Strong Case for Women in Logistics (Despite Gender Bias).

Staying relevant in an increasingly digital world means upskilling is the new normal for those who want to remain at the forefront of their industry and progress their career.

So, what is upskilling, and what’s the best way to achieve learning goals? We spoke to a human resource (HR) professional to find out.

What is Upskilling?

Upskilling is an investment in continuous learning in the form of training programs, professional development and personal development to acquire new skills and knowledge that fill skills gaps.

HR, Leadership and people management expert Karen Gately believes continuous learning is important at any age, and any stage of your career for to achieve objectives, maintain purpose, keep giving and to feel energised and maintain engagement.

1. Achieve Your Objectives. Whether you want to advance further in your career, change direction altogether or ensure greater job security, continuing to learn is essential.  Keeping pace with the demands of your role, profession or your industry requires that you take deliberate steps to learn the skills and gain the experience needed not only today but also into the future.

2. Maintain Purpose. The strength of our spirit is typically influenced by the extent to which we find purpose and meaning in our work.  It’s common for people to change career paths multiple times in their life.  Taking those steps successfully always requires learning more.

3. Keep Giving. Many people choose to continue to contribute to their profession or community well beyond retirement; whether that be, for example, through volunteer work or mentoring.  Continuing to learn is important to our ability to play these roles well and gain a sense of achievement through the experience.

4. Be Energised and Maintain Engagement. Learning about mastering topics or roles we enjoy unquestionably influences the strength of our spirit.  Developing skills needed for your current role matters, but so too does investing in areas you enjoy.  Disinterest undoubtedly is among the biggest obstacle to learning.  Any parent of a teenager is likely to understand that.

5 Steps to Upskill Throughout Your Career.

So, it’s essential to upskill, but how do you go about it?

Ms Gately said it’s important to know what you want and why, leverage other people, reflect, listen and connect to upskill at any age, and any stage of your career.

1. Know What You Want and Why. Having a clear view of your goals and aspiration will allow you to see how you need to grow to get there.  Understanding why you want to achieve what you do will make a big difference in your ability to stay the course and keep moving forward when things get difficult.

2. Leverage Other People. If you’re unsure what the future might look like for you, seek the guidance of a coach or mentor.  A coach will help you to think through the issue and reach decisions that work best for you.  A mentor, on the other hand, will share their lessons learned along a similar journey.  Talk to friends and family who have an experience they can share or observations of you that may help you to gain greater clarity.

3. Reflect. Look back on your past experiences and understand what you would now do differently. Reflect regularly on what is working well and how you still need to learn and grow.  Consider how you can become a better version of yourself or achieve improved outcomes.

4. Listen. All too often, people focus on justifying their position rather than listening to the insights people offer.  We can all learn from the people around us if we are willing to listen and seek to understand.  That is, understand not only what they are saying, but also why. Just as important is your ability to listen to the conversations happening in your mind.  Recognise, for example, when you are talking yourself out of putting your hand up to learn a new skill because you fear failure.

5. Connect. Spend time with people who share your interests or objectives and are willing to learn together.  Look for peers across your industry or profession that you believe will challenge your thinking and deepen your insights.

There are many reasons to upskill. The most important, though, is to stay ahead of the game in an increasingly competitive and fast-moving employment market.

So, don’t get stuck in your comfort zone – find an online professional development course that’s right for you and give yourself the best opportunity to change careers, gain a promotion or receive a higher salary today.

Australian Online Courses

We pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality, unique professional development online courses in Australia to boost your career prospects in any industry.

Our innovative eLearning platform allows you to study around life, work and family commitments from the comfort of home, or anywhere that suits your learning, at your own pace.

So, what are you waiting for? If you’re serious about taking your career to the next level, enrol in a flexible, online professional development course today.

Do you really understand homelessness? Whether your career involves working with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness or you volunteer your time to this complex social issue, knowledge and understanding of homelessness is powerful to reduce stigma and provide appropriate support.

What is Homelessness?

Despite a widely held belief that those who are homelessness are rough sleepers (living on the streets), this population makes up only 7 per cent of the ‘hidden homelessness.’

The ‘hidden homelessness’ includes sleeping in cars, rooming houses, couch surfing, or staying in other temporary types of accommodation.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a person is considered homeless if they don’t have suitable accommodation or if their current living arrangement:

• Is in a dwelling that is inadequate
• Has no tenure, or if tenure is short and not extendable; or
• Does not allow them to have control of, and access to, spaces for social relations.

Homelessness in Australia

The most recent data on homelessness shows that the rate of homelessness in Australia has increased by 4.6 per cent over the last five years.

The latest estimates reveal more than 116,000 people were experiencing homelessness in Australia on Census night, representing 50 homeless persons for every 10,000 people.

Dr Paul Jelfs, General Manager of Population and Social Statistics, said that while there was an overall increase in the estimate of homelessness in Australia, this number is made up of various distinct groups and each tells a different story.

The largest group were those people living in ‘severely’ crowded dwellings, which accounted for 51,088 people, up from 41,370 in 2011.

“On Census night, 8,200 people were estimated to be ‘sleeping rough’ in improvised dwellings, tents or sleeping out – an increase from 3.2 persons per 10,000 people in 2011 to 3.5 persons per 10,000 people in 2016,” Dr Jelfs said.

It has also emerged that young people and older Australians are groups experiencing increasing homelessness in Australia.

“One-quarter of all people experiencing homelessness in 2016 was aged between 20 and 30 years,” Dr Jelfs said.

People aged between 65 and 74 years experiencing homelessness increased to 27 persons per 10,000 people, up from 25 persons per 10,000 people in 2011.

Other at-risk groups of significance include recent migrants to Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Homelessness is a complex social issue facing Australia, but there are actions that need to be achieved to find enduring solutions, according to Homelessness Australia.

In 2019, Homelessness Week is the 4th -10th August with a theme “Housing Ends Homelessness.’’

Professional Development Course – Homelessness Support

Those who are homeless, or are at risk of homelessness, have complex care and support needs that go beyond facilitating housing or shelter. If your future career path involves working with homeless people, this professional development course is ideal for you.

Homelessness Support is an online professional development program that will provide you with the knowledge and skills required for working with people who are experiencing homelessness or risk of becoming homeless, including women and children experiencing family violence.

In this online homelessness support course, you will discover the issues facing the homeless, including emotional, psychological, legal and cultural factors.

On completion of this course, you will feel confident to support homeless individuals and those at risk of homelessness in the community.

Australian Online Courses supports Homelessness Prevention Week.

If you’re applying for a new job or a career change is on the horizon, it’s an ideal time to take stock of your transferable skills. But did you know certain transferable skills are more valuable and in-demand than others?

How many of the seven most valuable transferable skills do you have? And, do you know how to articulate them to attract the attention of recruiters and hiring managers?

What Are Transferable Skills?

Transferable skills (also known as ‘portable skills’) are the skills that are not necessarily directly related to your job but are important across many industries and helpful in different areas of life. You may have acquired your transferable skills through voluntary work, hobbies or even parenting – basically a culmination of your lived experiences.

Why is it Important to Identify Transferable Skills?

If you can identify and articulate your transferable skills, you will be better equipped to apply for a new job, put yourself forward for a promotion or pay rise or to tackle career change at any age.

• Identify skills gaps and create a professional development plan to progress your career
• Builds your self-confidence through identifying all your transferable skills and recognising their value
• Helps you to create a competitive resume and cover letter
• Assists in answering selection criteria in the job application process
• Perform better in behavioural job interviews by talking confidently about your skills

Karen Thomas, Co-founder & Director of Transition Hub, believes human skills will be the most important transferable skills of the future.

“Creativity, collaboration and communication are the most important transferable skills needed to succeed in today’s workplace.

“With automation and artificial intelligence on the rise, human skills are crucial to bridging the virtual and real worlds, solving complex problems and inspiring others to embrace change,” said Ms Thomas.

Melbourne-based Career Coach Leah Lambart says transferable skills and training for in-demand skills are a focus of helping people from entry-level to retirement age to achieve their career goals.

“I coach clients, and much of the discussion is around transferable skills and re-training for areas that are going to be in-demand, but also that are of interest.

“Given that we are going to be living in an ever-increasing automated world, the key transferable skills I talk to my clients about are digital fluency, critical thinking, communication, adaptability, creativity and STEM,” said Ms Lambart.

1. Digital skills

Digital skills are one of the most important transferable skills required by job-seekers and graduates as companies continue to digitise their processes and operations, advised Ms Lambert.

“Some universities are incorporating digital skills into the curriculum, but technology changes so quickly that students need to continue to learn new technologies outside of the course.

“To increase their chances of being employable, students should seek to understand what digital skills are required in their ideal industry and learn these through online courses where possible.”

Digital skills that will be important in the future

• Coding
• Data analysis
• Data science
• Image editing
• Creating and curating content (i.e. video, audio, info-graphics)
• Game and app development
• Cloud computing
• Digital marketing
• UX design
• Artificial intelligence
• Audio production (i.e. podcasts)

2. Communication Skills

Communication skills will continue to be an important and a highly desirable transferable skill, explained Ms Lambart, but organisations will increasingly need people who can interpret complex technical information and convey it in simple, non-technical ways.

“There will be high demand for data analysts and data scientists who have the technical skills, such as Excel, SQL (Structured Query Language) and coding, to analyse vast amounts of data and communicate the insights to tell a story.

“As companies increasingly have more of a global focus, there will be a requirement for employees to be able to communicate to different audiences and to adapt their communication style accordingly.

“Likewise, translation will also be a skill required in the future to break down language barriers between organisations and teams with global reach.

“Many jobs will also require the ability to use social media for promotional purposes or to create YouTube videos for sales pitches,” said Ms Lambert.

3. Adaptability and Flexibility

Adaptability and flexibility will be important transferable skills in current and future workplaces to manage change in new technology, new ideas in the workplace.

“Employees will need to be open to change and have the ability to absorb new information and learn new technology on an ongoing basis.”

4. Interpersonal Skills

The skills that allow people to communicate or interact well with others will always be an essential and in-demand skill in any career or industry.

“Interpersonal skills will continue to be highly regarded in the future, particularly the ability to listen, speak, negotiate, influence, present information and to build relationships.”

5. Intrapersonal Skills

Intrapersonal skills involve the communications that occur within a person’s mind and are not the same as interpersonal skills, which refer to interactions with other people.

“Intrapersonal skills will also be highly desirable in the future.  These skills are considered extremely difficult to teach and relate to the ability to manage emotions, be comfortable with uncertainty, and manage time and resources.”

6. Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills

Organisations will require people who can see the big picture and can solve problems in creative ways.

“This is a skill that cannot be replaced by robots.  Many people think a ‘creative’ person must be an artist, musician or such, but there are also many creative people in science, mathematics and business.

“However, artistic people who can combine their talents with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills will also be well placed to secure employment.”

7. STEM Skills

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) skills will be in high demand with estimates that 75 per cent of the fastest-growing occupations will require STEM skills in the future.

“Some of these growth areas will be in data analysis, data science, design, artificial intelligence, coding and computer science.

“It’s estimated that by 2026 we will need 18,000 more professionals working in cyber security jobs alone in roles such as security analyst, security testers, malware analyst, program managers,” said Ms Lambert.

How Do You List Transferable Skills on a Resume?  

Whether it’s technical or transferable skills you’re listing on your resume, it’s important to ensure they’re tailored to the role you’re applying for explained Ms Lambert.

“I would use an extended bullet point to describe where you developed the transferable skill.”

As an example, ‘Relationship Skills’ could be written as follows:

Relationship Management – skilled at building strong, trusted relationships with colleagues, suppliers and customers using excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Everyone has valuable transferable skills. It’s just a matter identifying and articulating them to help you either change careers or achieve promotion. Remember, understanding how your unique transferable skills work across industries and promoting them correctly on your resume and in interviews is vital to your success.

Australian Online Courses

Are you looking to add to your transferable or technical skills? Visit Australian Online Courses to discover hundreds of unique professional development courses that will give your career prospects a boost.

If you work in (or aspire to join) the disability, aged or community care sector, you may wonder about the career trajectory. It’s an industry that experiences a high turnover of staff due to a lack of career advancement, but there are opportunities available for those who look, according to recruiter Graham Wynn, CEO of Superior People Recruitment.

“The disability, aged and community care sectors are seeing extensive growth in staffing needs, and it is expected that this will continue for the foreseeable future.”

“An ageing population means these industries are showing signs of being among the strongest for future career opportunities.

“However, these are demanding and challenging roles, and the industry sees a high turnover of staff due to the lack of advancement opportunity.

“Those looking for long-term careers in this sector have the opportunity for advancement if they can position themselves correctly to be able to grasp those opportunities as they arise,” said Mr Wynn.

So, how do you advance your career in the disability, aged and community care sector?

1. Engage in Regular Training

It’s important to regularly update your skills when you work in the disability, aged care and community sectors. This may include taking courses, both accredited and non-accredited, as laws and requirements change regularly in this industry.

“Non-accredited courses can revolve around your ability to deal with a challenging workplace as well as things such as difficult and demanding clients, improvements in technology to assist in the work, people skills and more.”

2. Establish a Relationship with a Mentor

Finding a mentor who has been in the industry long-term creates an important learning opportunity for those new to an industry.

“You will understand the changes they have seen in the industry and this will help you deal with changes as they arise and prepare you for what’s ahead.”

3. Join Professional Organisations or Associations

Join or align yourself with relevant professional organisations or associations to gain valuable information and to discuss issues and challenges affecting the industry.

“Professional organisations are a great place to network with others, which could also present career opportunities in other workplaces.”

4. Attend Networking Events and Meetings

There are many networking events and meetings for all industries which provide an opportunity to network with people who are in the same position as you.

“It (attending) allows you to be up to date with innovation and advancement that is being implemented in other workplaces and provides high-level insight into the state of the industry.

“Networking meetings also allow you to raise challenges you’re currently experiencing and give you the ability to bounce ideas off others.”

5. Go Above and Beyond

If you want to advance your career, do more than what is expected or required.

“Don’t just do what is on your job description, do extra. Volunteer for extra duties and strive to be the best employee possible.

“Many people think that going the extra mile goes unnoticed, but it doesn’t!

“This is what those that are successful in careers do, they will always go above and beyond what is expected and better their knowledge and skill set.

“Make yourself as indispensable as possible.”

6. Be Prepared to Move

If you’re not gaining the career advancement you’re expecting (or feel you’re ready for),   consider moving onto other opportunities in your industry.

“Not all opportunities are advertised, so you need to ensure your name and details are at the forefront of people’s minds, so when opportunities do arise, they think of you!

“A handy tip is to keep in touch from time to time.”

7. Connect on Social Media

Connect to organisations relevant to your industry on social media, such as LinkedIn.

“You’ll be able to connect with senior people within these organisations, who often list career opportunities via social media! And make sure your digital footprint showcases a professional appearance,” said Mr Wynn.

Australian Online Courses

Whatever your career aspirations, Australian Online Courses can help you achieve more in your career and in business. Talk to one of our friendly Course Consultants today on 1300 762 221, jump on Live Chat, visit us online or send us an email for more information.

Few managers would argue that employee behaviour and motivation play a vital role in increasing an organisation’s productivity. But how many have the skills to understand and positively motivate their employees?

According to Principal Organisational Psychologist Cheryl Adams, of Think Trek Consulting, there are many reasons managers should study human behaviour, plus an important rule to L.I.V.E by for success as an emotionally intelligent manager.

1. Return on Investment (ROI). The key reason to invest your time and focus into people is a return on your most important investment and asset – your employees.  Research shows that for every dollar spent on your staff’s well-being and emotional intelligence (EI), you have a return of $A2.3 dollars. ^

2. Employee Well-being:  Good workplace + practices = well-being = ROI.  In today’s fast-paced environment, employee satisfaction is essential; however, staff well-being and mental health is a priority.

3. Happiness: Get to know your staff and their needs, interests, motivators and try to incorporate these into the workplace and watch their happiness and well-being grow. Happy employees have lower absenteeism rates, and that makes them more productive in the workplace.

4. Productivity! As above, a happy employee is more productive at work. If you want your employees to achieve more in less time, you need to focus on building a positive workplace culture.

5. Creativity: Managers should encourage their employees to be creative with work practices and to keep up with change.  Creativity comes from team members within an organisation feeling safe, having good well-being and being praised and valued for coming up with new ideas.

6. Ability to Manage Ambiguity: Businesses are continually changing, and staff need to be able to bend and adapt to change.  Understanding your employees will allow you to identify the best way to support team members with change and to manage ambiguity.

7. Manager Satisfaction:  Being a manager is an inherently tricky Be kind to yourself and invest time in your people to increase your work satisfaction, well-being and productivity.

8. Increased Skill Level of Your Team: Get to know your employees by understanding their strengths (and incorporate these into the workplace) and be aware of areas for development. In this way, you up-skill your team and develop a capable workforce, which makes your job easier.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence is about understanding the impact you have on other people and how other people’s behaviour influences you. It’s about self-control and your ability to act positively with your motivations, needs and feelings.

Some people have innate emotional intelligence, but any manager can learn Emotional Intelligence (EI) to increase employee well-being.

Ms Adams says there’s a simple rule to L.I.V.E by to get to know your staff and encourage Emotional Intelligence (EI) and well-being.  She says the little things have the most significant impact.

L-I-V-E is a helpful acronym to remind us to practice small, simple steps to create a positive work environment.

Listen

• Make eye contact
• Pay attention to what others have to say
• Don’t interrupt

Include

• Invite to participate
• Invite to socialise
• Keep in the loop
• Build on other ideas

Value

• Give credit where it’s due
• Encourage strengths
• Acknowledge accomplishments
• Respect others’ differences
• Benefit of the doubt

Engage

• Say hello and goodbye
• Give equal time to all
• Ask for input
• Open body language

Professional Development for Managers  

If you manage people, there are many professional development courses to help you understand human behaviour, and as a result, become a better manager.

If you’re in a management role or are considering a course in Management and Leadership, your success will depend on an in-depth understanding of what drives the people who work for you.

If you’d like to understand better what makes people tick, consider studying with Australian Online Courses. So, what are you waiting for? If you’ve been considering gaining new skills in management and leadership, check out the following professional development courses for managers today.

Certificate of Biopsychology

This professional development course explores the human mind, brain and behaviour and provides an insight into the functions of the human brain as well as the applications of neuropsychological research in the areas of business, technology and fitness and health.

Develop Emotional Intelligence

To learn how to avoid miscommunication, resolve conflicts and build a cohesive work environment study to enhance your management skills. At the end of this online course, you will be equipped to improve your work relationships, reduce stress and increase your motivation and productivity.

Anger Management

In this online anger management course, you will explore anger dynamics, the anger process and the factors that sustain its detrimental effects. This course is beneficial for those who manage people in a work or recreational setting to gain insight on how to be assertive and sensitive to the emotions of others.

Certificate of Psychology

Are you interested in human behaviour? Psychology is an exciting area of study that explores why people behave in certain ways and is beneficial across many industries, including health care, social assistance, education, marketing and more. In this course, you will develop your foundation knowledge for a deeper understanding of human behaviour, psychological disorders, organisational psychology and social psychology.

Australian Online Courses

When you study with Australian Online Courses, you have access to an eLearning platform that allows you to study where and when you choose. This self-paced learning environment will enable you to plan your study around work, life and family commitments.

Almost anyone can be the recipient of a domestic violence disclosure, whether from a friend, family member or work colleague and knowing how to respond is essential.

But if you work in an industry that makes you more susceptible to receiving disclosures of domestic violence, responding appropriately and providing support is critical.

Do you understand the best way to talk to and support someone experiencing domestic violence? It’s a complicated issue, but there are five reasons why everyone should have at least a basic understanding of this alarmingly widespread social and welfare issue.

But first, a definition.

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic violence is violence, abuse and intimidation between people who are (or have previously been) in an intimate relationship.

The perpetrator uses violence to control and dominate the other person, which causes fear, physical harm and/or psychological harm.

Domestic violence can include:

• Physical assault
• Sexual assault
• Verbal abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Financial abuse
• Technology-facilitated abuse
• Social abuse– not allowing someone to connect with friends and family
• Spiritual abuse– stopping someone from practising their religion.

If someone discloses their experience of domestic violence, it shows that they trust you. You may not be the most qualified person to receive this information, but you can respond appropriately and with compassion by understanding domestic violence.

5 Reasons Why Everybody Should Understand Domestic Violence.

Former police officer Anthony Macklin, a women’s safety specialist and security and risk management consultant, believes everyone should have domestic violence training.

“If more people had insight into this type of abuse it would give victims more access to support networks.  It would provide managers, co-workers and friends with a way of recognising abuse and its victims and offering support and a way out from those situations,” he said.

1.  It Affects People From all Walks of Life

Domestic violence does not discriminate. It’s a widespread social and welfare issue that is found everywhere and can affect anyone.

“It affects both genders, all socio-economic levels and across the cultural spectrum of our society, explained Mr Macklin.”

2.  It Probably Affects Someone You Know

One in 6 Australian women and 1 in 16 men have been subjected, since the age of 15, to physical and/or sexual violence by a current or previous cohabiting partner (ABS 2017b).

“While it is widespread, it often happens behind closed doors and affects people we work with, interact with and play sport with every day.

“It’s happening to our colleagues, our teammates or the person in front of you in the queue at the supermarket,” said Mr Macklin.

3.  It Can be Difficult to Identify

Domestic violence manifests in many ways, not just corporal violence, and often occurs gradually to victims, explained Mr Macklin.

“Perpetrators work on a physical and psychological level, causing victims to doubt what is happening. It can make them feel as though there is no way of escape, or that they are deserving of the abuse.”

4.  Because Responding Appropriately is Critical

How you respond to a disclosure of domestic violence, by a friend, family member or work colleague, sends a message and can have a powerful impact on the outcome for  that person.

In fact, the way you respond can mean the difference between the victim feeling empowered to move away from the abuse or feeling like the abuse is their fault and remaining in a dangerous situation.

It is important to see a disclosure of domestic violence as an opportunity to respond with compassion and empathy. So, understanding domestic violence is critical, because even well-intentioned responses can be harmful if they are uneducated.

5.  As ‘Mandatory Reporting’ Responsibilities Are Serious

It’s important to understand the difference between respecting confidentiality and mandatory reporting when it comes to disclosures of domestic violence. It is particularly important when those affected by the violence are children.

If you or someone you know could benefit from understanding domestic violence, consider the Understanding Domestic Violence professional development course.

Alternatively, if you work in a helping profession, and are more likely to receive disclosures of domestic or family violence, the Certificate of Domestic and Family Violence is ideal professional development for you.

Certificate of Domestic and Family Violence

The Certificate of Domestic and Family Violence will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence. You will also discover how to promote awareness, act as an advocate and use counselling and facilitation skills to support victims.

On completion of this course, you will feel confident to work within the community as an advocate and to provide appropriate support to those affected by domestic and family violence.

Understanding Domestic Violence

Understanding Domestic Violence is a short online course that will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to recognise and respond appropriately to domestic and family violence.

You will discover preventative strategies, learn about the different types of abuse and gain an understanding of family violence orders, mandatory reporting and intervention strategies.

On completion of this course, you will feel confident to appropriately respond and offer support to those affected by domestic violence.

Australian Online Courses

Australian Online Courses offers contemporary, online professional development courses coupled with exceptional student support to provide a superior eLearning experience.

Visit us online to discover hundreds of industry-relevant, flexible, online courses covering almost every industry sector. Alternatively, contact one of our friendly Learning Consultants today on 1300 762 221 or via Live Chat.

The traditional way of studying has always been to attend a college or university campus, but distance learning is fast becoming more and more popular with Australians. One of the reasons why open learning is leading the way in education is because of the vast array of online courses that are available, helping people who are time poor increase their skill sets and their qualifications.

What are the advantages of distance learning?

Attending an educational facility campus doesn’t suit many busy Australians who are limited in the time they can spend studying. Many people can only study at home — late at night, early in the morning, and on weekends — and particularly if they’re working full-time or have a family that demands their attention. Online courses fill this gap, allowing people to study at their own pace and in their own time.

In fact, it doesn’t matter where you live, because you can access any of our open learning courses online, anywhere in the world. You can select from a large range of courses, mixing and matching them to give you the qualifications, skills, and knowledge you need for your ideal job.

Another great bonus with distance learning is that it often costs you a lot less than the same course at a traditional college or university. With Australians feeling the pinch every day, knowing that your education doesn’t have to break the bank can be a huge weight off your shoulders.

What are the disadvantages of distance learning?

The only potential disadvantage of furthering your career with online courses is not being around your peers and other students. Studying at home is completely different to studying in a university or college where you attend classes, make new friends and work in teams together.

With distance learning, while it’s true that you are on your own at home or in the workplace, we always make sure you have all the support you need to confidently complete your courses, and have someone to turn to for help at any time.

You’ll have frequent contact with your tutors, and we provide unlimited contact and support via chat, email, and phone. There’s never any reason to feel isolated when you study at home with an open learning course!

For many Australians whose lifestyles or locations prevent them from attending a traditional campus, distance learning is a lifesaver. Our online courses give you the opportunity to further your career and expand your skill sets with qualifications that are in demand in your industry; something you couldn’t achieve without access to these courses.

Call Australian Online Courses on 1300 76 2221 or send us an email and find out how distance learning can help further your career.

If you have been researching providers for an online training course, you may have noticed that not all providers are equal. Some ask for upfront payments and deliver your certificates as soon as you have passed your online courses, others let you pay when you have completed your courses, but take weeks to send out your qualifications.

To reduce the complexity of finding the right open learning provider for yourself, we have put together this short  checklist that will make the process much faster and easier.

1. Guaranteed pass: Some open learning providers offer courses with a 100% guaranteed pass rate, which can be very compelling, but you need to find out more about this feature before signing on. How can they guarantee that you will pass? What happens if you fail certain parts of the course? Do your own due diligence and be sure that this is the right provider for your needs.
2. Prolonged certifications: When you have completed your online training, you often need your qualifications in writing as soon as possible, allowing you to apply for a new job or promotion. At Australian Online Courses, we offer both hard copy and electronic certificate options and we always aim for a quick turnaround so you receive your qualifications within a short amount of time.
3. No online support: Quite often you will find that online training providers are not in your local time zone or are slow to respond to your email enquiries. This makes real-time contact very difficult, particularly when you want immediate support for a problem, such as being locked out of the online site. The solution is to find a provider who values customer support and responds quickly to your emails, instead of waiting until the next business day for a response.

Are you looking for a professional online training provider? Call Australian Online Courses on 1300 76 2221 or send us an email to find out more about our online courses today.

Have you considered enrolling in online business courses to help manage your new venture? Starting a new business can be a very scary time, particularly if this is your first foray into the business world. This is why it’s a good idea to check out the available online small business courses, so that you have all of the tools necessary to make your business a success.

Small business courses cover a plethora of topics, all of which will be relevant to your business to some degree or another, as you progress from starting to managing your new business. The topics covered in online business courses will vary, but should include a thorough understanding of how to start a business in Australia, your legal and tax obligations, as well as how to operate your business effectively over the coming years.

Essential topics in small business courses

If you’re just starting a new business, you need to ensure that the online small business courses you investigate include information on creating a business and marketing plan. These are the essential first steps in creating your new business and will be vital if you apply for a business loan, and when you promote your business to your target audience.

Business structures, applying for an ABN, registering your business name, registering for GST, standards of practice, intellectual property, trademarks and insurances are all topics that should be covered at some level in accredited online business courses. Also look for courses that provide information on how to employ people, set up a payroll system and a basic bookkeeping system.

Setting up your business is only the first step in your ongoing success however, so if you already have an established business you might want to look for small business courses that focus on expansion and growth. For example, some online business courses cover how to import and export goods, apply for tenders or contracts, and target customers interstate or overseas.

Some online small business courses focus on specific types of businesses, such as beauty and fashion, childcare services, hospitality and tourism, or project management. Other courses cover transport and logistics, workplace health and safety, sales and marketing, or business management. With so many courses available, you won’t have any problem finding at least one that will suit your needs.

If you’re searching for online business courses, call the team at Australian Online Courses on 1300 76 2221 or send us an email for more information about our courses.