certificate of Turf Care.

Focus on Fruit With a Fruit Production Course!

Ideal for gardeners, hobby farmers, fruit farmers and horticulturalists, this fruit production course will give you insights into tropical fruits that can be grown in warm climates. The Certificate of Fruit Production explores how to successfully grow tropical fruits in a warm climates.

You will learn about tropical fruit varieties, soils, growing techniques, pruning and harvesting for commercial production or self-sufficiency. You will also discover how to establish an orchard, manage weeds, pests and disease, how fruits can be adapted to cooler climates, how to manage a fruit plantation and how to market and sell your produce.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a fruit production course include:

  • Learning about warm climate fruit growing
  • Exploring what to grow
  • Gaining an understanding of networking
  • Studying the scope of fruit crops — citrus, berries, nuts, vines and other fruits.
  • Examining plant divisions, hybrids, varieties and cultivars
  • Understanding tropical fruit families and how they are related to each other
  • Attaining knowledge of the botany of fruit, where fruits come from and the modification of fruits
  • Gaining insights into the types of dry fruits
  • Learning how to establish an orchard
  • Exploring how to develop a plan, choose a site and site characteristics (soil and drainage)
  • Gaining an understanding of climate (temperature, rainfall, frosts and evaporation) and how to calculate rainfall
  • Studying pests and diseases, existing vegetation, water sources and soils
  • Examining how to improve soils, organic matter, soil nutrition elements and soil testing
  • Understanding warm climate fruits — avocado banana, citrus, cocoa, coffee, macadamia and pawpaw
  • Attaining knowledge of general cultural practices
  • Gaining insights into nutrition, fertilisers, salts, pests and preventative measures
  • Learning about diseases, the stages in their development and fungal diseases in tropical fruits
  • Exploring viruses, virus control, pests and pest problems on fruit trees and lists of diagnosis plant disorders
  • Gaining an understanding of the cultivation, weed control, frost, sun protection and drainage
  • Studying pruning, how to prune fruit trees and pruning tools
  • Examining tree fruits
  • Learning about avocados, banana, star fruit and custard apple
  • Understanding durian, jackfruit, lychee and mango
  • Attaining knowledge of mangosteen, rambutan, sapodilla, white sapote and pawpaw
  • Gaining insights into nuts, vines and berries
  • Learning about strawberries, pepino, tamarillo and solanum (bush tomatoes or kangaroo apple)
  • Exploring Pepino, lily pilly, passionfruit and coconut
  • Gaining an understanding of macadamia, peanuts and pecan nuts
  • Studying pistachio nuts, cashew nuts and Brazil nuts
  • Examining citrus and other fruits
  • Understanding their tolerance to different climates and the problems and remedies to growing citrus
  • Attaining knowledge of the citrus family and how to grow healthy citrus
  • Gaining insights into lemons, grapefruits, mandarins and tangelo
  • Learning about sweet oranges, Meyer Lemons and other lemons
  • Exploring limes, figs, olives, guava and pineapple
  • Gaining an understanding of the cultural management of an orchard or fruit plantation
  • Studying how to flow chart a crop
  • Examining how to market your produce
  • Understanding your market and who you might sell to
  • Attaining knowledge of market research and gathering information
  • Gaining insights into cost efficiency and the cost of production
  • Learning about profit, sales price and quality standards
  • Exploring the potential of a fruit crop and consumer potential

 

And more!

Australia’s Top Fruit Crops

Australia’s horticulture industry comprises fruit, vegetables, flowers, nuts, turf and nursery products, and it

contributes significantly to the prosperity of people living in rural and regional Australia. In terms of fruit production, and according to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, over 2.57 million tonnes of fruit was grown in Australia in the 2019 to 2020 period and interestingly over 98 per cent of Australian households purchased fruit!

The top largest fruit crops during this period were oranges (51 per cent grown in New South Wales), bananas (94 per cent grown in Queensland) and apples (46 per cent grown in Victoria). In terms of fruit production figures, over 383-kilo tonnes (which is 1000 metric tonnes) of oranges were grown, over 372-kilo tonnes of bananas and over 263-kilo tonnes of apples.

Unusual Fruits Found in Australia

In terms of fruit production, the biggest crops in Australia are those fruits that we know and love. However, there are many other weird and wonderful fruits available that are worth seeking out. So be brave and get your tastebuds tingling with some of these beauties!

Abiu (Pouteria caimito)

The Abiu originates from Brazil and Peru and has smooth, light to bright yellow skin and creamy white flesh when ripe. The characteristic taste of this fruit is vanilla/creamy sweet caramel. To prepare, chill the fruit and then cut in half and scoop out the flesh. However, only eat the jelly-like flesh, as close to the skin is a sticky latex-type substance.

Achacha (Garcinia humilis)

Originating from South America, the achacha has firm, orange skin and pearly white flesh. It has a subtle, delicate sweetness followed by a lemony tart flavour. To open, lightly pierce the skin on the circumference with your thumbnail or a knife, and squeeze in the opposite direction. Then either eat direct from the skin, or take the flesh out with a spoon. It can be served fresh as a palate cleanser between courses, or as a dessert in its half-skin.

Black Sapote (Diospyros digyna)

Native to Mexico, this fruit has a shiny, bright green skin when unripe, which turns dark brown when ripe. The flesh is black when ripe and it tastes like chocolate! It should only be eaten when ripe as otherwise, it will taste bitter. To prepare, simply cut the fruit in half around the centre and scoop out the flesh. It makes a delicious treat with ice cream and is also great in cakes, mousses and muffins.

Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis)

This fruit was introduced into Far North Queensland by Samoan missionaries from the Pacific Islands. It is round to egg-shaped, has a thick greenish skin and white starchy flesh with a bread-like texture. It tastes sweet when eaten ripe and is normally eaten as a vegetable. You can also peel, boil, fry or roast, and barbecue or bake whole in the oven.

Custard Apple (Annona sp.)

Also known as sweetsop, this fruit was developed in Hawaii in the early 1900s and is often found in many Far North Queensland backyards. It has scaly, yellowish-green or tan skin and creamy white flesh. In terms of taste, custard apples have a juicy and sweet aromatic flavour that lingers. Fruit should be chilled then cut lengthwise and the flesh scooped out.

Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana)

Originating from Southeast Asia, this fruit has pearly white flesh and leathery skin which is deep purple when ripe. Taste-wise, it has a subtle, delicate and sweet acid taste that melts in the mouth. To open, cut through the diameter of the shell all the way around, and then lift off the top. Mangosteens can be eaten as is or added to fruit salads. They are also an exotic addition to champagne!

Marang (Artocarpus odoratissimus)

Native to South-East Asia the marang is greenish-yellow when ripe and covered in soft, short spines. The fruit has a strong aroma and the flesh is very juicy and sweet. Ripe fruit is opened by cutting the rind around the middle of the fruit and gently pulling the halves apart. Once the fruit is opened, it must be eaten within a few hours, as the flesh discolours quickly and the flavour deteriorates. The seeds can also be roasted and eaten.

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki)

This is the national fruit of Japan and was introduced into Queensland in the 1800s. It is bright orange when ripe and thin-skinned with orange flesh. There are two types of fruit — astringent and non-astringent. The astringent fruit has a soft, mushy flesh when ripe, whereas the non-astringent variety has crisp flesh.  Both varieties are sweet tasting. They can be used in salads or made into jam and are a good accompaniment to lamb, pork or chicken.

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum)

This fruit originates from Sumatra and Malaysia. It is typically vivid red or variegated in colour with flesh that is transparent or white and sweet with a mild acid flavour, which is very refreshing. To prepare, cut around the centre of the fruit, lift off the top half of the skin, leaving the fruit in the half shell. Rambutans are best eaten fresh and delicious in fruit salads, served with ice cream or made into jams.

White Sapote (Casimiroa edulis)

This fruit originates from Central and South America. It is green and thin-skinned when immature and remains green to golden when ripe. This is a soft fruit so easily halved so the flesh can be removed.  Its flesh is sweet like vanilla custard, so it is primarily a dessert fruit, although it can be used in milkshakes. Yum!

 

Extend your plant skills for personal use or to establish and manage a commercial fruit production business with a fruit production course like our Certificate of Fruit Production.

Snap Confidently With Our Photographic Lighting Techniques Course.

Lighting is fundamental to photography and is one of the most crucial elements. But if you want to take amazing photos, you need to understand light and its properties. Ideal for hobby photographers or those looking to start their own business, the Certificate of Photographic Lighting will provide you with essential photography lighting skills, knowledge and techniques.

Throughout this photographic lighting course, you will learn how to manipulate light and camera settings to take professional-looking photographs. You will also learn how to compensate for imperfect lighting conditions, use filters for different lighting effects, incorporate tone to perfect an image, and distinguish between studio lighting and on-location photography lighting techniques.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a course in photographic lighting techniques include:

  • Learning about light characteristics and lighting concepts
  • Exploring the properties of light, intensity and colour temperature
  • Gaining an understanding of incident or reflected light and light management
  • Studying exposure readings, how to plan ideas for photographs and learning from your experience
  • Examining how to record your work
  • Understanding colour and black and white film
  • Attaining knowledge of adjusting light for digital or choosing film and the curve control software function
  • Gaining insights into sensitometry (film sensitivity) and the zone system
  • Learning about the subject, exposure and the blackness of an image
  • Exploring transmission, opacity, density and scatter
  • Gaining an understanding of the callier coefficient, characteristic curve and the Zone System
  • Studying how to control contrast
  • Examining equipment and film
  • Understanding how to expose shadows and process the highlights
  • Attaining knowledge of light sources and their properties — natural and artificial
  • Gaining insights into colour temperature, power or brightness and copy lighting
  • Learning about flash photography, flash synchronisation and electronic flash (manual, computer, dedicated)
  • Exploring flash problems (eg. red-eye) and mixing flash and daylight
  • Gaining an understanding of meters and filters
  • Studying how to measure light (centre weighted system, Spot reading meter)
  • Examining problems with different meters
  • Understanding spot, average and centre-weighted meters
  • Attaining knowledge of backlit subjects and using filters
  • Gaining insights into other equipment for lighting
  • Learning about reflectors including paraboloid aluminised reflectors and reflector attachments
  • Exploring the issues with aluminised reflectors
  • Gaining an understanding of diffusers, tripods, stands and specialised light sources
  • Studying projection spots, cyclorama lights, par lights and ring lights

 

And more!

Top 10 Photography Trends for 2021

Photography trends come and go, which makes the world of photography great for experimentation. Here are the top 10 trends for 2021 (including some photographic lighting techniques) and how they can be used effectively.

1 – Outdoor Photography

Since there have been limits on where we can go due to COVID, many people have take to nature for active adventures like biking, hiking and jogging. In addition to the health benefits, nature also offers a diverse setting to create breathtaking photos.

Nature can be used as a backdrop for different types of photography, from portraits and fashion to landscapes. When taking photos in nature for the first time, make sure you research the weather and your location so that you’re prepared. It’s also a good idea whenever you shoot location-specific photography to carefully plan a shot list so that you leave with all of the photos that you intended to take.

2 – Muted Color Cast

Another new trend that’s come from social media, it is becoming more common for photographers to use filters on their images, usually with one colour unifying and softening the overall image. These filters are usually applied to the images in post-production, and the idea is to make the colours of your photo more cohesive.

There are a few different options for applying this photography trend. You can purchase or create your own filter on Photoshop or use a pre-made filter like those available through Instagram. You can also simply play around with the colour levels and scale down the contrast in your photos to achieve this muted look.

3 – Public Art

With many museums and galleries and museums around the world closed, some people are taking to the streets in order to experience art up close. This photography trend often includes a human subject along with the street art, as it can be a powerful background for portraits.

Research your location ahead of time and determine what weather conditions would be ideal for your intended subject. Then take a walk through the alleyways of your city and be on the lookout for interesting and unexpected compositions.

4 – Drone Photography

Drones are ideal for capturing a bird’s eye view, whether it is for wedding photography or to showcase a real estate property. However, drones can be expensive, so do your research and choose equipment that suits your level of experience. Some drones have built-in cameras and others allow you to attach the drone to your own camera.

Before you delve into drone photography, make sure to understand the rules and regulations surrounding drone use in your state before you invest too much time and money!

5 – Shallow Depth of Field

Depth of field refers to how much of the photo is in focus. A shallow depth of field means that your foreground is clear, but the entire background is blurry. This photo trend helps to emphasise the focal point of your image and communicate the story you are attempting to portray.

If you are a photographer who uses a DSLR camera, a shallow depth of field can be achieved when you set your camera to a low F stop number, allowing more light to enter the camera.

6 – Bright Colours

The trend of using vibrant accent colours is especially popular in commercial, food and product photography trends. Product photographers, in particular, love to be intentional about their use of colour, particularly when it comes to creating a flat lay composition.

When you bring bright colours into your images, choose tones that complement your client’s products and brand. Combine more colourful elements with minimalism, making sure that every component you choose will work well with each other so that your photographs don’t become overwhelming to look at. Simplify your composition so that none of the things you include takes away from the overall look of your photographs. Less is more when it comes to choosing accent colours.

7 – Still Life

With people around the world spending more time at home, still life photography has been making a big comeback. Individuals are finding inspiration in everything from ordinary things found around the home to a curated selection of their favourite objects.

When deciding what to include in your still life, take into consideration the texture, scale, composition and colour of your objects and how they work together. One of the most commonly used photography techniques for capturing still life images is the flat lay, where you take your photograph from a bird’s eye view so that your audience can look down at the overall composition you’ve created.

8 – Videography

With new technological advances, video is more accessible and popular than ever. There are a variety of ways to experience with videography from using a drone to creating cinemagraphs (where one section of your photo is moving to create depth and visual interest). Lighting is key when it comes to videography, so you should invest in a stable tripod.

9 – 360-Degree Photography

360-degree photography allows viewers to examine a product from multiple angles, or to see an entire building or room in one image.

To use 360-degree photography in your work, you may need to download an app depending on the type of equipment you are using. You’ll typically start with a panorama image that you edit in Photoshop or your favourite post-production software.

10 – Silhouettes

The beauty of silhouette images is that they are open to interpretation. By reducing your model to a shape, people can project themselves into the world that you depict in your photo.

Silhouette images are created using photographic lighting techniques like backlighting. Position your subject in front of a strong light source, with no light coming from behind your camera.

 

Gain a comprehensive understanding of how to use light to create professional photographs and gain professional development towards entry-level positions in the industry with a photographic lighting techniques course such as our Certificate of Photographic Lighting.

Personal Training Course ­- Build Your Brand!

Enhance your personal training business and remain relevant in the highly competitive fitness industry. This personal training course is ideal for anyone who wants to build their business brand and grow their client list.

Our Certificate of Personal Training Professional Practice is an online professional development program that will help you build and sustain a profitable and successful business as a personal trainer.

You’ll learn about the qualities of a successful personal trainer, how to develop customised fitness programs and plans, create a brand, attract and retain clients, manage client departures, terminate difficult clients and more.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a personal training course include:

  • Personal training professionals – role and qualities of a personal trainer
  • Purpose of personal training
  • Medical approval for exercise
  • Barriers to exercise
  • Major benefits of personal training
  • Daily work and responsibilities of personal trainers
  • Desirable character traits of the personal trainer
  • Core services on offer
  • A personal trainer and their role in motivation
  • Level of concern or tension (good stress)
  • Success – areas clients should focus on to improve training outcomes
  • Knowledge of results
  • Education or training the professionals
  • Basic components of physical fitness
  • The human body
  • Energy production
  • Energy and exercise
  • Considerations for effective business
  • Common types of personal trainers
  • Business basics
  • Expanding your services into other areas
  • Brand a personal training business
  • Develop fitness plans and programs according to client needs
  • Specialised services
  • Working with new clients – meet and greet
  • Pre-screening
  • Anthropometric measurements
  • Summarise what you know about the client
  • Taking baseline measures & assessing progress
  • The role of exercise in weight control
  • Calculating ideal body weight
  • Human movement & types of fitness programs
  • Working with older adults
  • Instructing young people
  • Over-exercising
  • Other exercise considerations
  • Ending the trainer-client relationship
  • Difficult clients
  • Manage client departures and terminate difficult clients.
  • Finding new clients

Why Become a Personal Trainer?

Before you decide to study a personal training course, it’s beneficial to consider why you want to be a personal trainer. Do you have a passion for fitness? Do you love helping people to achieve their goals and make their lives more fulfilling?

Help people be their healthiest

The satisfaction that comes from making a real difference to people’s health and wellbeing is up there as the top reason to work as a personal trainer. You get to see your clients become the best version of themselves – gaining more energy, self-esteem, and motivation to enjoy life to the fullest.

Diverse career opportunities

The career opportunities are vast for personal trainers. You might work in a gym, physical therapy practice, or from a beautiful park – or even from your own home. You can start your own business or work for organisations that require your services, such as residential aged care communities or corporate clients.

Earning potential – the sky’s the limit

If you start your own business, you set your own hours and hourly rate! So, the sky really is the limit when it comes to earning potential as a personal trainer. A personal training course is a sensible investment, as you’ll gain valuable insight into how to brand and market yourself professionally. And, who knows, you could be a personal trainer to celebrities! The sky’s the limit after all!

Become an expert

You can specialise in stress reduction, women’s health or mature-adult fitness and become an expert whose opinion is sought by the media. Personal trainers are experts in fitness, so they’re in demand when it comes to informing the public.

 

10 of the Biggest Fitness Trends This Year!

 

Wearable technology

Smartwatches and fitness trackers are huge trends in fitness and are a key part of Australia’s fitness culture. It’s now easier than ever to collect important health metrics, develop a healthy lifestyle, manage chronic diseases, enhance exercises to suit individuals! Basically, wearable technology is improving our quality of life.

Exercise as medicine

Confidence in prescribing exercise is on the rise, as it’s evident that movement hugely improves the health of people with long term health conditions – especially for those with sedentary lifestyles.

Mind and body training

The connection between physical and mental health is at the forefront of everyone’s mind, so fitness goals need to go beyond physical activity alone. People are looking towards mind-body exercises like yoga and Pilates now more than ever.

HIIT

High impact interval training is still a major trend in fitness and one that’s not going away any time soon. A major benefit of HIIT is that you can burn lots of calories in short bursts followed by rests with a combination of body weight, free weights, and cardio.

Corporate wellness

It’s likely that companies will focus on health and wellness to attract and retain staff going forward. Exercising regularly and managing stress has a significant impact on reducing absenteeism and increasing productivity in the workplace. Corporate wellness is a smart investment – and a personal training course can help you target this key market for your business’s success.

Hybrid fitness

Offering both remote and in-person fitness will be a trend that lingers long after the pandemic. So, if personal trainers want to thrive in future, it’s best to cover both bases as hybrid fitness options are here to stay.

Outdoor fitness

Now more than ever people are flocking to parks and green spaces to enjoy the freedom of being out of the house. Whether it’s an outdoor boot camp or morning yoga in the local park, people are embracing the outdoors.

Hyped up hygiene  

A personal training business will need to meet impeccable hygiene standards to meet consumers’ new awareness of how germs and diseases spread.

At-home workouts

Remote personal training will be a key trend moving forward. The flexibility and accessibility of virtual workouts have become increasingly popular, which has helped personal trainers maintain their client base through the pandemic. As a result, fitness studios and gyms that pivoted to virtual options have thrived.

What Are the Top 5 Qualities of a Personal Trainer?

 

  1. Passion for fitness

A personal trainer should be an avid fitness fan – and be in great shape themselves.

  1. Thirst for knowledge

Continuing education is vital for a successful personal trainer. After all, change is the key to growth and if you’re not growing and learning neither are your clients.

  1. Excellent communication skills

If a personal trainer hopes to succeed in the fitness business, they must know and understand their client. So, that means asking the right questions – and being an active listener.

  1. Personable

A personal trainer should have empathy and compassion for their clients in reaching fitness goals. It’s important to train, motivate, support, and encourage clients even if they’re not as committed as you would like.

  1. Flexible

Personal trainers need to adapt not only to different working environments but also to many different people and personalities. You need to be able to stay flexible in your approach to helping each client achieve their fitness goals – rigidity on exercise and nutrition could mean losing a client.

 

Enhance your personal training business and remain relevant in the highly competitive fitness industry with a personal training course like our Certificate of Personal Training Professional Practice.

Gain Insights Into Ecological Principles With a Plant Ecology Course.

Ideal for landscapers, permaculturalists, farmers and environmental managers, this plant ecology course will enable you to develop a deeper understanding of the principles of plant ecology, why plants are the way they are, and their relationships to other plants, animals and the physical world around them.

The Certificate of Plant Ecology will give you insights into ecological principles, ecosystems, how plants respond to environmental stressors, and the importance of soil, weather, geography, climate and abiotic environmental factors in horticulture.

You will also understand how xerophytes, hydrophytes and halophytes can be used in gardening and landscaping situations, learn to evaluate meteorological records in relation to plant growth and development, and how planning, impact analysis and environmental assessment contribute to conservation.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a plant ecology course include:

  • Learning about the ecosystem and the constituents of the ecosystem
  • Exploring ecological concepts and terminology
  • Gaining an understanding of energy flow through an ecosystem
  • Studying the web of life and the food web
  • Examining habitat and niche
  • Understanding biomes
  • Attaining knowledge of plant communities (open and closed) and their classification
  • Gaining insights into habitat types, the structure of layers, dominant species and competition
  • Learning about the local and characteristics of biomes including the tropical rainforest biome
  • Exploring community structure, semi-natural vegetation and the succession of plant communities
  • Gaining an understanding of community stability and equilibrium
  • Studying edge effects, what can happen at edges and environmental stress
  • Examining plants and their environment including development, structure and function
  • Understanding plant modifications, functional adaptions and environmental factors (climate, light, temperature, fires and wind)
  • Attaining knowledge of how to monitor abiotic factors, environmental assessment, pre-purchase of a site and background data
  • Gaining insights into flora and fauna surveys and open space management plans
  • Learning about compliance with specific license conditions
  • Exploring the detection of pollutants
  • Gaining an understanding of the remediation of a polluted site
  • Studying plants, soils and climate including natural conditions and plants distribution
  • Examining climate classification and the climate of Australia and the British Isles
  • Understanding plant distribution, meteorological data, geographic location, effective rainfall, evaporation and the circulation features of the Pacific Ocean
  • Attaining knowledge of the Walker circulation, the southern oscillation, El Niňo, the global effects of El Niño, El Niño climate clues and La Niňa
  • Gaining insights into the Gaia theory, the carbon dioxide cycle, wind descriptions, soil fertility/nutrient availability and the major types of soil problems
  • Learning about water and wind erosion and control methods for salinity
  • Exploring soil structural decline and soil acidification and chemical residues
  • Gaining an understanding of plant adaptions to extreme environments
  • Studying hydrophyte, xerophytes, mesophyte and halophyte

And more!

2021 Ecological Society of Australia Gold Medal Recipients

If you are interested in a plant ecology course, it is worth becoming familiar with the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA). Recently, prestigious Gold Medals were awarded by the society to two of Australia’s leading ecologists in recognition of the impact of their work. Professor Kristine French from the University of Wollongong and Professor Richard Kingsford of the University of NSW were the recipients.

As ESA President, Dr Bek Christensen commented, “Both Professor Kingsford and Professor French have made sustained and invaluable contributions to the understanding of Australian ecology.  They have been pioneers and world leaders in their respective fields, fostered and mentored the next generation of scientists and given back to the research community through their leadership and service roles”.

Professor Kristine French

Professor French is the Director of the Janet Cosh Herbarium at the University of Wollongong. She was Vice President of the Ecological Society of Australia from 2000 to 2007 and President from 2011 to 2013.

Her expertise on threatened species, environmental weeds and urban plants and birds has been sought in the management of threatened weeds and species such as exotic grasses, invasive vines and the bitou bush. She has helped to lead the national Birds in Backyards program which was awarded the 2008 Eureka Prize for Environmental Sustainability Education.

Through her leadership roles at the University of Wollongong and the Ecological Society of Australia, Professor French has had a substantial influence on generations of ecologists. She has taught thousands of students, instilling in them a love and appreciation of ecology and training many into careers as conservation scientists. She has supervised dozens of students, with many moving into senior positions in research, government and environmental non-government organisations.

“I find it really satisfying that students who have worked in my lab or spent some time here have gone on to do good things with that knowledge. I do like feeling like I’m doing something for the world that is positive and contributing my science to help solve environmental issues,”, she said.

Professor Richard Kingsford

Professor Kingsford is the Director of the Centre for Ecosystem Science at UNSW Sydney. He is a conservation biologist and river ecologist who has worked extensively across the rivers and wetlands of the Murray-Darling and Lake Eyre Basins.

He has made a significant contribution to understanding the impact of water resource developments on wetlands and rivers. Most recently, he led a project on the impacts of dams on the platypus, which has resulted in a submission for threatened species status for this iconic species. Furthermore, he has invested time in the reintroduction of locally extinct mammals into Sturt National Park, in his role as leader of the Wild Deserts project.

This decade-long project in north-western NSW has already returned three of an intended seven species of locally extinct mammals. He also leads the Eastern Australian Waterbird Survey, which has been running since 1983 and covers about a third of the continent, making it one of the longest and most extensive surveys of ecosystems in the world.

For Professor Kingsford, his focus on river systems and wetlands is increasingly important. As he comments, “Waterbirds are fascinating and I could spend three lifetimes working on their intrinsic ecology but I realised they were declining and I needed to focus on threats to their existence, mainly from humans, so that others could enjoy them in their lifetimes too.”

How Plants Adapt to Different Environments

As you’ll learn in this plant ecology course, plants have evolved to cope with extreme environments by using both chemical and physical adaptations. Some of these include:

Water-limited Environments

Geographic areas where water is limited and infrequent are extremely stressful to plants living within these communities, and different plants have adopted a variety of techniques to deal with these conditions including:

  • Morphological adaptations — Certain desert plants have adapted to infrequent rainfalls by increasing their ability to store water. Some also keep their stomata closed during the day and open at night to reduce water loss.
  • Leaf adaptations — Other plants adapt to dry conditions by reducing the surface area of their leaves that assists in reducing the rate of evaporation from the plant.
  • Root adaptations — Trees in arid environments have adapted their root structure to suit their environment and enhance their water-storing ability following heavy rains.
  • Reproductive adaptations — The seeds of desert plants have evolved to survive extreme temperatures and drought periods by developing hard coats to protect the embryo. Others have developed hooks on their outer coats to assist with dispersal by attaching to passing animal fur or skin. There are also some that will only germinate following an environmental trigger such as the external temperature dropping to a specific level, or exposure to extreme heat from the fire.
Light-limited Environments

Closed forests such as rainforests have dense canopies and therefore the amount of light that reaches the forest floor is greatly limited. Many plants have adapted to these environments in different ways such as:

  • Climbing plants — Vines and lianas can climb higher to reach the light.
  • Epiphytes — Live in the canopy trees where there is greater access to light.
  • Darker foliage — Plants that are unable to climb higher to access light may have darker foliage to help them capture and absorb more light.
  • Size-restriction — Some plants are able to stall their growth and remain at a small size for significant lengths of time until a light gap becomes available.

Epiphytes in Water-inundated Environments

Trees such as mangroves have to cope with intermittent inundation of soil and saltwater which is soft and low in oxygen. These plants have developed various methods to adapt to this environment such as:

  • Leaf adaptations — Some mangrove plants have glands on their leaves to excrete salt, others can store this salt in large amounts in their leaves. Mangroves can also move their leaves so as to reduce the size of the surface area exposed to the sun to reduce the amount of water lost.
  • Root adaptations — Exposed roots rising vertically from the ground not only provide structural support for the tree but also allow for oxygen transfer to roots trapped below the ground. These roots can also halt the movement of salt to other parts of the plant.
  • Reproductive adaptations — Some mangrove trees produce floating seeds that can be dispersed on the tide to avoid overcrowding. Others are viviparous (the offspring develops while attached to the adult plant). Once the offspring has matured it drops into the water where it will stay dormant until it reaches the soil.

 

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the important principles of plant ecology with a plant ecology course such as our Certificate of Plant Ecology.

Launch Your Career With a Foundations of Marketing Course

Every business needs a brand that is recognisable and a critical way to achieve this is through marketing. This foundations of marketing course is ideal for account managers, business owners, sales people and marketing, public relations and advertising assistants or anyone keen to enter the marketing sector.

Our Marketing Foundations course will teach you how to incorporate marketing, sales, public relations and advertising into a business. You will learn about the most critical aspects of marketing, from presentation and product knowledge to promotions, closing the sale and after-sales services.

You will also learn how to create a marketing campaign, manage the marketing mix for a small enterprise, evaluate customer service, conduct market research, and consider the impact of your marketing efforts.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a foundations of marketing course include:

  • Learning about marketing and business including what marketing is, its significance and marketing activities
  • Exploring starting out in business, entrepreneurial abilities, access to information, flexibility, focus on market niche and reputation
  • Gaining an understanding of buying a business, choosing a premises (home or commercial premises or leasing a shop
  • Studying market niche, specific business alternatives and the value of a business
  • Examining legal obligations and insurance, the value of a business, controlling growth and improving results in business
  • Understanding the scope of marketing including the difference between the potential market, making contact, communication, convincing customers and using resources
  • Attaining knowledge of marketing management philosophies and the production, selling and social marketing concepts.
  • Gaining insights into supply and demand, economics and the performance criteria for an economy
  • Learning about economic laws, the available market and target market
  • Exploring the penetrated market for a product/service of your choice
  • Gaining an understating of different advertising approaches and how to improve results in business
  • Studying target marketing including understanding the marketplace
  • Examining how to know your market
  • Understanding targeting, targeting strategies and how to define your target market
  • Attaining knowledge of determining market segmentation
  • Gaining insights into projecting the future and positioning a product
  • Learning the stages that sellers move through in their approach to a market
  • Exploring the advantages of target marketing as compared to mass marketing and product-differentiated marketing
  • Gaining an understanding of the marketing mix and managing the marketing effort

And more!

2021’s Key Marketing Trend

2021 has seen major disruptions and a restructuring of the way we market our businesses. And moving forward, the roles of email, social media and content marketing will become even more important — as you’ll learn about in our foundations of marketing course!

Why? 2020 saw all Australian businesses significantly impacted and resulted in a loss of confidence and trust in the market and impacted the way we make purchases, perceive brands and engage with businesses. There has also been a notable shift to dedication to our personal values and goals, which is highlighted by consumers expecting brands to have a stronger commitment and focus to social and global issues.

What has changed and why?

According to the latest McKinsey Insights Report, Getting Acquainted with a More Mindful Australian Consumer, COVID-19 is reshaping the emotional needs of Australian consumers and, subsequently, their purchasing behaviour.

More than 30 per cent of Australian consumers have tried new brands, more than 50 per cent discovered new shopping behaviours, and more than 20 per cent have tried new stores, retailers and websites since the start of 2020. This offers a unique opportunity for businesses that move quickly, and a significant risk for those that don’t.

How has the consumer mindset changed?

There has been a shift to a more considered, less spontaneous consumer buying, and consumers are increasingly making purchase decisions that align with their personal values. They are expected to be nurtured through the buyer journey and are seeking businesses who respect and can work within their spending constraints.

The challenge for marketers is to present products and brands that are most relevant to their needs and help the buyer through the process rather than just “selling” to them. This involves targeted, personalised engagement pieces rather than just mass emails and cold calling.

What does this mean for businesses?

Essentially, it means three things for businesses:

  1. Market channels are limited. According to a McKinsey Report, B2B Businesses Prefer the New Digital Reality, more than 75 per cent of businesses now say they prefer digital self-serve over face-to-face interactions.
  2. Sales cycles are longer. Consumer confidence has declined, so there is less trust in the market, buyer consideration and decision-making is more measured and taking longer than before.
  3. There is a focus on short-term ROI. This means that the relationship between benefit and costs need to be immediately clear, and the sales conversion cycle will be longer as consumers carefully consider their purchase decisions.

How do we market in 2021?

Three important features of a marketing strategy (as you’ll learn in our foundations of marketing course) are email, social media and content marketing. But how does the changing consumer mindset affect these?

  • Email Marketing

While email marketing has an important role to play, there is far more of an emphasis on personalisation, and increased use of automation and focussed market segmentation. But regardless of the email marketing tool you use, it is important to have your content marketing strategy mapped out from the beginning.

The key is to send the right message to the right people at the right time and drive an action that will lead someone to interact seamlessly with your brand and your business. Things like AI can assist, however, can be expensive for a SME business, and regardless, it needs a robust marketing strategy to support it.

Removing barriers to an online experience, however, is much more than just making the technology “work.” A great customer experience is also enhanced by your brand tone of voice and messaging. Email marketing is here to stay, but the way we deploy this will be different in 2021 and beyond. It has the capacity to meet consumer needs, and technology is aiding its evolution in the dynamic digital landscape.

  • Social Media Marketing

Social media in 2020 has seen a massive increase in users across the globe and has been a valuable channel for marketers to reach and convert customers. However, increasing concerns over false information and “fake news” across social platforms can make forming a trusted relationship with your customers even more difficult.

Recommendations and reviews on social media are far more trusted than advertisements. So businesses should invest time into building relationships — not only with their target audience and ideal customer but also with their audience’s wider ecosystem.

Seeing an audience engage with your content online through comments, likes and shares builds trust and helps amplify your brand message and voice. Live streaming of social media feeds has increased as businesses search for more ways to connect with consumers and meet online. Virtual events have proven to be popular, allowing those living with social distancing restrictions to join and engage in virtual demos and live events. The proliferation of and constant updates to social channels provide you with access to audiences that you may not have otherwise been able to access.

Social commerce is another consideration that will become important — the way we shop, and through what channels, has seen rapid change. Tapping into social commerce allows businesses to engage in channels where people are spending more time, and by removing barriers, offers faster ways to convert them into customers.

  • Content Marketing

There is a growing trend to create content for social good. Consumers are more selective about interacting with brands that demonstrate a social conscience and commitment to the “greater good.” This means that creating content that addresses social issues and inequalities that concern your customers is increasing.

Consumers are expecting a more “human” approach to marketing as they strive to educate, inform, and engage with audiences. Purpose-driven marketing is set to increase as consumers want more than just buying from a brand.

Salespeople and processes are going to become more content-driven as they adopt a more strategic approach to building relationships across digital and social platforms. Content marketing allows brands to “break the rules” and take chances with doing things differently.

  • Other Trends

Some other trends to be aware of as we move beyond 2021:

  • Giving consumers an “experience” by the use of animated audiobooks, infographics, personalised posts, podcasts and AI.
  • Prioritising visual marketing by telling stories through dynamic imagery and video.
  • Using chatbots and messaging apps to allow for the easy distribution of content.
  • Using user-generated content to show credibility and authenticity as you genuinely share the content of others to your audience.
  • Mixing up your marketing channels and cross-post content by taking screenshots on one platform and sharing across another.

 

Reference:

Stacy Farell, 2021, What are the Marketing Trends to Watch in 2021? Content box

 

Gain a solid understanding of the foundations of marketing and implement marketing strategies for a business that focuses on profitability and efficiency with our Marketing Foundations course.

What Does a Painter and Decorator Do?

As a painter and decorator, you’ll be responsible for many tasks, from applying paints and stains to home or commercial interiors to assisting with other projects in the construction and renovation industry.

The following duties are common in painting and decorating careers:

  • Apply paints, stains, varnishes and other finishes to interiors/exteriors or furnishings
  • Use of brushes, rollers, airbrushes and other spraying equipment
  • Application of primers, undercoats, varnishes and glazers to surfaces
  • Calculate and budget materials for a project
  • Removal of old paints or wallpapers – sanding, steaming, scraping
  • Mixing paints to create required colours
  • Preparation of surfaces for decorating – filling holes, sealing cracks
  • Remove and replace doors and window components
  • Maintaining equipment – cleaning, services
  • Cleaning and tidying onsite

What Skills Do You Need to Be a Painter & Decorator?

  • Attention to detail
  • Flexible and open to change
  • Work well under pressure
  • Accept criticism gracefully
  • Excellent customer service
  • Business management skills
  • OHS requirements, policies and procedures in construction
  • Technology and computer skills
  • Teamwork
  • Organisation and time management

10 Interior Decorating Styles to Inspire You

If you’re considering becoming a painter and decorator, take a look at these popular styles for a little professional inspiration.

  1. Scandinavian

The Scandinavian design style is identifiable by its focus on clean, simple lines, minimalism and functionality while retaining the all-important aesthetics. It’s emerged in the early 20th century, becoming popular in the 1950s among Nordic countries such as Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland.

  1. Modern

The modern architecture and design style celebrates material, technology and composition with authenticity, transparency and efficiency. This style of design inspired by the Modernist art movement reinvents the relationship between space and aesthetics.

  1. Art Deco

Art deco stands for Arts Décoratifs and is characterised by sleek, metallic finishes, like stainless steel, glass and chrome. Bold geometry and rich detail abound in the art deco design style. This design style was popular from 1920 to 1940 but is still favoured for its infusion of glamour, luxury, and order with symmetrical designs in exuberant shape.

  1. Country

Country interior design brings a casual and cozy elegance, which brings the feeling of simple country life to life. The colour palette includes pastels, bright colours, and design elements such as vintage homewares and second-hand accessories.

  1. Vintage

Old fashioned and elegant, the vintage design combines old and modern things. Soft flowing lines, elegant colours and lovingly selected furniture and decor creates an atmosphere of old-world charm, nostalgia and relaxation.

  1. Hamptons

Hamptons style incorporates cool, classic and sophisticated designs mixed with casual beach-inspired elegance. Elegant blues, off-whites, panelled walls and timber flooring bring together a beach resort-like home!

  1. French Provincial

This French-inspired interior design style reflects rural France of old – especially associate with the Provence region. Elegant furniture, typical patterns and earthy colours create a warm, friendly and rustic atmosphere.

  1. Industrial

The industrial style is frill and fuss-free! It’s a no-nonsense style that takes inspiration from the lofty look of warehouses, factories, and other industrial structures. Industrial style decor includes stripped back architectural details such as bare bricks, metals, wood, and salvaged and recycled materials.

  1. Eclectic

The eclectic design trend is a nineteenth and twentieth-century style that incorporates a mixture of elements from previous historical styles to create something that is brand new and original!

  1. Contemporary

The contemporary style embraces minimalism and makes use of greys, beiges and shades of white. The overall look is sleek and thoughtful and has an ‘everything in its place’ feel high on function and simplicity and low on collections and fuss.

The Future Looks Bright for Painters & Decorators

According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook, the number of people joining the painting trades industry is growing. It’s a significant occupation and is expected to create about 19,000 job openings in the next five years.

Certificate of Painting and Decorating

Painting and decorating is a creative outlet perfect for those who love to work with their hands and on their feet! So, whether you want to redecorate at home or start a business as a painter and decorator for residential or commercial projects, this course is ideal for you.

Certificate of Painting and Decorating is an online professional development program that will provide you with the knowledge required to paint and decorate for yourself or a business project.

Throughout this painting and decorating course, you will learn about paint tools, techniques, special effects, and how to incorporate wallpapers and tiles to apply impressive finishes to surfaces.

You will also learn about the variety of ways to finish surfaces for interiors and exteriors using stains and protective coatings.

On completion of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to prepare, finish and protect surfaces as a painter and decorator.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a painting and decorating course include:

  • Nature and scope of painting and decorating of buildings, interior and exterior, including (in broad terms) the materials, equipment, and techniques.
  • The different types of paints used, including their comparative characteristics and appropriate applications.
  • Carry out appropriate preparations for painting.
  • Using painting tools, painting techniques and special effects.
  • Explore the variety of special paint effects and applications.
  • Understand how to use wallpaper.
  • How to attach tiles to walls, floors, or other surfaces.
  • How to attach panels to walls.
  • Other ways to finish surfaces inside and outside buildings including stains and protective coatings.

And more!

Gain the knowledge and skills required to start your career in painting and decorating with a painting and decorating course such as our Certificate of Painting and Decorating.

Lead the Way to Success With a Supervisory Training Course

Good management is vital to any business, and supervision skills are critical across all industries, from horticulture to construction. Ideal for supervisors, managers, leading hands, business owners and employees, this supervisory training course will teach you how to confidently direct, supervise and manage individuals or teams, regardless of where you work!

Our Supervisor Training Program will give you insights into structure and charts, organisational hierarchy, the types of unions, government versus private personnel departments, liability, discrimination and the law. You will also discover how to communicate with influence, write professional business documents, motivate employees, organise staff and handle discipline issues, problem-solve, and manage training, recruitment, complaints and workplace health and safety.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a supervisory training course include:

  • Learning about organisational structures, the chain of command and supervisors’ responsibilities
  • Exploring staff and line positions, the hierarchical structure and non-hierarchical processes within a hierarchy
  • Gaining an understanding of organisational charts, how to use them and where to use them
  • Studying the workplace in terms of law and employees
  • Examining basic contract law and contracted actions within a workplace
  • Understanding discrimination, employment law, unions, workplace elements and liability for staff actions
  • Attaining knowledge of communications and human relations, formal authority and influence in the workplace
  • Gaining insights into knowledge, leadership and power, managing attitude and personal relationships between supervisors and subordinates
  • Learning about good business writing and effective business communication
  • Exploring memos and letter formats and structures
  • Gaining an understanding of motivating employees and workplace and personal incentives
  • Studying primary and secondary drives, environmental incentives and practical ways to motivate staff
  • Examining example supervision questions, imposter experience and how to support a person with imposter experience
  • Understanding how to organise the workplace, work scheduling and strategies for organising work place tasks
  • Attaining knowledge of establishing priorities and project planning and management tools
  • Gaining insights into worksheets, project estimates and office landscaping
  • Learning about standard planning charts including Gantt and PERT charts
  • Exploring problem solving techniques, problems solving styles and guidelines for making decisions
  • Gaining an understanding of conditional, noncommittal, systematic, by-the-book, slow, democratic and pragmatic problem solvers
  • Studying problem solving approaches, formal problem solving techniques and how to involve others in decision making
  • Examining how to define the objective, evaluate factual information, develop solutions and evaluate the results
  • Understanding discipline, complaints and grievances
  • Attaining knowledge of reprimanding, fixing blame, formal warnings and legal action
  • Gaining insights into introducing changes, increasing self-discipline and orders and instructions
  • Learning about procedures for giving detailed orders and dealing with orders that are carried out incorrectly
  • Exploring interviewing, recruiting and training
  • Gaining an understanding of resumes, emphasising qualities that are relevant to the job, making decisions for the situation at hand and employee contracts

And more!

Problem-solving Strategies

Problem-solving strategies are an important component of a supervisor’s role as well as in supervisory training. As part of an individual’s goals, they are often referred to as the “problem-solving cycle”.

In this cycle, supervisors acknowledge, recognise and define the problem, develop a strategy to fix it, organise the “knowledge” of the problem cycle, determine the resources needed, monitor their progress, and evaluate their solution for accuracy. The reason it is called a cycle is that once a supervisor has dealt with one problem, another will usually surface!

The following techniques are often referred to as problem-solving strategies:

  • Abstraction — solving the problem in a model of the system before applying it to the real system.
  • Analogy — using a solution that solves an analogous problem.
  • Brainstorming — involves a large number of ideas or solutions (typically discussed among groups of people) that are analysed until an optimum solution is found.
  • Critical thinking — the analysis of facts to form a judgement. Definitions include the skeptical, rational, unbiased analysis or evaluation of factual evidence.
  • Divide and conquer — breaking down a large, complex problem into smaller and solvable problems.
  • Hypothesis testing — assuming a possible explanation to the problem and trying to prove (or, in some contexts, disprove) the assumption.
  • Lateral thinking — approaching solutions indirectly and creatively.
  • Means-ends analysis — choosing an action at each step to move closer to the goal.
  • Method of focal objects — synthesising seemingly non-matching characteristics of different objects into something new.
  • Morphological analysis —assessing the output and interactions of an entire system.
  • Proof — trying to prove that the problem cannot be solved and the point where the proof fails will be the starting point for solving it.
  • Reduction — transforming the problem into another problem for which solutions exist.
  • Research — employing existing ideas or adapting existing solutions to similar problems.
  • Root cause analysis — identifying the cause of a problem.
  • Trial-and-error — testing possible solutions until the right one is found.

Source: 2021, Problem Solving, Wikipedia

What is a Gantt Chart?

Commonly used in project management (and something you will learn about in our supervisory training course), a Gantt chart is one of the most useful and popular ways of showing activities — tasks or events — displayed against time. Essentially, it shows the user was has to be done (the activities) and when (the schedule).

The first Gantt chart was devised in the mid-1890s by Karol Adamiecki, a Polish engineer who ran a steelworks in southern Poland and became interested in management techniques and ideas.

Fifteen years later, Henry Gantt, an American engineer and project management consultant, devised his own version of the chart which became widely known in Western countries. Consequently, it was Henry Gantt whose name was to become associated with charts of this type.

Originally, Gantt charts were prepared laboriously by hand. Each time a project changed it was necessary to  amend or redraw the chart and this limited their usefulness. Why? Because continual change is a feature of most projects!

However, these days, with the advent of project management software, Gantt charts can be created, updated and printed easily. They are most commonly used for tracking project schedules, and can show additional information about the various phases or tasks of the project. For example, how far each task has progressed, how the tasks relate to each other, and what resources are being used for each task.

Typically, on the left of the chart is a list of the activities and along the top is a relevant time scale. Each activity is represented by a bar, and the length and position of the bar reflects the start date, duration and end date of the activity. Visually, this allows the user to see at a glance:

  • what the various activities are
  • when each activity begins and ends
  • how long each activity is scheduled to last
  • where activities overlap with other activities, and by how much
  • the start and end date of the whole project

What is a PERT chart?

Another chart used by project managers or those who have done supervisory training is a PERT chart. PERT standards for Project (or Program) Evaluation and Review Technique. It is a statistical tool which was designed to analyse and represent the tasks involved in completing a project.

It was first developed by the United States Navy in 1958, and is commonly used in conjunction with the critical path method (CPM) that was introduced in 1957.

PERT is a method of analysing the tasks involved in completing a given project, especially the time needed to complete each task, and to identify the minimum time needed to complete the total project. This method incorporates uncertainty by making it possible to schedule a project while not knowing precisely the duration and details of all the activities.

It is more of an event-oriented technique rather than start- and completion-oriented, and is used more in projects where time is the major factor rather than cost. It is typically applied on complex, one-time, very large-scale, non-routine infrastructure and research and development projects.

PERT charts offer a management tool which relies on on arrow and node diagrams of events and activities. Arrows represent the activities or work necessary to reach the nodes or events that indicate each completed phase of the total project.

PERT and CPM are complementary tools, because CPM employs one time estimation and one cost estimation for each activity, whereas PERT may utilise three time estimates (optimistic, expected and pessimistic) and no costs for each activity. Although these are distinct differences, the term PERT is applied increasingly to all critical path scheduling.

Gain the confidence to take on a supervisory role and implement plans, policies and procedures to maximise workplace productivity with a supervisory training course such as our Supervisor Training Program.

Enhance WHS with a Fitness Risk Management Course

Ideal for personal trainers, coaches, sporting club and health club managers, the Certificate of Fitness Risk Management will give you insights into managing risk in a gym, health club or coaching situation. It is the ideal course for activating your fitness career opportunities!

In this fitness risk management course, you will learn how to assess client needs and deliver safe exercise programs that improve individuals’ health and wellbeing. You will study how to facilitate basic fitness tests, advise clients on health issues, and promote a safe and successful approach to achieving fitness and wellbeing goals. You will also learn to recognise common health complaints and prescribe safe programs that adhere to occupational safety measures.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a fitness risk management course include:

  • Understanding human wellness
  • Exploring self-esteem
  • Gaining an understanding of the motivation for learning
  • Studying how to motivate clients and students
  • Examining reinforcement and understanding stress and the immune system
  • Understanding the long term (chronic) problems caused by stress
  • Attaining knowledge of physical fitness (anaerobic and aerobic)
  • Gaining insights into safety issues with exercise, identifying hazards and conducting audits
  • Learning about pre-screening adults, medical symptoms, signs and problems to watch for
  • Exploring how to communicate with clients and undertake a client screening questionnaire
  • Gaining an understanding of medical clearance and the legal liability for fitness instructors
  • Studying what is a liability problem, contributory negligence and insurance
  • Examining fitness tests, risk prevention, what to test and the reasons for fitness testing
  • Understanding what to measure — weight, blood pressure, body weight and percentage fat
  • Attaining knowledge of heart rate, lung capacity and cardiovascular score
  • Gaining insights into evaluating cardiorespiratory endurance and muscular strength and endurance
  • Learning about designing fitness tests, test conditions and the recommended procedure for conducting a new fitness test series
  • Exploring how to interpret a fitness test
  • Gaining an understanding of fatigue during fitness testing
  • Studying atmospheric pressure effects
  • Examining back problems
  • Understanding back terminology and recognising and addressing back problems
  • Attaining knowledge of the types of spinal injuries including muscular and neurological injuries
  • Gaining insights into reducing risk, ergonomics, posture, standing, lying, furniture design and computer use
  • Learning about back exercises and indicators of back injuries
  • Exploring workplace health and safety issues
  • Gaining an understanding of preventative back care
  • Studying how to identify five common back problems and how they can affect the quality of life
  • Examining how to design exercise guidelines for people with back problems
  • Understanding how to design exercise guidelines to prevent back injuries in healthy individuals
  • Attaining knowledge of designing a management plan for an exercise facility
  • Gaining insights into establishing a procedure for reviewing and evaluating the program
  • Learning about weight control and the principles of weight control
  • Exploring endocrinology and nutritional advice
  • Gaining an understanding of the energy required for different activities
  • Studying the science of nutrition, energy production and the factors affecting BMR
  • Examining working with obese and underweight clients
  • Understanding weight control methods, the roles of exercise in weight control and plans for losing weight
  • Attaining knowledge of water and water retention
  • Gaining insights into athletes and nutrition
  • Learning how to work with clients with a body mass problem and how to determine the extent of the problem
  • Exploring how to plan a body fat reduction and maintenance program combining both exercise and diet
  • Gaining an understanding of when a client is underweight and plan a program to remedy this
  • Studying how to design a daily meal plan incorporating all necessary food groups and nutrients

 

And more!

 

The Top Safety Concerns in the Australian Fitness Industry

In 2014, the Australian Fitness Industry Risk Management (AFIRM) Project was set up to explore the operation of rules and regulations for the delivery of safe fitness services. This document, the Australian Fitness Industry Risk Management Manual, provides the fitness industry with insights that will help fitness professionals, fitness facility operators and fitness service users navigate their risk management obligations and legal risk management. It is valuable food for thought if you decide to undertake our fitness risk management course!

The Focus Groups

Focus group research conducted by the AFIRM team involved fifty-eight fitness professionals sampled from seven urban and regional locations across four Australian States (Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia). The fitness professionals participating in the focus groups identified the following as their top six most important concerns (in order of importance):

  1. The competency of fitness professionals.
  2. The management of de-conditioned clients and the effectiveness of pre-exercise screening.
  3. The incorrect use of the equipment and poor supervision of fitness service users.
  4. Fitness trainers failing to remain within their scope of practice.
  5. Equipment misuse (which is different to incorrect use).
  6. Poor fitness training environments.

Key Themes

The focus groups were recorded, and the key themes raised in discussion in the focus groups were:

  1. Competency, education, courses and knowledge

Participants expressed concern that some fitness professionals are “under-educated”. Concern was expressed that there is inadequate or minimal training in risk management in some current educational offerings. Participants said that there was a lack of support for new trainers, that fitness professionals often lack experience, and that there was also a need for further professional training and development to ensure that people have the necessary skills to be effective and manage risks (cue, our fitness risk management course!)

  1. Pre-exercise screening and management of de-conditioned clients

Participants expressed concern about the adequacy of pre-exercise screening in the fitness industry, particularly in relation to unconditioned or de-conditioned clients. They also expressed a lack of confidence that pre-existing injuries or conditions were being captured. Some participants complained that there was no uniform pre-exercise screening tool (despite there being one available in Australia) and that the tools that do exist are not easy to implement.

  1. Incorrect use of the equipment and poor supervision

Participants expressed concern about what they regarded as the generally low degree of supervision of clients undertaking exercise in fitness facilities. Concern was also expressed that some facilities may be inadequately staffed and that trainer fatigue might create risks in fitness facilities. Participants also identified “improper use of equipment” by clients as a significant issue. Participants commented that risks in fitness facilities can arise from failure to follow instructions, client performance of incorrect techniques and also poorly educated fitness trainers teaching incorrect techniques.

  1. Scope of practice, nutrition and managing client expectations

Participants expressed concern that personal trainers and fitness facility employees often operate outside their scope of practice and expertise — for example, providing advice about diet or speaking with clients about personal problems. Concern was also expressed that fitness professionals might give misleading or inappropriate information in this context. Concern was expressed that some fitness professionals may not manage the (often unrealistic) expectations of their clients properly, creating a risk of adverse health outcomes and injury.

  1. Equipment

Participants identified a number of issues in their discussion of the topic of “equipment”. They expressed concern about faulty equipment, the lack of maintenance of equipment, the poor quality of equipment, equipment hygiene (machines not being cleaned or wiped down), and problems related to the positioning of equipment too close to other hazards or equipment.

  1. Environment

Participants identified a number of issues including the lack of space in gyms and hazards created by clients — for example, leaving weights or bags lying around thus creating tripping hazards. Concern was express about the poor layout of fitness equipment in fitness facilities — specifically, space, overcrowding and ventilation issues. Concern was also raised about the risks posed by using outdoor areas as venues for the provision of fitness services. For example, the provision of services on uneven or wet ground, and/or in weather that was too hot, cold or wet.

Risk Assessments in the Fitness Sector

As you’ll discover when undertaking a fitness risk management course, a risk assessment in the fitness sector (as in many other sectors) involves considering what could happen if someone is exposed to a hazard and the likelihood of it happening. A risk assessment can help you to determine how severe a risk is, whether any existing control measures are in effect, what action you should take to control the risk, and how urgently the action needs to be taken.

The model Code of Practice: How to manage work health and safety risks provides practical guidance about how to manage WHS risks through a risk assessment process, and involves four steps:

  1. Identify hazards — find out what could cause harm.
  2. Assess risks, if necessary — understand the nature of the harm that could be caused by the hazard, how serious the harm could be and the likelihood of it happening. This step may not be necessary if you are dealing with a known risk with known controls.
  3. Control risks – implement the most effective control measure that is reasonably practicable in the circumstances and ensure it remains effective over time.
  4. Review hazards and control measures to ensure they are working as planned.

 

Develop the crucial skills and techniques used to assess client needs and prescribe appropriate fitness programs with a fitness risk management course such as our Certificate of Fitness Risk Management.

Embrace Sustainability with a Managing Innovation Course

Process, product and service innovations harness a significant opportunity to positively affect our planet. Reworking ideas and existing technologies can improve sustainability, which may reduce pollution and help in the battle against climate change.

Our Managing Innovation course is ideal for entrepreneurs, supply chain managers, technical industry professionals, business managers and owners and product and service development managers. It will give you insights into creative thinking, prototyping, the different types of innovation and design, as well as how to navigate problems and risks.

In this managing innovation course, you will learn about innovation models, ways to improve creativity, how to balance creativity and critical thinking, the risks associated with innovation, and the significance of the innovation lifecycle. You will also study prototyping, pilot testing products, how to write a journey map, KPIs and tracking, implementation in the market and benefits realisation.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a managing innovation course include:

  • Learning about the scope and nature of innovation
  • Exploring innovation versus improvement
  • Gaining an understanding of why to innovate and the types of innovations
  • Studying the adoption of innovations and models of innovation
  • Examining the development of innovative products or services
  • Understanding creative thinking and creativity and innovation
  • Attaining knowledge of what makes employees creative
  • Gaining insights into ways to improve creativity
  • Learning about creative versus critical thinking
  • Exploring design thinking and innovation
  • Gaining an understanding of the design thinking process
  • Studying association with innovation
  • Examining the applications of design thinking
  • Understanding the innovation process
  • Attaining knowledge of continuing innovation
  • Gaining insights into managing risk and risks associated with innovation
  • Learning about scaling innovation and how to enhance employee innovation
  • Exploring the innovative identification of risks and risk management
  • Gaining an understanding of the types of innovation
  • Studying the innovation matrix
  • Examining the innovation lifecycle
  • Understanding prototyping and the different types
  • Attaining knowledge of product failures
  • Gaining insights into how to write a journey map
  • Learning about pilot testing and planning
  • Exploring KPIs and tracking
  • Gaining an understanding of rollout and bringing to market
  • Studying benefit realisation

And more!

Tips to Improving Employee Innovation

As you will discover in our managing innovation course, innovative culture in a business can increase both staff retention and profitability. And although innovation is often associated with creating new services or products in a business, it can also be about changing the way your organisation does business.

Your business survival and competitiveness is directly linked to your ability to innovate. But to be successful, innovation needs to be supported by everyone in the business, including your staff, other business partners and of course, yourself!

Innovation embraces:

  • New technologies and their uses
  • Improved industry methods
  • Meeting changing customer needs or demands
  • Better systems and processes

The Benefits of Innovation

Creating an innovative business culture will ensure everyone in the business is working towards improving efficiency, performance and business practices. Your approach to innovation will be driven by your capability, market understanding, business strategy and commitment to the process. Often, these processes will add capacity to your business with little or no additional costs.

Some of the other benefits include:

  • Increased competitiveness — innovation allows your business to offer higher quality products at a lower cost and more efficiently.
  • Improved staff retention — staff typically like to work in jobs that promote problem-solving and teamwork.
  • A proactive approach to business — your business is able to keep up with changes in your industry.
  • More customers — innovation offers new or an improvement on existing services or products or allows you to enter new markets.
  • More efficient use of all resources.

How to Create an Innovative Environment

You can help your employees become more productive by fostering a culture that encourages creative action and thinking in the workplace. This can inspire them to share skills, experience, recommendations and knowledge. Ways you can promote an innovative environment in your business include:

  • Hiring people with different perspectives — This involves looking for employees who understand your vision, align with your culture, have different perspectives, come from diverse backgrounds, have passions and different abilities, and have a different approach or set of ideas in terms of problem-solving.
  • Give employees the time and space to innovate — Set aside spaces for employees to share and create ideas, and be approachable and open to these. Many companies allocate time for employees to break from routine roles to inspire new thoughts and these include a day out of the office, allocated time during the day or an employee retreat.
  • Encourage collaboration — Create work practices that encourage employees to work together and openly discuss ways to improve. These can include allow job swaps that foster new perspectives from employers, holding brainstorming sessions regarding process improvement with employees from different parts of the business, and introducing new ideas or “what if?” time to your regular meetings.
  • Have a feedback process — Ensure there is a process that everyone understands for assessing new ideas. Employees should be encouraged to recommend or suggest ideas that will be appropriately considered. All suggestions should also be acknowledged in a timely manner and feedback should be given.
  • Implement ideas ASAP — Employees’ suggestions and ideas should be put into effect as quickly as possible. When employees see they are influencing the direction of the business, they will be motivated to continue to share ideas, work towards their success of the idea and encourage the productivity of their colleagues.
  • Reward employees for their ideas — Rewards can be used to encourage your employees to suggest ideas, even if they’re not carried out. This will help them see that you appreciate their efforts to improve the business.
  • Offer training — Training can inspire new approaches to the business. Your employees will gain experience and the business will benefit from new ideas and approaches.
  • Invest in resources — Innovation is an investment in the future of your business and having an innovative business will help you grow your business, increase profits, motivate your employees and keep up with customer demand and industry best practice.

2021’s Most Innovative International Companies

International companies are leveraging Australia’s talent, research and government support to boost productivity, growth and competitiveness. In fact, forty-eight out of Boston Consulting Group’s top 50 most innovative companies operate in Australia! Some of the trail blazers to inspire you to undertake our  managing innovation course include:

General Electric — Advanced Manufacturing

GE subsidiary GE Additive and the University of Sydney are establishing a high-tech manufacturing hub. The Sydney Manufacturing Hub will advance Australia’s capability in metal additive manufacturing technology, and train specialists and academics in advanced alloy design and its applications.

Bosch — Agricultural Technology

Bosch Australia and Monash University are co-developing Australia’s first smart agriculture research facility. It will contain a prototypical “smart farm” to test:

  • Artificial intelligence
  • Automation
  • Robotic and advanced sensor technology solutions

Hyundai — Energy

Hyundai, CSIRO and Fortescue are working together to develop renewable hydrogen technology. The group seeks to:

  • Develop new hydrogen technologies with the potential for bulk transport
  • Build a renewable hydrogen refuelling facility, to deploy hydrogen fuel cell coaches
  • Build the first combined hydrogen production and refuelling facility in Western Australia

Johnson & Johnson — Healthcare

The Johnson & Johnson Innovation Partnering Office @ Monash is a hub for researchers and early-stage companies. The facility allows them to develop novel medical devices, pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare solutions.

Amazon Web Services and Intel — Technology

Amazon Web Services, AARNET and Intel have established Australia’s first cloud supercomputing facility. Based at RMIT University, the facility focuses on advanced data processing and computing.

 

Gain the confidence to innovate in your business or industry in order to release new products or services that benefit both individuals and the planet with a managing innovation course such as our Managing Innovation course.

Create Marketable Food Products!

A food technology course will show you how to plan and manage food processing on or off-farm to produce marketable food products.

Transforming agricultural products into edible form is at the heart of food processing and technology. So, if you’ve ever thought about becoming a food technologist or designing your own food product, this course is ideal for you.

Certificate of Food Processing & Technology is an online professional development program that will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to design a food product from concept to deployment.

In this food technology course, you will also learn how to plan, manage, and maintain a garden, including organising staff, equipment requirements, weed control, turf management and irrigation systems planning.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a food technology course include:

  • Learn how sensory analysis, food trends, and D values affect the development of a new food product.
  • Understand the five stages of food product creation and how they impact marketing efforts
  • Explore policy, legalities, and the importance of health claims, warnings, and advisory statements
  • Apply your knowledge as you design your food product with our problem-based learning project
  • Understand where food comes from.
  • Spoilage and the effect of microbes on food.
  • Basics of preserving food.
  • Meaning of nutrition density and essential nutrients.
  • The role nutrition has in the development of a new food product.
  • The meaning of processed foods.
  • Types of preservatives and their role.
  • The use of common food additives.
  • Different ways to process food using heat.
  • Different types of health claims and their purpose.
  • Warning and advisory statements and their purpose.
  • Effect of health and other claims on the development and marketing of food products.
  • How concepts are determined in conjunction with consumer needs, wants, and trends.
  • The process of developing a new food product from concept to end-product.
  • The options in packaging materials and the decisions affecting packaging on a food and chemical level.
  • The importance of labelling, including nutrition labels, warning statements, and allergen statements.
  • The importance of storage in the success of a food product.
  • The legal, policymaking and management considerations that impact food processing.

And more! 

 

8 Innovative Australian Food Products

As well as investment in a food technology course, a little inspiration goes a long way when you want to get a new food product off the ground! Look no further than these refreshing Australian products.

  1.    Bondi ChaiLatte 

Bondi Chai is 100% Australian-owned and manufactured with 95% of the ingredients home-grown! The popular drink is fat-free, low in caffeine and made without gluten, anti-caking agents, preservatives, emulsifiers, colours or trans-fats. Bondi Chai is also certified to be served to school children and in aged care facilities. 

  1.    MOJOTonic 

Co-founders Anthony and Sarah Crabb started MOJO, a kombucha beverage business, in 2009 selling at local farmers’ markets. Just nine years later, they sold the company to Coca Cola! MOJO has naturally occurred live cultures that are activated with a billion colony forming units of probiotics. 

  1.    Spring & GroveSpring Water

Karen started Spring & Grove when she noticed a gap in the market for healthy drinks for kids. As a mother herself, she was always on the lookout for healthier alternatives. Spring and Grove contain the purest water from Australian underground springs. It’s also flavoured with essences and oils from real fruit, making the water fun without the sugar!

  1.    My MuscleChef 

Since 2013, My Muscle Chef has been creating fresh, high-protein meals for Australians. The company was started by two brothers living in Sydney who wanted to power their workouts with nutrition. The ready-meal business now delivers over 1.6 million meals every month to over 4.500 suburbs across Australia. 

  1.    Meluka RawHoney Probiotic 

This product is gaining traction, a 100% natural, organic raw honey drink with six multi-strain probiotics! This power-packed concentrate contains single-origin honey traceable back to a master beekeeper in the pristine Australian Bungawalbin Valley. 

  1.    Mt ElephantHemp Bars

At the foot of Mt Elephant in Victoria, Australia, two farmers had the vision to bring the health benefits of hemp to the masses. And so, Mt Elephant Hemp Bars was born. The company now creates snacks, milks, oils, and spices, all with high-quality hemp – a superfood. Mt Elephant products are now stocked in hundreds of places throughout Australia.

  1.    Shine +

Australian serial entrepreneur Dr Sam Prince and former PwC accountant Stephen Chapman created Australia’s first Nootropic drink in 2015. The drink helps people feel better, think better and do better – according to the founders and those loyal to the brand.

  1.    ZeroBottle – Great Northern Brewing

Non-alcoholic beverages are gaining traction with those who want to socialise with a cold beer without compromising health. Great Northern Brewing has created a recipe that has gone through removing alcohol without compromising the crisp taste. 

 

Growing Trends in Food & Beverage 

There are many emerging trends in consumer preference for foods and beverages. Discover insight into what types of food and beverages meet growing consumer trends with a food technology course!

Storytelling & Transparency 

Enter the latest trend in marketing – storytelling! Having nutritionally dense and tasty products is no longer enough for a market that craves an experience. Businesses are increasingly telling their ‘stories’ to win the hearts and minds of their customers. It is crucial to connect with people through shared values, motivations and aspirations, driving purchase, loyalty, and advocacy.

Transparency is equally important to savvy consumers who want to know that a company will deal with sensitive issues proactively and sincerely. Increasingly, partly due to social media and the ability to publish at the micro-level, companies are levelling with their customers about where their food comes from and how it’s produced. 

Plant-Based Products 

Australia is projected to continue to be the third fasted growing vegan market in the world! As this trend increases demand for plant-based foods, the vegan food market is predicted to grow from $150 million today to almost $3 billion by 2030

Millions of Australians are eating less meat. 1 in 3 Australians consciously limit their meat consumption, and 10 per cent are entirely meat-free. Further, 6 in 10 Aussies have tried or are interested in trying new plant-based meat products. 

A number of studies by peak health bodies, including the World Health Organisation, EAT-Lancet Commission and others, recommend eating less meat for better health and reducing the incidence of chronic disease. It seems Australians are getting the message as health is the number one reason that Aussies are choosing to eat less meat. The other top reasons for reducing meat consumption are the environment, animal welfare, cost and the increasing variety of plant-based options available. 

Immune-Boosting Ingredients

Exposure to COVID-19 has further increased the demand for immune-boosting foods and beverages, with immunity being top-of-mind for consumers. This desire to enhance health and wellness through foods and beverages provides new opportunities for nutrient-dense products with functional health benefits, especially those aimed at supporting the immune system.

Mood Based Products 

The newly emerging mood-food trend is partly due to lockdown, uncertainty and economic downturns impacting Australia’s mental health. According to Roy Morgan, 40.5% of Australians reported experiences mental health issues this year. Naturally, this is spiking interest in foods designed to lift state-of-mind. 

If you are planning to go to market with a mood-boosting product, New Nutrition Business recommends: 

  1. Using a known and an emerging ingredient to provide reassurance and interest. 
  2. Delivering a ‘feel the benefit’ difference. 
  3. Promoting the emerging gut-brain axis – a growing body of research links gut health and brain and mental wellbeing benefits. 

Going Alcohol-Free 

A new sober-curious generation is embracing mindful drinking and non-alcoholic beverages. The global drinks market analysis from IWSR found that low and no-alcohol products in Australia grew by 2.9% in 2021, with alcohol sales declining by 1.4%. The prediction forecast is 16% growth by 2024, making low alcohol and non-alcoholic products one of the fastest-growing segments in the market! 

Organic 

Half of Australians say the motivation for buying organic is for personal health. 70% of Australians buy some form of organic food, contributing to the country’s strong industry worth $2.6 billion. However, the substantial price difference between organic and non-organic is the main barrier to uptake.

The Australian organic industry contributes over $2 billion annually to the national economy and grows year on year. The organic market segment is delivering 7.9% market growth per annum had has reached 62 international markets. 

Australians are buying more organic products than ever: 

  • 80 out of 100 shoppers have purchased an organic product in the past 12 months, that’s around 9 million Australian households
  • 13% of households spend 50% or more of their food budget on organics
  • 37% of organic shoppers increased their household food allocation to organic
  • More than half of organic shoppers check for certification marks on their organic purchases.
  • 39% of shoppers say they would avoid purchasing an organic product if it did not display a certification mark
  • 62% of shoppers recognised the Australian Certified Organic Bud trademark logo

*Reeves, M. (2020), IBISWorld Organic Farming in Australia.

 

Gain the skills and knowledge to create your own food or beverage products, start your own business or gain food tech skills with a food technology course such as our Certificate of Food Processing & Technology.

Help Mitigate Cyber Attacks With a Cyber Security Course

Professionals who know how to assess and minimise IT vulnerabilities are in constant demand as the exposure to cyber risks is rising. This is partly due to organisations constantly increasing their dependence on mobiles, IoT devices, social platforms and migrating data to the cloud.

The Introduction to Cyber Security will give you insights into the concept of cyber security, the types of threats, and the defensive mechanisms that can mitigate risk. In this cyber security course, you will gain an understanding of the impact of online digital footprints, how to perform a vulnerability assessment, and how IDS and IPS systems and firewalls protect networks and computers.

You will also learn about wireless data communication networks, cryptography, security standards and the importance of implementing access control models.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a cyber security course include:

  • Learning about the importance of cyber security and the threats
  • Exploring the common type of attacks including active and injection attacks
  • Gaining an understanding of DoS, malware, malicious software, spoofing and man-in-the-middle
  • Studying network and operating system attacks
  • Examining network security, physical security and software and operating system security
  • Understanding vulnerability assessments and how to assess vulnerabilities
  • Attaining knowledge of security posture, identifying and classifying assets and threats and risk assessment
  • Gaining insights into baseline reporting and penetration testing
  • Learning about securing data centres and networks
  • Exploring hardware like modems and routers and how to change router settings
  • Gaining an understanding of software pc and device levels and advance settings to secure devices
  • Studying preventative steps
  • Examining how to secure your online digital footprint
  • Understanding social media, web browsing history and online shopping
  • Attaining knowledge of the devices used, the importance of managing a digital footprint and protecting the user’s reputation
  • Gaining insights into deciding where and how personal information is shared, preserving freedoms and preventing financial losses
  • Learning how to manage a digital footprint, the privacy risks of online identities and how to develop better online habits
  • Exploring how to investigate default settings for online tools and services
  • Gaining an understanding of using privacy-enhancing tools
  • Studying internet security and digital certificates
  • Examining digital certificates, digital signatures and digital rights management (DRM)
  • Understanding information rights management (IRM) and electronic books and magazines
  • Attaining knowledge of EDRM and generating, exchanging and verifying a digital certificate
  • Gaining insights into web browsing (SSL certificates) and SSL/TLS handshakes
  • Learning about security issues and secure web browsing using https
  • Exploring wireless network vulnerabilities, attacks and security
  • Gaining an understanding of wireless network vulnerabilities, attacks and security
  • Studying NFC and bluetooth networks attacks
  • Examining WLAN (Wireless LAN) attacks, wireless data replay attacks and wireless Denial of Service (DOS) attacks
  • Understanding network “blurred edges”, rogue access points and attacks on home WLANs (war driving and war chalking)
  • Attaining knowledge of wireless security vulnerability and solutions
  • Gaining insights into IEEE wireless security vulnerabilities

And more!

 

Job Opportunities in the Cyber Security Sector

Cyber security is one of the fastest growing sectors in Australia, and its direct economic impact between 2019-20 is estimated at $15.7 billion in revenue, with the sector employing almost 19,500 people. Cyber security enables the digital economy to grow and innovate, which is critical to Australia’s prosperity and recovery from COVID-19 as more businesses and people move online to create and deliver goods and services.

The evolving threat environment and rapid technological advancement will continue to generate demand in the cyber security sector, and AustCyber forecasts that almost 17,000 new jobs will be needed up until 2026. And as you’ll discover in our cyber security course, the cyber security sector offers wide range of diverse opportunities.

Cyberspace is not bound by geography, so working in the cyber security space means that you don’t have to work in the one location. Opportunities also exist for Australian cyber security businesses to attract global investors and sell their solutions to offshore buyers.

AustCyber’s Cyber Security Sector 2020 Competitiveness Plan states that wages are high across the cyber security profession with a $12,000 average wage premium paid for a cyber security worker when compared to an IT worker. Roles in leadership and management and those involving the designing and building of cyber systems are currently commanding the highest salaries, with average wage premiums of more than $20,000 above general IT workers.

One of the biggest misconceptions about a career in cyber security is that you need a background in IT. However, cyber security is a broad sector that encompasses policy, technical roles, marketing, risk management, engagement and more.

Assessing and Minimising Vulnerabilities

As you’ll discover in our cyber security course, cybersecurity starts with understanding potential vulnerabilities, assessing those in a particular situation, then taking actions to eliminate or prevent those vulnerabilities.

When organisations are trying to secure their assets, knowledge equates to power. As businesses constantly increase their dependence on information technology, including the IoT (internet of things), social platforms, mobile devices and placing or migrating data to the cloud, their exposure to cyber risks can rise significantly.

However, just like an annual health check, a vulnerability management program can help organisations identify weaknesses in their cyber systems before they turn into problems.

Security Posture

This is the technical term for an overall security plan and includes everything from initial planning to implementation. An organisation’s security posture usually includes:

  • Technical policies
  • Non-technical policies
  • Procedures
  • Controls

Performing a Vulnerability Assessment

The majority of all cyberattacks are designed by attackers to exploit known vulnerabilities and weaknesses in systems and networks and automatically start their attack process as soon as these are found. With thousands of new vulnerabilities discovered every year, it is important for organisations to exercise constant vigilance to evaluate IT security and discover weaknesses, as well as to respond appropriately.

A robust vulnerability assessment program is the key to responding to this more dangerous threat environment. A vulnerability assessment is a formal process that identifies and quantifies the security weaknesses of an IT system including the hardware, networks and application software. It can produce a clear report containing a list of the components that require attention in the organisation’s environment, and where on the list of priorities these components lie.

Systems administrators in organisations’ IT departments are constantly updating and applying software patches to their critical systems, however managing patches and software updates is quite a challenging task for IT departments because patches are known to occasionally cause disruption to other software. In some instances, systems requiring patches can also not be taken offline.

For this reason, a good vulnerability assessment will provide an organisation with a list of prioritised vulnerabilities sorted by software or system or others factors. This can then be used by the organisation’s IT department and used as a to-do list to improve the organisation’s security posture.

It is also important to know that scanning for vulnerability assessments is one thing, but that analysing and prioritising vulnerabilities in terms of including them in an overall “risk management program” is another. A typical vulnerability assessment often involves five steps:

  1. Identifying which assets need to be protected.
  2. Evaluating threats against those assets.
  3. Undertaking vulnerability appraisal to understand how susceptible the current protection method is.
  4. Assessing risks (using the likelihood and impact of any potential weakness exploitation).
  5. Mitigating risks.

2021 Cyber Attack Statistics 

According to the Australian Signals Directorate, over the 2020–21 financial year, Australian organisations, individuals and government entities’ engagement online was largely influenced by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is mainly because the pandemic has significantly increased Australian dependence on the internet — to access information and services, work remotely and to communicate and continue our daily lives. This dependence has increased the attack “surface” and generated more opportunities for malicious cyber attackers to exploit vulnerable targets in Australia.

Over the 2020–21 financial year, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) received over 67,500 cybercrime reports, an increase of nearly 13 per cent from the previous financial year. This equates to one report of a cyber attack every eight minutes compared to one every 10 minutes last financial year. A higher proportion of cyber security incidents this financial year was also categorised by the ACSC as “substantial”in impact.

The increasing frequency of cybercriminal activity is compounded by the increased sophistication and complexity of cyber attackers’ operations. The accessibility of cybercrime services — such as ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) — via the dark web increasingly opens the market to a growing number of malicious attackers without significant financial investment and without significant technical expertise.

No sector of the Australian economy was immune from the impacts of cybercrime and other malicious cyber activity. Large organisations, government agencies, critical infrastructure providers, small to medium enterprises and individuals were all targeted over the reporting period.

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the importance of digital literacy to improve privacy and protect businesses from potential cyber threats with a cyber security course such as our Introduction to Cyber Security.

Enhance Your Health Career with an Allied Health Assistance Course

Occupational therapy assistants play a vital role in supporting occupational therapists adjust their clients’ environments accordingly to help them gain the skills necessary to participate in everyday life activities.

The Certificate of Occupational Therapy Assistance will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to assist with therapy programs. You will learn how to assist with movement and promote clients’ independence and physical, social, emotional, and psychological well-being. You will also study how to prepare for a therapy session, use, clean and store equipment correctly and safely, assist in designing therapy materials, complete administrative tasks and understand workplace health and safety.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking an allied health assistance course include:

  • Learning how to assist an individual with movement including confirming their requirements and risk factors, relevant personnel and preparing an individualised plan
  • Exploring how to select, prepare and adjust equipment according to the individual’s requirements and the individualised plan
  • Gaining an understanding of preparing the environment, explaining the procedure to the individual, answering their questions as required and according to the appropriate protocols.
  • Studying how to seek the client’s consent and cooperation
  • Examining how to prepare procedures according to safe working practices
  • Understanding how to carry out movement using the appropriate safe handling method and equipment using a range of techniques
  • Attaining knowledge of how to take appropriate action to ensure the individual’s comfort and safety throughout positioning or transfer
  • Gaining insights into encouraging the individual where possible
  • Learning how to communicate with the individual during movement according to appropriate protocols.
  • Exploring how to clean equipment in accordance with organisation policy and procedures
  • Gaining an understanding of how to report equipment faults immediately in accordance with organisation procedures, industry standards and guidelines.
  • Studying how to support an individual’s independence and wellbeing and recognise their social, cultural and spiritual differences.
  • Examining how to consider the individual’s needs, stage of life, development and strengths when engaging in support activities.
  • Understanding how to recognise, respect and accommodate the person’s expressions of identity and sexuality as appropriate in the context of their age or stage of life.
  • Attaining knowledge of how to support an individual in identifying and acknowledging their own strengths and self-care capacity.
  • Gaining insights into promoting and encourage daily living habits that contribute to a healthy lifestyle
  • Learning how to recognise indications that the person’s physical situation is affecting their wellbeing and report them according to organisation procedures.
  • Exploring how to encourage and facilitate participation in social, cultural, spiritual activities, using existing and potential new networks and as per the individual’s preferences.
  • Gaining an understanding of how to identify aspects of supporting an individual’s wellbeing outside their scope of knowledge, skills and/or job role and seek appropriate support.
  • Studying how to identify any cultural or financial issues impacting on the individual’s wellbeing.
  • Examining how to recognise and report possible indicators of abuse or neglect and report according to organisation procedures.
  • Understanding how to prepare for therapy sessions,and confirm and discuss therapy and treatment plans and programs with supervising allied health professionals.
  • Attaining knowledge of how to prepare the individual for therapy under direction of supervising allied health professional.
  • Gaining insights into taking the appropriate actions to ensure the comfort, safety and privacy of the individual.
  • Learning how to reinforce, clarify and explain therapy goals to individuals under the supervision of allied health professionals.
  • Exploring how to deal with accidents and incidents appropriately and report to the supervising allied health professional.
  • Gaining an understanding of following work health and safety (WHS) guidelines for particular pieces of equipment.
  • Studying how to document information according to organisation policy and procedures.
  • Examining how to assist the allied health professional to identify gaps in therapy material resources and develop solutions.

And more!

Australian Occupational Therapy Organisations

As you will learn when undertaking our allied health assistance course, there are four major players in the

Australian occupational therapy landscape. All exist to benefit the occupational therapy profession in Australia, but each is responsible for different aspects, including:

Occupational Therapy Board of Australia (OTBA)

The OTBA is the national registration body for occupational therapists and students. Its focus is to protect the public by setting a standard that all occupational therapists must comply with. The OTBA ensures all occupational therapists are suitably trained and qualified, and are practising in an ethical and competent manner, and it:

  • Develops codes, registration standards and guidelines for occupational therapists.
  • Considers and makes decisions on complaints about occupational therapists.
  • Approves programs of study for registration purposes.
  • Approves accreditation standards developed by the Occupational Therapy Council of Australia (OTC).

Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

AHPRA support the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia to regulate the profession and supports the 15 National Boards as the first point of contact for all enquiries and complaints. AHPRA performs the administrative work relating to:

  • The registration and renewal of health practitioners under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme.
  • The national register of health practitioners available to the public.
  • Investigations into performance, professional conduct or health of registered health practitioners on behalf of the National Boards.
  • Audits to ensure practitioners meet the mandatory registration standards set by the National Boards.

Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd (OTC)

The OTC are responsible for the accreditation of study programs and the assessment of overseas trained occupational therapists. It carries out accreditation on behalf of the OTBA by:

  • Developing education program accreditation standards.
  • Accrediting and monitoring occupational therapy programs of study and education providers.
  • The assessment, monitoring and support of internationally qualified occupational therapists who want to practise in Australia.

Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA)

OTA is the peak body representing occupational therapists Australia-wide. The association supports and represents the interests of occupational therapy through:

  • The promotion, advocacy and lobbying for the entire profession.
  • Developing frameworks, position statements and evidence-based guides to good practice.
  • Providing opportunities for networking, mentoring and continuing professional development (CPD) courses.
  • Fostering research through grants and scientific conferences.

Networking for Occupational Therapists

The Allied Health professional landscape is changing. Whereas decades ago a health professional might look to secure a job for life, today’s generation of professionals, including those who have undertaken an allied health assistance course,will probably shift between a number of different jobs over their career.

Strong professional networks can help you to not only adapt to changing circumstances, but enable you to find the best applications of your skills as you reach your full potential.

Why Networking Matters

Your education and studies help to lay the foundations of your career, while the skills and experiences you develop along the way form the actual building blocks. Professional networks can provide the additional “scaffolding” to take your career even further. Surrounding yourself with a strong, supportive network allows you to:

  • Learn and seek out advice from like-minded peers.
  • Stay informed about the latest developments in your practice domain.
  • Discover new career opportunities.
  • Collaborate on new programs and initiatives.
  • Build a series of references to vouch for your achievements and skill

How To Connect

Like all skills, networking takes time and effort. Even for seasoned professionals, the process isn’t always easy. While your practical and clinical skills may have already been refined, networking presents an entirely new skillset to master. Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA) members will be already connected to Australia’s largest community of OTs. But how can you make connections to help enrich your professional network?

  • OTA Conferences. Whether it’s a national or state conference, conferences provide ample opportunities to not only mingle with other delegates, but to also meet exhibitors and connect with high-profile keynote speakers.
  • Continuing Professional Development Events. Workshops and special interest groups present great opportunities to meet like-minded peers. Plus, having attended the group/event together, you’ll already have something in common when you first approach them.
  • Social Media. Whether you discover an online contact through one of OTA’s social channels or as part of an existing Facebook group, don’t be afraid to reach out. Consider simple interactions such as retweeting their idea, replying back to their comment or connecting with them on LinkedIn.
  • Across the Internet. Look for blogs and websites that cover areas of interest to you, or make note of OTs profiled in news articles. Either contact them directly or reach out to the publication to express your interest.

What Next?

Once you’ve established an initial interaction, it’s important that you nurture the connection. Building networks for the long-term begins with giving more than you take. For you to benefit from the relationship, the other party doesn’t have to give up the equivalent amount of time or expertise.

After identifying the type and range of peers who can help you succeed, approach and engage those professionals, offering them value. Whether that’s through your support or time, consider what they’ll get out of the interactions too.

Some contacts may offer to assist or mentor you out of sheer goodwill, but don’t forget they don’t owe you anything. View networking not as a transactional exchange, but as a mutual benefit.

Successful networkers put the effort in regularly. A simple way to start is by offering the person something without an expectation of reciprocation. It could take the form of sharing an interesting piece of research you’ve seen that they might be interested in, or offering a compliment on their presentation.

A piece of knowledge taken for granted by an expert could completely change your outlook on your career, and the enthusiasm expressed from a passionate student could inspire an academic to approach their research from an entirely new angle. A valuable away of approaching network is not from the mindset of what you can gain from them, but what can they gain from you?

Help occupational therapists assist individuals to live full, happy and productive lives with an allied health assistance course such as our Certificate of Occupational Therapy Assistance.

Find your new direction today!

Follow a manual added link

1300 76 2221

Link to: Contact Us

Chat

Australian Online Courses - Footer Australian Online Courses - Footer Australian Online Courses - Footer

Head Office
Corporate House 138 Juliette St
Greenslopes QLD 4120
Postal Address: 
PO BOX 431 TOOWONG DC QLD 4066

Phone 1300 76 2221

Terms and Conditions    Privacy    Sitemap

© 2024. All Rights Reserved   |   ABN: 67 625 541 639    |   Site by GO Creative