So, You Want to Be a Screenwriter?

So, You Want to Be a Screenwriter?

If you’re looking to break into the competitive screenwriting industry, our screenwriting course will give you the knowledge and skills to pursue your passion.

The Certificate of Script Writing is a professional development course that will show you how to craft a script for a variety of media, from websites to radio, film, advertising and educational resources! Once you’ve learnt the basics, the sky really is the limit when you let your imagination soar.

If you’re interested in enrolling in this screenwriting course, simply jump online and view or print a course brochure. It’s here you’ll find out precisely what you’ll be studying.

When you’re sure, this is the right course for you, enrol directly online by clicking ‘ADD TO CART!’ If you still have a few questions, Live Chat with us or if you’re more of a phone person, just call one of our friendly Learning Consultants on 1300 76 2221.

What Do Screenwriters Do?

Screenwriting is the craft of creating scripts for feature films, television, theatre, advertising and video games.

So, what exactly does a screenwriter do? A screenwriter can work on various projects as an employee for a company or as a freelance contractor from the comfort of their own home!

Film

From Hollywood blockbusters to homegrown film productions, screenwriters have a challenging, often arduous, task when writing a script for a feature film. Film scripts usually start out as a solo project but develop into a collaboration to bring the movie magic to life!

Television

Screenwriting for television is an exciting medium because writers have ongoing input on everything from the storylines to the set decoration to help develop what an episode looks like.

Theatre

Writing a script for theatre is a dramatic art form! You’ll write the setting, dialogue and actions to infuse meaning and authenticity into the play.

Advertising

You’ll want to write advertising scripts with exciting, powerful and concise words. It’s a different medium to film, television and theatre, as you’re selling a product or service. Advertising script writers are also called copywriters!

Video Games

Video games aren’t like movies! They don’t begin with a screenplay – they start with project directors and game designers – it’s a collaboration! There’s an art to writing exciting game dialogue, and at the heart of success is putting character first. It’s also important to keep writing succinct. If you play a lot of video games, you’ll understand this concept well.

Educational Videos

Whether it’s a regular script or an animation script, you’ll need to infuse energy into it to fight difficult course content. After all, you’ll need to keep your learners engaged and wanting more!

How to Become a Screenwriter

It won’t happen overnight, but if you’re an ambitious budding screenwriter, you can succeed. Here are a few tips on getting your screenwriting career off the ground.

Learn how to write a script

The first logical step to take in becoming a screenwriter is to learn how to write a script. You can take a screenwriting course, or you can invest in a film and screen bachelor’s degree. Regardless, if you want to be a successful screenwriter, you’ll need to learn the basics at a minimum.

Read screenplays, then watch the films

If you can get your hands on film, television or theatre scripts, read as many as you can! Next, watch the film or show to see how it all comes together on the big (or small) screen.

Practice writing scripts

So, you’ve taken a screenwriting course – tick! You’ve read and then watched as many films as is possible! Now it’s time to start the real work – actually writing scripts. You know what they say … practice makes perfect!

Join screenwriters’ groups

You’ve probably heard of writer’s groups. But did you know there are also many screenwriters’ groups who help and encourage screenwriting? Find your local screenwriters’ group and join as a matter of urgency! You’ll find support and inspiration among your peers.

Apply for entry-level positions

Quite literally, no one has ever walked straight into a screenwriting position. It takes time with creativity, imagination and mastering the craft of your springboard. You can, however, start applying for entry-level positions in the film industry. Entry is competitive but not impossible. Many screenwriters have started as receptionists, baristas and security personnel in the film industry before landing a role that’s closer to their dream job as a writer.

Build screenwriting connections

Try to find a mentor to share screenwriting wisdom. The film industry is a relationship business – it’s important to build connections in the industry in whatever way you can as a beginner. LinkedIn is a great place to start, but don’t stop there. Try to attend any seminars or events with industry-heavy (or light) weights.

Submit work to competitions and festivals

Do you like a challenge? Of course you do, you want to be a screenwriter! When you’ve completed a screenwriting course, enter as many competitions as possible. It’s a great way to build your portfolio and is a chance at recognition for your talent and ideas.

The Australian International Screenwriting Awards are passionate about discovering new talent. So, be brave and submit! It’s a great way to have your work critiqued on artistic and entertainment value!

How Much Do Scriptwriters Earn?

It usually is a passion project, but screenwriters who are successful can expect to be paid well. Payscalereports that screenwriters can earn from $75,000 per year to upwards of $99,000!

5 Crucial Skills for Screenwriters

  1. Creative – you’ll be super creative with more imagination than you can poke a stick at!
  2. Persistent and ambitious – you’ll also need a thick skin as knock-backs are inevitable.
  3. Originality – your ideas will be refreshingly different to grab attention!
  4. Excellent communication – written and verbal skills second-to-none, of course. You’ll have a well-above-average grasp of the English language!
  5. Knowledgeable of media production and communication

If you’d like to learn how to write a script, you’ll love our screenwriting course. The Certificate of Script Writingis ideal professional development for budding script writers. Enrol and start your course today.

Crunch the Numbers With Online Accounting and Bookkeeping Courses!

It’s the second largest industry in Australia, and the financial services sector is growing fast! Ideal for bookkeepers, payroll managers, assistant accountants and accounts supervisors, our Certificate of Accounting will teach you about forecasting, budget management, financial reports, compliance, tax legislation, corporations law and management accounting.

Online accounting and bookkeeping courses will also enhance your valuable “soft” skills including customer service, attention to detail, interview techniques and decision making.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking online accounting and bookkeeping courses include:

  • Learning how to provide financial and business performance information
  • Exploring client information forms (CIF) and client expectations, goals and objectives
  • Gaining an understanding of company officers, board of management and financial institutions
  • Learning about inline management, partnerships and incorporated, unincorporated organisations, shareholders and sole traders
  • Exploring financial plans, legal and financial requirements, reconciling depreciation and GST and business structure
  • Gaining an understanding of adjustment of borrowings, asset liquidation, funding alternatives, accounts receivable management and business plans
  • Studying cash flow forecasting (CFF), inventory management, net present values(NPV), BAS requirements and PAYG obligations
  • Examining compliance, debtor fault, corporations law and taxation legislation
  • Understanding how to prepare tax documentation for individuals including tax obligations
  • Attaining knowledge of the classification of income, market value and asset value, net realisable amounts, calculation based on gross margins and the retail inventory method
  • Gaining insights into calculating depreciation, prime cost methods, financial and system discrepancies, accrual and cash accounting, prepaid income, prepaid expenses and income statements
  • Learning about calculating clients tax obligations, annual PAYG instalment notices, income tax lodgement, tax tables, medicare levy surcharge, health rebates and seniors tax offsets
  • Exploring how to calculate capital gains tax or losses, GST and fringe benefits tax (FBT), benefits and allowances, medical expenses tax offset, superannuation and the family tax benefit A and B
  • Gaining an understanding of tax free income, specialist advice, integrity and privacy legislation, obtaining client signature, authorisation and endorsement, tax file numbers and submitting documentation to the ATO
  • Studying statement of changes in equity, inventory usage reports, ordering supplies, the tax practitioners Board (TPB), tax agent services, ATO reviews and audits and ATO expectations
  • Examining how to manage budgets and forecasts
  • Understanding sales and expenditure, master, cash, production, labour and overhead budgets
  • Attaining knowledge of budgeted state of financial performance, financial and capital budgets, cash flow budgets and controls, reporting expenditure, capital budgets and accruals
  • Attaining knowledge of rolling forecasts, variable expenditure, contribution margin, breakeven point analysis and highlighting milestones
  • Gaining insights into forecasting data, qualitative forecasting and budget assumptions and parameters
  • Learning about SWOT analysis, estimates of cash flow, costs and revenues and cash receipts forecast
  • Exploring financial risks and protection strategies, budget formats, calculating GST and statements of financial position
  • Gaining an understanding of completing reports, comparing projections with market growth and development, not for profit (NFP projects), budget variances and variance reporting and budget audits
  • Studying how to prepare financial reports for corporate entities, code, classify and check data, extract data from established systems, data coding, accrual accounting, the principle of double entry and the balance sheet
  • Examining the Australian Accounting Standards Board (AASB), codes of conduct and license requirements, data conversion, the consolidation process and reconciliation
  • Understanding transferring data to computerised systems, shrink wrapped software, entering data, valuing assets and inventory and calculating and recording depreciation
  • Attaining knowledge of perpetual or periodic recording systems, cost method, net realisable value, calculations based on gross margins, retail method, the cash system and Australian standard records management
  • Gaining insights into tax invoices, purchase orders, non-cash transactions, taxation reporting requirements, lodgement schedules, filing systems, FBT tax returns and PAYG withholding annual reports
  • Learning about superannuation guarantee levy, data formats (charts and tables), delegated authorities, lodging annual reports with ASIC, conflict of interest, confidentiality and the structure and format of reports
  • Exploring laws and regulations, effective internal controls, reporting against budgets, analysing results against budgets, examination of the figures, penalties, the accounting cycle, profit and loss reports and statements of retained earnings
  • Gaining an understanding of statement of assets and liabilities, review statements for errors, journals, cash flow statements, chart of accounts, activity statements, annual GST information reports and transactions not reported in total sales
  • Studying how to implement and maintain internal control procedure
  • Gaining an understanding of activity statements, annual GST reports, transaction and auditable trails, integrity and ethical behaviour, variations in compliance, the role of auditors, ignorance or
  • Exploring how to work effectively in the accounting and bookkeeping industry
  • Gaining an understanding of how to determine business needs and expectations, active listening, asking questions and interview techniques
  • Studying code of ethics, code of professional conduct, ATO office reports, software requirements and legislative and industry requirements
  • Examining policies and procedures, industry codes of practice, flow charts and life cycle model
  • Understanding how to review and adapt systems, determine tasks to be done, the consultation process and group decision making
  • Attaining knowledge of objectives and strategies, time management, the urgency of tasks and feedback to team members
  • Gaining insights into identifying areas for improvement, developing opportunities and adapting to changes in technology
  • Learning about training needs analysis (TNA), professional development needs and staff reviews
  • Exploring how to report on financial activity
  • Gaining an understanding of property register, fixed asset register (FAR), calculating depreciation and asset and liability valuations
  • Studying financial and system discrepancies, tax liabilities, how to prepare a trial balance and adjust accounts for prepayments or accruals
  • Examining how to adjust expense account and revenue accounts, common balance day adjustments, general ledger adjustments and reverse adjusting entries
  • Understanding how to review data for errors and compliance, prepare revenue statements, prepare a balance sheet, post revenue and expenses to the general ledger, close entries and correct or refer errors
  • Attaining knowledge of correcting an incorrect posting, reverse and re-enter the transaction, double-entry and accrual principles, accounting systems and debit and credit rules
  • Gaining insights into the accounting equation, accrual accounting, legislation, regulations and standards and code of practice
  • Learning about the five basic bookkeeping principles, the bookkeeping cycle, financial forecasting and analysis and ethical requirements

And more!

Trends for Accounting in 2022

Despite the uncertainty around the continual impacts of the global pandemic, definite trends are emerging as the world adapts to a new normal. After you have completed one of our online accounting and bookkeeping courses, here are some that are definitely worth keeping on your radar.

The implications of climate change

With the recent announcement of the establishment of the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) at COP26 in Glasgow, the conversation around climate change has become particularly relevant to the accounting and finance industries.

What was once predominantly an “ethical” issue is now one that is broadly recognised as having material financial opportunities and risks. Accountants will need to reconsider whether climate-related issues have a material impact on an organisation’s financial position, financial performance and financial prospects. They will also need to understand economic transition risks, particularly with the shift towards net zero emissions in the global economy.

Developments in technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology can provide massive opportunities for accountants and is now even more accessible. The use of AI provides opportunities to service a wider audience and allows accountants to more readily access and analyse data for their clients. Many AI-based platforms enable the detailed analysis of general ledgers for errors and can review thousands of invoices to find potential anomalies.

E-invoicing is also expected to grow this year. It offers a range of benefits including reducing manual data entry, faster payment times, greater accuracy, reduced risk of fraud and significant cost savings. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has estimated that up to A$28 billion can be saved over ten years by adopting e-invoicing systems.

Roles are evolving

Accounting and financial advice have always had some overlap, but as the accounting sector increasingly focuses on data analytics, more accountants are migrating into advisory positions. More complex technologies are being introduced into accounting businesses, allowing companies to focus on consulting services like growth sustainability, forecasting management and business intelligence. There is also expected to be a demand for people with financed-based AI automation and cloud skills.

With this increase in knowledge and skills, comes an increase in salary expectations. But in order to attract and retain the best staff, businesses also need to look at a range of benefits as employees revaluate their career goals and look for a better work-life balance. These include things like health and wellbeing initiatives, diversity and inclusion strategies, and career and professional development opportunities.

Accounting Statistics

  1. There were over 3,000,000 chartered accountants worldwide in 2020 and the International Federation of Accountantshad 180 professional accounting organisations across 135 countries as its members.
  2. The Big Four accounting firms (Deloitte, Ernst and Young, PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG) employed over 1,148,000 people worldwide in 2020.
  3. Over 117,000 chartered accountants were based in Australia and New Zealand in 2020.
  4. As of 2021, there were over 34,000 businesses offering accounting services in Australia, and the sector’s market size is estimated at around $26 billion.
  5. There were over 8,700 accounting vacancies in Australia in early 2022. In fact, Seek reported that job ads looking for accountancy professionals had jumped by March to over 33 per cent year-over-year. Demand for accounting executives on LinkedIn also grew fivefold in Q2 of 2020.
  6. The fastest growing average salaries upwards of $110,000 are in the following accounting sub-fields — systems analysis, business analysis, audit management, reporting management and service management.
  7. According to CommBank, 68 per cent of accounting firms in Australia were satisfied with their business conditions in 2021. 52 per cent were also planning to acquire another firm to expand their staff and capability.
  8. 83 per cent of companies were looking to increase their recruitment activity in 2021. Demand for accountants in Australia also surged with 71 per cent of leading firms reporting difficulty finding staff and 24 per cent had difficulty keeping quality staff.
  9. 57 per cent of employers plan to raise accountant salaries by up to 3 per cent in 2021/22 mostly due to a shortage of candidates.
  10. In 2020/21, there were twenty tax fraud convictions in Australia and nearly 200 successful prosecutions under the Tax administration Act 1953. Offences included avoiding authorities and failing to file or keep accounting records.

Accounting Professional Associations

If you are studying online accounting and bookkeeping courses it’s worth knowing about the main accounting bodies in Australia, of which there are three. All provide standards, professional guidelines, codes of conduct and minimum academic requirements that their members must adhere to.

#1 – Certified Practicing Accountants (CPA)

Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) is “a finance, accounting and business professional with a specific qualification. Being a CPA is a mark of high professional competence. It indicates a soundness in depth, breadth and quality of accountancy knowledge”.

A CPA accountant adheres to the CPAs high professional standards, is committed to continual improvement, must carry out periodic quality review assessments, and holds appropriate public liability insurance.

#2 – Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)

IPA accountants typically specialise in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) so can provide expert financial, accounting and business structure advice relevant to businesses of this size. They understand the issues small businesses may face and can provide practical, effective solutions.

#3 – Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA)

This is an internationally recognised network of around 120,000 accounting professionals who are committed to building successful, prosperous and sustainable businesses. A CA offers a range of services from risk management and strategic business plans to trusts, asset protection, financial structuring and income tax planning.

 

Gain a solid foundation of knowledge in accounting and financial services to update your skills or pursue a career in the industry with online accounting and bookkeeping courses such as our Certificate of Accounting.

Double Your Career Options With a Sales/Business Development Course!

Combine two courses in one and save time and money! Ideal for account executives, sales managers or reps, and business development coordinators or associates, this dual course will give you a competitive advantage and more variety and flexibility when it comes to your future career.

Our Certificate of Executive Sales and Account Management/Certificate of Business Development Dual Program will teach you how to prepare for client negotiations and meetings and plan and execute sales by using practical sales techniques.

In our business development course you will learn how to find networking opportunities, identify new business opportunities, improve your problem solving and negotiation techniques, establish and maintain relationships, and develop strategies to expand your client base. You will also gain insights into proven prospecting methods, identifying potential clients and use communication strategies to enhance and build relationships.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a business development course include:

  • Learning about prospecting methods, the selling process, warm and cold markets, pull prospecting and prospecting methods
  • Exploring current and previouscustomers, cold calling, target markets, stage of life, product life span, early adopters and qualifying leads and criteria
  • Gaining an understanding of buyer motives, budgets, buyer accessibility, product affordability, return for the seller, legal compliance, prospect information and recording systems
  • Studying the human element, legislation,customer relationship management systems (CRMS), monitoring and evaluation, individualised sales plans, SMART goals and goal setting levels
  • Examining consultation and communication structures, leader boards, customer contact and planning individualised sales plans
  • Understanding paperwork and reports, routine reports, sales orders, facilitating record keeping, workloads, effective routines and unanticipated events and activities
  • Attaining knowledge of reaction planning, “swallowing frogs”, time analysis, prioritising steps, non-productive sales activities, managing interruptions and saying no
  • Gaining insights into defragging your diary, managing down time, weekly reviews and planning (WRAP), delegating tasks and symptoms and dealing with stress
  • Learning how to present, secure and support sales solutions, prepare for sales presentations, involvement and response, direct and indirect information sources and legislative requirements
  • Exploring fair trading, sales tactics, passive selling, presenting sales solutions, buyer motives and objections and persuasive communication techniques
  • Gaining an understanding of SPACED benefits, translating features into benefits, rational and emotional benefits, buyer signals and buyer resistance
  • Studying the boomerang approach, negotiating and finalising the sale, financing arrangements, completing sales documents, cross-selling, up-selling and product manuals
  • Examining feedback solicitation, service problems, client loyalty strategies, facilitating ongoing contact and customer reward programs
  • Understanding organisational strategic direction, strategic planning documents and mission strategic plans
  • Attaining knowledge of forecasting, buying patterns, products, consumer attributes and competitor analysis
  • Gaining insights into recorded data, establishing performance targets, valid and reliable data, value chain analysis and best practice
  • Learning about conditions of agreement, financing arrangements, providing credit, internal requisitions, cross selling and up selling
  • Exploring how to support post-sale activities, product manuals, technical support, feedback solicitation, client loyalty strategies and customer reward programs
  • Gaining an understanding of organisational strategic direction, forecasting, buying patterns and consumer attributes
  • Studying competitor analysis, establishing performance targets, value chain analysis, benchmarking and developing risk controls
  • Examining risk management planning, advertising/promotion campaigns, budget applications, vertical marketing, product knowledge, pricing strategies, up selling and cross selling
  • Understanding how to ensure sales targets are achievable, review sales performance, inventory control /methods, training, coaching, mentoring and performance counselling steps
  • Attaining knowledge of building and maintaining business relationships, networking objectives and determining networking opportunities
  • Gaining insights into ethics and trust, common forms of communication, engaging with business contacts, establishing rapport and the barriers to business development opportunities
  • Learning about negotiation skills, specialist networking organisations and online networking resources
  • Exploring presentation skills, formal presentations, formal and informal networks and seeking and responding to feedback
  • Gaining an understanding of prospecting methods, the selling process, warm and cold markets, prospecting methods and cold calling
  • Studying product life span, qualifying leads and criteria, buyer motives, buyer accessibility and product affordability
  • Learning how to achieve sales results, SPACED benefits, creating a sales environment, inventory control methods, contingency plans and resolving operational issues

And more!

Top Business Trends for 2022

If you are keen to undertake a business development course, no doubt you will also be interested in some of the key trends that will help keep businesses competitive in these challenging times. According to the Australian Government’s business.gov.au website, they include:

  1. Going digital. In 2019-20, 69 per cent of businesses recorded using one or more information communications technologies (ICT). And with COVID still impacting many business sectors, that trend is expected to continue growing in 2022. Investing in digital solutions can improve business productivity and increase the efficiency of processes. Having an online presence, including on social media, can also help businesses reach new markets and improve customer relationships.
  2. Flexible working. 41 per cent of workers regularly worked from home and 36 per cent had an agreement with management to work flexible hours in mid-2021. Providing flexible working hours can reduce absenteeism and increase productivity and help organisations retain skilled staff and reduce staff turnover.
  3. Flexible strategies. With the ongoing uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisations need to increasingly be “on their toes” in terms of being prepared for unexpected situations. From border restrictions and labour shortages to supply chain disruption, keeping up to date with industry developments can help organisations prepare for the worst. As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry!
  4. Mental health and wellbeing. It has become more important than ever to look after our mental health and wellbeing. Having a mentally healthy workplace involves having plans in place to manage mental health risks, offering tailored mental health support, and supported a culture that understands mental health is everyone’s responsibility.

The Best CRM Software for 2022

Regardless of what industry you are in or what kinds of products or services you sell, customers are one of the most vital components of any business, so they need to be nurtured. And as you’ll discover in a business development course, customer relationship management systems (CRMS) are an ideal way of assisting with this. Here are the top nine software packages for 2022 according to PC Magazine.

  1. If your business is invested in Zoho solutions, Zoho CRM is the magazine’s top pick for CRMS software. It has near-total customisability, integrated gamification features, and a flexible AI layer at the higher price tiers.
  2. For those in small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), HubSpot is one of the more innovative players in the market. It has a workable free version, outstanding email integration features and an intuitive user interface.
  3. Again great for SMBs, Freshsales is ideal for those after an easy-to-use CRMS solution. It has extensive customisation options, a proactive AI assistant, and various integrations that extend its functionality.
  4. For those who use Zendesk products, Zendesk Sell has a super-organised layout, offers a 360º view of contact interactions, and boasts powerful analytics for additional insights.
  5. Salesforce has long been considered a pioneering platform, and this current version doesn’t disappoint. It offers a wide range of customisations, advanced features and powerful social collaboration options, and a third-party app marketplace.
  6. Less Annoying CRM is one of the most affordable CRM solutions. Ideal for smaller businesses, is has an intuitive interface, great mobile website implementation, and a wide range of help and support options.
  7. Apptivo is an affordable CRM platform that is customisable and has 24-hour support and outstanding mobile applications.
  8. Another well-rated CRM tool, Insightly has a fluid and dynamic design, extensive integration options, and a powerful range of functionality.
  9. Lastly, Pipedrive offers an intuitive interface with a deal-driven workflow, solid mobile apps plus call and email synchronisation.

Proven Strategy for Making Sales

Engaging customers and persuading them to buy requires skill and technique, and there have been a range of models developed over the years. Perhaps one of the most well-known is the AIDA model and it identifies four sales process steps.

  1. Attention

In todays multi-media sales environment, sellers need to grab a customer’s attention, and fast! Ways to do this include:

  • Appealing to their emotions.
  • Posing a challenging question.
  • Using humour.
  • Including a message that relates to current events.
  • Using powerful, action-oriented words.
  • Personalising communication by using “you” and “your”.

  1. Interest

Time is precious for today’s customers, so holding their attention can be challenging. Some ways to achieve this include:

  • Pitching the features of your product or service that set it apart.
  • Showing your customers your product’s features and benefits.
  • If speaking to customers in person, smile, make eye contact and focus solely on them.
  • Try to find ways to personalise your product and target it to your customers’ needs.

  1. Desire

In order to buy your product or service, customers need to make a personal or emotional connection, so:

  • Make statements that appeal to their wants and needs.
  • Use empathetic language that identifies with your customer.
  • Personalise your statements with direct language.
  • Frame questions that appeal to their emotions.
  • Pitch your proposition as an “opportunity” that won’t return.
  • Talk about the benefits.

  1. Action

This is one of the final steps in closing the sale, so ensure you:

  • Offer an incentive to close the sale.
  • Affirm your customer’s decision to buy.
  • Give your customer clear directions about what you want them to do.
  • Don’t rush them once they’ve made their purchase — show them you’re more interested in them than the sale.
  • Give them a reason to return …to buy another related product!

Negotiate complex sales, make presentations to clients and improve an organisation’s business results with a dual sales/business development course like our Dual Sales & Business Development Program.

Online Drafting Courses Will Automate Your Career Aspirations

Ideal for budding engineers, designers, and CAD drafters and technicians, online drafting courses can provide you with foundational knowledge in computer-assisted design concepts and processes.

Our Introduction to Computer Assisted Design (CAD) will give you insights into the history of technical drawing and the applications of CAD that you can implement in a range of careers in the construction, architecture, engineering, landscape, manufacturing and urban planning industries.

This course will teach you about the importance of virtual reality, 3D printing, and the artificial (AI) aspects of CAD. And while software is not provided in the course, there are a wide range of CAD software applications available that can be downloaded for free for learning and assessment purposes.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking online drafting courses include:

  • Learning about the scope and nature of computer aided design
  • Exploring the use of computer software and the history of technical drawing
  • Gaining an understanding of CAD, its history and applications including software applications
  • Studying solid modelling or manufacturing and surface modelling and assembly
  • Examining drafting detailing and reverse engineering
  • Understanding the types of CAD software including 2d CAD, 3d CAD and 5d CAD
  • Attaining knowledge of CAD modelling types, CAD system components and application logic
  • Gaining insights into the database, the visualisation suite, the mesher and the modeler
  • Learning about the translation suite and the user interface
  • Exploring popular CAD software and categories of the CAD file format
  • Gaining an understanding of how to create a CAD project
  • Studying CAD design principles including the basics of CAD, the cartesian coordinate system, spatial reasoning, spatial vision and spatial orientation
  • Examining orthographic projections, CAD design general principles, automation, simulation and integration
  • Understanding conception, the identification stage, problem definition, first draft design and design
  • Attaining knowledge of geometric modelling, engineering analysis, validation and design review and evaluation
  • Gaining insights into presentation, drafting and effective use principles
  • Learning about landscaping, mapping and CAD plan types
  • Exploring site/base, topographic, concept, planting and final plans and how landscape plans are presented
  • Gaining an understanding of steps in the design procedure, examples of types of drawings, landscape graphics and scale and lettering
  • Studying design drawing, the different types of lines, surveying and measurement, triangulation and slope and direct contouring
  • Examining miscellaneous drawings, submission drawing, models, environment plans and 2D or 3D software
  • Understanding architecture and urban planning and CAD modelling and urban planning
  • Attaining knowledge of architectural views, using templates, CAD visualisation and virtual tours
  • Gaining insights into risk management, identification and assessment
  • Learning about building information modelling
  • Exploring manufacturing, computer numerical control (CNC) and computer aided manufacturing (CAM)
  • Gaining an understanding of production processes, aerospace and automotive
  • Studying technology and design and financial benefits
  • Exploring extruding, moulding approaches and casting
  • Gaining an understanding of compressive and injection moulding
  • Studying 3-D printing, its history and types
  • Examining multi jet fusion (MJF), direct metal laser sintering, selective laser melting (SLM), fused deposition modelling (FDM) and selective laser sintering (SLS)
  • Understanding electron beam melting, stereolithography (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP)
  • Attaining knowledge of 3D scanners, the types of software including slicer software, the types of materials and plastics, powders, resin and metals
  • Gaining insights into the advantages and disadvantages of 3D printing and its applications
  • Learning about replacement parts and customised parts
  • Exploring the future of 3D printing
  • Gaining an understanding of enhanced, augmented, virtual and mixed reality
  • Studying artificial intelligence (AI), generative design, the cloud, customisation and other applications

And more!

Where CAD Software is Used

While it is common knowledge that CAD (Computer Assisted Design) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) is used in the architecture, engineering, construction and manufacturing industries, there are other less well-known industry applications. Another reason why online drafting courses are so valuable! Both are also used in:

  • Used in the automative industry to create 3D prototypes of new body styles and design components such as engines, tyres, upholstery, circuitry boards and more.
  • Civil Engineering. Urban planners use the software to plan urban infrastructure including parks, bridges, office complexes, stadiums … the list goes on…
  • Computer-aided dentistry is used to digitise the oral cavity and dental structures for the virtual design of complex prosthetic units.
  • Interior Design. Allows interior designers to bring their vision to life through detailed digital designs.
  • Fashion Design. While many fashion designers may opt to initially design their creations by hand, fashion CAD/CAM software can be used in the later stages of the design process, particularly in the “ready to wear” industries. It can be used to determine how clothing will move and fit, the most efficient cut of fabrics, and it can adjust the scale of the pattern for different sizes.
  • Three dimensional CAD reconstructions of crime scenes and accidents can be used in courtrooms to help jurors visualise the events that are being tried.
  • Forensics. Can help with injury analysis, age estimation and postmortem identification and the reconstruction of crime scene investigations.
  • Can be used in medical applications for the construction of a prosthesis and the reconstruction of body parts. Advances in technology have also created new uses for CAD in the area of tissue engineering.
  • Landscapers often use CAD software to create their outdoor creations and determine the best placement for various landscaping components including trees, gardens, fences and more!

The Importance of CAD in Product Development

As you’ll learn in online drafting courses, CAD and CAM have enabled designers and manufacturers to reduce the time new products get to market, and reduce the number of design flaws which affect productivity.

The history of CAD essentially began in the mid-1940s when various developments were made in computer software. However, since the 1980s, CAD and CAM have provided enormous gains to both the quantity and quality of products.

Some of the advantages of CAD include the ability to:

  • reduce design cycle times
  • design a complex machine without the need to prototype
  • prototype parts directly from a CAD model
  • reduce low-cost design iterations rapidly
  • alter the designs quickly by changing geometrical parameters
  • view designs or parts under a variety of representations
  • virtually simulate real-world applications

CAM is the use of CAD data to control automated machinery for producing parts designed using CAD. The benefits of linking part-fabrication directly to the CAD model include:

Case Study: How Boeing Set the Standard for Design Automation

Boeing is among the largest global aerospace manufacturers and the third-largest defence contractor in the world. Founded in 1916, CAD has played a major role in their product development planning and operations.

In the late 1980s, Boeing announced the development of the Boeing 777, a long-range wide-body airliner and the world’s largest twinjet. However, many aviation experts questioned this decision as it would be a highly expensive task and the Boeing 747 models had been adequately serving customers for over 30 years. Their opinion was that the best solution was to modify the 747 to suit passenger needs. However, Boeing applied a new approach that included customer input in the design phase from several major airlines including United Airlines, Cathay Pacific, British Airways, Japan Airlines and Nippon Airways.

They also invested over $1 billion in design automation to design the new airliner using CAD based on Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA) and Finite Element Analysis System (ELFINI) software packages. Both were developed by Dassault Systemes of France.

Boeing applied the following objectives to guide their break-through process:

  • Reduce aircraft development time significantly.
  • Maximise efficiency and quality.
  • Eliminate costly modification procedures.
  • Meet customer requirements better by involving them in the development process.

As a result, the Boeing 777 was the first aircraft in the world to be designed entirely using CAD technology, a design which included over three million parts! The innovative features of the design process and the company’s approach to manufacturing became the “Gold Standard” for the development of future aircraft.

Although the design was completed at a time when CAD was not linked directly with FEA and CFD modelling software, the effort has still been widely accepted as one of the greatest uses of CAD of its time.

The design was executed so successfully that a full-scale mockup of the Boeing 777 was never built and wasn’t necessary. In fact, its first flight was so successful that the design was considered one of the smoothest and most seamless to date. By using CAD models, design engineers were able to provide “built in” options (such as wing tips), which did not need to go to production. This meant costs associated with its design were substantially minimised.

Gain a foundational understanding of the principles and processes of CAD for entry-level roles or to pursue further studies in this field with online drafting courses such as our Introduction to Computer Assisted Design (CAD).

Joining the Booming Gig Economy – 5 Tips to Success! 

It’s the latest trend in an evolving workforce where individuals seek employment on their own terms. It is known as the “gig economy” and it’s here to stay! But what is it exactly, what kind of jobs are involved and how can you be part of this booming industry?

According to the Macquarie dictionary, the gig economy is “individual workers … employed on a contract to do a particular task for a set time with little connection to their employer”. People work in the gig economy for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways. Some people work in the gig economy as their main source of income. Others work in it occasionally to supplement their income when moving between careers, jobs or as a transition into retirement.

Why is the gig economy so popular?

Participation in the gig economy has grown rapidly over the past few years, particularly with the challenges of COVID-19. The gig economy has transformed the traditional, in-office 9-5 working world and caused many to pursue “gig” work for additional (or even primary) income.

Employment figures are also a factor, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics reporting that in April 2020, underemployment hit a record high of 13.8 per cent, and in June of that year, unemployment hit a record high of 7.5 per cent — the highest level in over 20 years. For many, the gig economy was, and still is, a way of keeping money trickling in.

The gig economy can offer individuals flexibility and convenience. It gives individuals the opportunity to work when and how often they want, and to balance work with personal commitments such as hobbies, study and family responsibilities.

What work options do I have in the gig economy?

Examples of “giggers” include project-based workers, independent contractors, freelancers, sole traders and people hired temporarily or part-time.

But perhaps one of the biggest draw-cards of the gig economy is the breadth of variety in terms of the industries you can work in. You can specialise in anything from graphic design, E-commerce, copywriting and bookkeeping to childcare, beauty, gardening and even dog grooming! And that’s just the start! Many giggers also run their own ridesharing, delivery, tutoring, administration, marketing or project management businesses.

How can I join the gig economy?

There is a wealth of advice readily available on how to join the gig economy, including at the national and state government levels. But here are five of our top tips.

#1 – Register for an ABN

If you want to be part of the gig economy in terms of starting your own business and being paid for your goods or services, you will need to register for an ABN (Australian Business Number) to legally operate.

This is a unique number that the Australian Business Register issues to all businesses. It identifies your business to the government and community and to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) when dealing with your tax obligations. If you earn more than $75,000 per annum, you must also register for the Goods and Services Tax (GST), which requires an ABN.

#2 – Market your brand

If you want to join the gig economy, marketing and advertising your brand and business is critical. A good place to start is by researching problems, trends, demographics and other observations within your target market. Then, take a close look at your business and see how you can set up smaller marketing tasks. Here are some examples:

  • Reach out to current business connections and ask friends, family and past colleagues to reach out to their co-workers and connections. Referral discounts or free services or consultations are incredibly valuable here.
  • This can include digital networking, joining online forums, attending conferences and industry events, and actively engaging with other businesses via platforms such as LinkedIn.
  • Create a website. There are a range of easy-to-use website creation tools out there that you can experiment with. You’ll also need a domain name, URL and a web hosting company that will help get your website “live”. You can find out more here.
  • Advertising takes many forms, and the platform you choose will depend on your target audience, your budget and what is appropriate for your particular product or service. Traditional advertising platforms include newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, phone directories, outdoor, direct mail and electronic direct mail. However, advertising online via websites, digital marketing, Google My Business and social media (like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter) is one of the most powerful and cost-effective ways to attract new customers.

#3 – Be insured

Another important element to consider if you are keen to join the gig economy is insurance, particularly if you are a sole trader. A sole trader is classified as “someone who owns and operates a business in their own name”. The different types of insurance include:

  • Public liability insurance. This is required for all sole traders and covers accidents, damage to third-party property, or bodily injuries resulting from services that you provide.
  • Third-party personal injury insurance. This is typically required for sole traders who operate a vehicle as part of their job.
  • Worker’s compensation insurance. Although not necessarily required, it might be worth considering if you plan on hiring subcontractors or other freelancers to work with you on your business, as it will help you provide compensation for any injuries they incur while on the job.
  • Professional indemnity insurance. If you provide advice or professional services, this kind of insurance protects you and your business against claims of errors and negligence.
  • Insurance for equipment. Many creative professionals use expensive equipment. Insurance is important to help you get reimbursed for stolen, lost or damaged gear. Additionally, you can purchase electronic equipment insurance to protect things like your laptop or computer from damage or theft.
  • Technology and cybercrime insurance. If you operate much of your business online, cybercrime insurance can give you financial protection from scamming, hacking and other technological disruptions.

#4 – Consider your super

If you are considered to be a sole trader or self-employed by the Australian Tax Office (ATO), obviously, super payments won’t be contributed on your behalf by an employer. However, any super you pay will be your choice rather than a legal requirement.

The benefits of contributing to super include:

  • You will be saving for your retirement.
  • You may be able to claim a tax deduction for personal super contributions.
  • Super contributions are taxed at 15 per cent, so you may save tax depending on your situation.
  • Super investments usually get better returns than bank savings accounts, so your savings will grow faster.

#5 – Get financial help

Between managing customers and clients, sending invoices, marketing your products or services and actually working, finding time to undertake your own administration and finances can be challenging. If you work for yourself as a contractor, freelancer or sole trader, engaging the services of a professional accountant can help with:

  • Saving you time. Transferring the financial upkeep of a business to a professional will allow you to continue what you do best — working! It will alleviate your having to research complicated tax rules and lodging tax returns and Business Activity Statements (BAS).
  • Saving you money. Experienced accountants can advise you on which of your business expenses are necessary, those that may help minimise unexpected tax obligations, and help you claim potential deductions on business expenses.

What is Inattentive ADHD? Learn the Signs

Inattentive ADHD is a type of ADHD presentation that falls under the umbrella of neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism, dyslexia, Tourette’s syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

What is Neurodiversity?  

Neurodiversity was coined by Australian sociologist Judy Singer in 1997. It’s a term that refers to when someone’s brain processes, learns and/or behaves differently from what is considered ‘typical’. It’s estimated that between 30 and 40 per cent of the population are neurodiverse, while the remaining are neurotypical.  Learning about neurodiversity can help you understand the differences between neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals and empower the strengths and abilities of both groups.

What is ADHD?

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood. In Australia, ADHD affects about 5 per cent of the population (1 in 20). The condition affects an individual’s ability to exert age-appropriate self-control. It’s characterised by persistent patterns of behaviour – inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive – and can often involve emotion regulation challenges.

What is Inattentive ADHD?

Inattentive ADHD is a subtype of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that manifests differently. Those with inattentive ADHD can have trouble paying attention to details, get distracted easily, have difficulty with organisation, finish tasks once started, and be forgetful.

Types of ADHD

There are three subtypes of ADHD: inattentive ADHD, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined type.

  1. Inattentive – Distracted ADHD

This type of ADHD is characterised by inattention and distractibility without hyperactivity.

Symptoms:

  • failing to complete activities or being slow to complete them
  • not following through on instructions
  • making ‘careless’ mistakes
  • having trouble organising activities
  • frequently switching between activities
  • being easily distracted and forgetful.

  1. Hyperactive-Impulsive

This is the least common type of ADHD and is predominantly impulsive and hyperactive behaviours without inattention and distractibility.

  • Fidgets
  • Difficulty remaining seated
  • Runs around or climbs excessively (in children)
  • Extreme restlessness
  • Difficulty engaging in activities quietly
  • Acts as if driven by a motor
  • Talks excessively
  • Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
  • Difficulty waiting or taking turns
  • Interrupts or is intrusive

  1. Combined

This is the most common type of ADHD and is characterised by a combination of impulsive and hyperactive behaviours and inattention and distractibility.

A combination of the above symptoms will present and is unique to the individual.

Girls and ADHD

Girls are far less likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, but that doesn’t mean they’re less likely to have it. According to statistics, girls are diagnosed with ADHD at just under half the rate boys are diagnosed. In adulthood, this difference in diagnosis is made up for when women and men are diagnosed at roughly the same rate.

So, why are girls being overlooked? Unlike boys, girls are more likely to present with inattentive ADHD than with hyperactive or combined type, which are more classic signs of ADHD.

Girls with AD/HD tend to have challenges with:

  • Maintaining focus
  • Organisation
  • Planning
  • Decision-making
  • Goal setting

Girls are also less likely to display disruptive behaviours or impulsive outbursts – so it doesn’t draw the attention of teachers or other professionals. As such, diagnosing ADHD is more challenging.

What Causes ADHD?

ADHD may be acquired through genetic and environmental factors, but it’s unknown for sure what causes the condition. Genetics studies show the condition is a highly heritable disorder with no one gene responsible for its occurrence. Instead, it’s thought that a number of interacting genes alter brain structure, neurochemical composition and brain connectivity and function.

Treatment for ADHD 

Many treatment options are available for ADHD, including behaviour therapy, parent counselling, educational intervention, and medications. Stimulants are the most widely used ADHD medications.

Learn about Neurodiversity

Our Certificate of Neurodiversity is an online professional development course that will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of neurodiversity in personal, educational and professional settings, including ADHD.

In this neurodiversity training course, you will learn about the impact of neurodiversity on wellbeing, childhood development, relationships, education and work. You’ll also discover counselling techniques and strategies for working with neurodivergent individuals.

Learning Outcomes

Discover inattentive ADHD plus other conditions related to neurodiverse brains in this neurodiversity course.

  • History of the term ‘Neurodiversity.’
  • What is neurodiversity today
  • The difference between neurotypical and neurodivergent brains
  • The neurodivergent experience
  • Other considerations
  • Gender and neurodiversity
  • Education
  • Stereotyped behaviour
  • Mental health and neurodiversity
  • Strategies to help neurodivergent children
  • The transition from childhood to adolescence
  • Exercise and neurodiverse adolescents
  • Bullying in adolescence
  • Neurodiversity and mental health in adolescents
  • Adolescence and coping strategies
  • Neurodiverse adults and quality of life
  • Barriers to quality of life in neurodiverse individuals
  • Improving the quality of life for neurodiverse individuals
  • Practical coping strategies for neurodiverse adults
  • Neurodiversity and work
  • Professional development
  • Relationships and neurodiverse individuals
  • Interpersonal relations
  • Neurodiverse work relationships
  • Self-help groups
  • Teaching strategies for neurodiverse students
  • Neurodiverse children and education
  • Neurodiverse students in the classroom
  • Underemployment and unemployment
  • The benefits of neurodiverse employees
  • Neurodivergent jobs
  • Preparing for interviews
  • Maintaining neurodiverse individuals in the workplace
  • Diagnosis
  • Counselling young neurodiverse people
  • Counselling neurodiverse adults
  • Case study – counselling for ADHD
  • International organisations that support neurodiversity

And more!

Understand neurodiversity to help everyone thrive, whether in the workplace, education or personal relationships, with our Certificate of Neurodiversity. Enrol and start studying today!  

How to Choose a Careers Counsellor (And Why)

Not sure what career you want to pursue? Or ready for a change in your current role? Whether you have just finished school or are keen to switch careers, finding a fulfilling way to earn a living is perhaps one of the most important decisions many of us will make, so it can be a daunting prospect.  And that’s where a careers counsellor comes in!

What is a careers counsellor?

Careers counsellors help individuals search for employment, plan and manage their careers, make decisions about training, education and personal development, and analyse an individual’s underlying drive, abilities, motivations and personality traits. Essentially, they bridge the gap between job seekers and opportunity!

What is involved in a career counselling session?

The process of career counselling is typically carried out through a series of counselling sessions and aptitude tests to gain a clear picture of your ambitions and competencies.

There is a huge range of techniques that career counsellors use, including:

  • Aptitude tests. These are often tailored to specific professions and are designed to objectively measure skills and attributes that relate to workplace performance. Some tests focus on cognitive skills such as verbal, numerical or abstract reasoning. Others examine your workplace behavioural style.
  • Personality tests. Research has shown that certain personality types have a predisposition to certain careers and achieving success within them. The two most common personality tests are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® and the Big Five personality traits.
  • Goals/desires. Goals and desires are often then assessed to see if they line up with the first two tests.
  • Job market. This is a secondary consideration, it is still important as if there are limited jobs or a diminishing market, customised or alternative suggestions may be necessary.
  • Psychology – Sometimes, individuals are dealing with particular issues that may decrease their success in a certain field regardless of their skills.

However, many career counsellors go above and beyond these techniques in order to:

  • Clarify what you want in terms of a career and job role.
  • Find and remove limiting beliefs.
  • Identify personal issues and blockages.
  • Increase motivation and personal confidence.
  • Provide a sense of empowerment and clarity.
  • Help to identify expectations and goals.
  • Create a framework for achieving goals.
  • Highlight personal strengths and weaknesses.
  • Remove negative beliefs about strengths and weaknesses.
  • Clarify personal desires, including salary, travel, work expectations etc.
  • Refine your goals and expectations.
  • Identify the areas to work on for maximum success within a chosen career, including up-skilling.

What sort of questions will a careers counsellor ask me?

It depends on a range of factors, however, ultimately, a careers counsellor will help you to crystallise your thoughts and feelings so you can come to your own conclusions. They may even help you to realise that the career you thought you wanted is not what you want at all! Questions they might ask include:

  • For what specific reasons are you drawn to this particular field?
  • What framework do you have on a weekly, monthly, and yearly basis for achieving your goals?
  • Do you have side projects that will have lateral effects on your career decision?
  • Are there past issues that could potentially prevent you from reaching your full potential in your chosen field?
  • Do you possess the resume writing and interview skills necessary to qualify for positions?
  • Are you prepared to sacrifice your leisure time to achieve success in your career?
  • Is the career path you are interested in something you want to pursue for many years to increase your knowledge?
  • Are you truly passionate about the career, or is it merely the best available option?

What questions can I ask my careers counsellor?

There are also a range of questions you can ask that may help you and your counsellor get to the heart of what you want in a career and what career may suit you. These include:

  • How can I build on my strengths?
  • How can I improve my weaknesses?
  • What is the current job market for my industry?
  • Can you provide me feedback on my resume and cover letter?
  • How can I make myself stand out against competitors?
  • How do I optimise my time while studying?
  • Where can I find more information about my intended career?
  • How can I best network in the industry I’m interested in?
  • How do I prepare for an upcoming interview?
  • Can I become a competitive candidate without job experience?
  • What other career resources are available to me?

What do I look for in a career counselling service?

Choosing a career counsellor is a personal choice. But aside from personal preferences and feeling comfortable with your choice of counsellor, other factors you should consider include:

  • The credentials of the counselling service
  • The counsellor’s experience
  • Academic qualifications
  • Professional memberships (such as with the Career Industry Council of Australia)
  • The cost of the counselling service
  • The type of session (online, one-to-one, group etc.)
  • The scope of the session
  • Client testimonials

How do I become a careers counsellor?

If you would like to become a careers counsellor yourself, then a Certificate of Carer Counselling is a great place to start! It will give you the confidence to assist clients with career guidance, identify their career aspirations, and plan the appropriate pathways to support their career development.

As career development is often a lifelong process, a careers counsellor can work with clients of all ages, including in schools, education facilities, organisations, government agencies or in private practice.

Career counsellors play a valuable role in Australian society and its working communities. Their services not only enlighten job seekers and those currently employed but also help those who have experienced job loss or other circumstances that may result in an individual needing to re-evaluate their career path.

The counselling industry, in general, is a large one in Australia, and according to JobOutlook, the field is expected to grow strongly in the next five years, from around 33,000 counsellors in 2020 to nearly 38,000 by 2025.

A counselling career is also a fantastic launching pad for a range of other careers in recruitment, HR management and even running your own business as a recruitment consultant

Boost Business With a Social Media Marketing Online Course

Over 80 per cent of Australians currently use social media. In fact, at 1 hour and 46 minutes per day, it accounts for roughly one-third of the time we spend online, making it the second most popular media activity after watching TV!

A strong social media strategy is crucial in today’s highly competitive, multi-platform, content-driven landscape. Whether you are social media manager, content creator, marketing assistant or run your own business, a social media marketing online course will ensure your social media efforts are productive, proactive and support business goals.

Our  Social Media Strategy course will teach you how to determine social media requirements, establish objects and priorities, and create email marketing, content calendars and video-based content. You will also learn about tracking and analysis tactics, content development strategies, and how to support customer service on social channels.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a social media marketing online course include:OO

  • Learning about strategic, financial, customer-centric, human resource and operational objectives
  • Exploring branding and marketing and customer engagement strategies
  • Gaining an understanding of target markets and converting leads
  • Studying social media and behavioural targeting
  • Examining social media trends, platforms and integration
  • Understanding how to maximising business exposure
  • Attaining knowledge of building brand awareness and online communities
  • Gaining insights into social media policies and media engagement
  • Learning about content guidelines and how to develop guidelines
  • Exploring issues and crisis management
  • Gaining an understanding of legal and ethical considerations
  • Studying marketing strategy
  • Examining content development
  • Understanding customer engagement and customer service strategies
  • Attaining knowledge o social media calendars and action plans
  • Gaining insights into promotional strategies
  • Learning about measuring success and key performance indicators (KPIs)
  • Exploring how to track and analyse engagement
  • Gaining an understanding of how to analyse social media reach
  • Studying how to analyse captured data
  • Examining monitoring and evaluation

And more!

Social Media Statistics – April 2022

As you’ll learn in a social media marketing online course, social media users in Australia are some of the most active in the world. Here are the top five social media platforms in terms of visitors or users for April 2022 according to Social Media News.

  1. Facebook – 18,000,000 active, monthly Australian users
  2. YouTube – 17,500,000 unique Australian visitors per month
  3. WhatsApp – 12,000,000 active Australian users
  4. Instagram – 10,000,000 active, monthly Australian users
  5. LinkedIn – 6,500,000 active, monthly Australian users

Social Media Marketing Trends – 2022

Online landscapes are continually evolving, and keeping your finger on the digital pulse of trends is vital if you are keen to undertake a social media marketing online course. Social media management platform, Hootsuite, recently undertook a global trends survey where they surveyed over 18,000 people over 200 countries. Backed up by expert insights and global data, here are their top five trends for 2022.

#1 – Branding

Digital communities have never been more vibrant, richer and more impactful on our experience of daily life than they are now. And social media is one of the platforms where these communities are being created and catered to.

Facebook has over 18 million users in Australia, and many regularly engage within groups. Over 1,100,000 view TikTok, with many developing their own spaces to share and develop their interests — no matter how obscure! And Twitter has even started testing a feature called Communities, which it refers to as, “a dedicated place to connect, share, and get closer to the discussions [people] care about most.”

However, as social media shifts away from mega-influences towards smaller and more authentic communities, brands that partner wisely with content creators are connecting with new audiences. And although social media gives any business online the opportunity to gain a following, a truly engaged and active community needs a brand that has a focus on “relationship marketing” by retaining current audiences and attracting new ones!

#2 – Social Advertising

Despite marketing budgets tightening for many organisations, more than half of those surveyed by Hootsuite said they are planning to increase their paid social spend in 2022 (which is great news for those interested in a social media marketing online course!)

Marketers are looking to spend more on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn (which is not surprising given they are in the top five in 2022). However, marketers are also going beyond these “tried and true” channels as they are finding other channels more effective at reaching business goals than they have in the past. These include platforms like Pinterest, TikTok and Snapchat.

Consumers are holding brands to a higher standard when it comes to creativity, but they are also rewarding brands that get it right. In order to gain return on investment, marketers will need to work harder to create content that mirrors and enriches the distinct experiences each social network offers.

#3  – Return on Investment (ROI)

For over a decade, marketers have struggled to quantitatively link social media to business outcomes. However, after being forced to rely on social media more during the pandemic as a core channel for engaging with customers, things have certainly changed. In Hootsuite’s survey, over 83 per cent of marketers reported having increased levels of confidence in quantifying the ROI of their social media efforts (up from 68 per cent in 2021).

But what’s driving this boost in confidence? Predominately improvements in marketing attribution tools, which grant insights into marketing tactics and touch points that are leading to engagement, conversions, sales and movement through the buyer’s journey. However, the growing willingness of marketers to step away from dated mindsets and models is a major factor as well.

Successful social media marketers in 2022 will enhance their employee advocacy programs to further gather consumer insights, and strive to deliver the impact social media channels have on the marketing they are doing elsewhere in their organisations.

#4  – Social Commerce

Before COVID-19, social commerce was a reasonably new opportunity being tested by the bigger, more innovative retail companies. However, as millions of people went into lockdown around the world, they began voraciously shopping online for purchases small, big, essential and frivolous, and social commerce is now a way of life

Social networks are now the second most important channel for online brand research after search engines. In fact, people aged 16 to 24 actually rank social networks higher than search engines like Google when it comes to brand research.

And while the bricks-and-mortar storefront lives on, in 2022, small businesses will extend the customer experience across social storefronts, while large businesses will test the limits of the online shopping experience.

#5 – Customer Care

Amid staffing shortages and global supply chain challenges, many businesses are continuing to see an influx of unhappy customers. Meanwhile, demand for customers service over social platforms has been surging. Customers are fed up with waiting on hold and find that service delivered via social platforms is convenient, effective and immediate. In a Nielsen survey commissioned by Facebook, 64 per cent of people said they now prefer to message rather than call a business.

Spurred on by lockdowns and shifts in business operations, this has seen social media marketers take on more responsibility, including in the customer service enquiry space. However, this added responsibility has added benefits. Not only will these additional skills enhance your CV, you’ll be in an ideal position to play the hero and steer your employer through the COVID-19 upheaval!

 

Gain the confidence to create a strong social media strategy for an organisation or your own business with a social media marketing online course such as our Social Media Strategy course.

Study Medical Practice Management – Enhance Your Career

With up to 10,000 practice manager jobs expected to be created over the next five years, frontline management and leadership skills are vital to anyone wanting to manage a professional practice in the health and medical industries. Thismedical practice management course is ideal for current practice managers and medical receptionists or anyone seeking a career in a broad range of healthcare settings.

Our Advanced Certificate of Practice Management will teach you how to understand legal and ethical compliance, and manage health billing, accounting systems, financial plans and budgets. You will also learn about leadership, frontline management, customer service, the health industry, diversity, and workplace health and safety.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a medical practice management course include:

  • Learning how to manage quality customer service including ensuring plans achieve the quality, time and cost specifications agreed with customers.
  • Gaining an understanding of how to ensure the delivery of quality products and services within customer specifications and monitor team performance to meet the organisation’s quality and delivery standards.
  • Studying how to monitor, adjust and review customer service and manage records, reports and recommendations within the organisation’s systems and processes.
  • Examining how to manage budgets and financial plans including preparing contingency plans in the event that initial plans need to be varied.
  • Attaining knowledge of implementing financial management approaches and determine and access resources and systems to manage financial management processes.
  • Gaining insights into monitoring and controlling finances and report on budget and expenditure in accordance with organisational protocols.
  • Studying how to use appropriate medical terminology in oral and written communication and spell and pronounce medical terminology correctly
  • Examining how to manage people performance, confirm performance standards, Code of Conduct and work outputs with relevant teams and individuals, and conduct a risk analysis in accordance with the organisational risk management plan and legal requirements
  • Understanding how to design performance management and review processes to ensure consistency with organisational objectives and policies
  • Attaining knowledge of providing feedback, advising relevant people where there is poor performance and provide on-the-job coaching when necessary.
  • Gaining insights into writing and agreeing on performance improvement and development plans in accordance with organisational policies, and terminate staff in accordance with legal and organisational requirements.
  • Learning how to manage risk and communicate with relevant parties about the risk management process and invite participation.
  • Gaining an understanding of developing and implementing client debt recovery strategies, and monitor debt and adjust debt recovery policy and practices accordingly.
  • Studying how to manage information and data required to maintain subsidy payments and develop the necessary reports and data
  • Examining how to manage legal and ethical compliance, how to develop and communicate policies and procedures, and refer issues or breaches of ethical or legal practice to relevant people.
  • Exploring how to implement and monitor infection and control policies and procedures, and adapt communication to the needs of different workers
  • Gaining an understanding of how to promptly resolve issues raised through consultation or refer to the appropriate personnel, and encourage colleagues to report infection risks and to improve infection prevention and control procedures.
  • Studying how to identify and respond to inadequacies in work procedures and infection prevention and control measures, and document, report and investigate potential breaches.
  • Examining how to manage work health and safety, and access and interpret legislation, regulations, code of conduct and workplace policies and procedures for WHS.
  • Understanding how to facilitate consultation, cooperation and communication, and implement and monitor training programs to ensure identified WHS training requirements are addressed, including induction processes.
  • Gaining insights into developing a WHS action plan, and establishing processes to monitor achievement against the plan.

And more!

Australian Standards for Medical Practice Management

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has been the voice of general practitioners and their staff and patients for more than 60 years. The RACGP Standards for general practices (5th edition) was released in February 2022, and offers insightful reading for those looking to undertake a course in medical practice management. Core standards include:

Core standard 1

Criterion C1.1 – Information about your practice

Criterion C1.2 – Communications

Criterion C1.3 – Informed patient decisions

Criterion C1.4 – interpreter and other communication services

Criterion C1.5 – Costs associated with care initiated by the practice

Core standard 2

Criterion C2.1 – Respectful and culturally appropriate care

Criterion C2.2 – Presence of a third party during a consultation

Criterion C2.3 – Accessibility of services

Core standard 3

Criterion C3.1 – Business operation systems

Criterion C3.2 – Accountability and responsibility

Criterion C3.3 – Emergency response plan

Criterion C3.4 – Practice communication and teamwork

Criterion C3.5 – Work health and safety

Criterion C3.6 – Research

Core standard 4

Criterion C4.1 – Health promotion and preventative care

Core standard 5

Criterion C5.1 – Diagnosis and management of health issues

Criterion C5.2 – Clinical autonomy for practitioners

Criterion C5.3 – Clinical handover

Core standard 6

Criterion C6.1 – Patient identification

Criterion C6.2 – Patient health record systems

Criterion C6.3 – Confidentiality and privacy of health and other information

Criterion C6.4 – Information security

Core standard 7

Criterion C7.1 – Content of patient health records

Core standard 8

Criterion C8.1 – Education and training of non-clinical staff

Accreditation for Medical Practices

The RACGP has not only developed Standards for general practices, it also offers advice on accreditation which protects patients from harm by improving the quality and safety of health services. An important element to consider in medical practice management!

In order for practices to be accredited against evidence-based Standards, they must be formally assessed by an accrediting agency approved under the National General practice Accreditation Scheme (the Scheme), which commenced on 1 January 2017.

The Standards

 The Standards are based on the best available evidence of how general practices can provide safe and quality healthcare to their patients. This evidence is based on two sources:

  1. Relevant studies
  2. Level IV evidence (where studies are not available). This is otherwise known as evidence from a panel of experts. To ensure the evidence is as robust as possible, the Standards have been tested by Australian general practices and consumers, and overseen by an expert committee consisting of GPs, academic GPs, practice managers, nurses and consumer representatives.

Practices that can be accredited

Before a practice or health service can be accredited against the Standards, it must be formally assessed by an accrediting agency approved under the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme. There are three criteria:

  1. The practice or health service operates within the model of general practice described in the RACGP’s definition of general practice.
  2. GP services are predominantly of a general practice nature.
  3. The practice or health service is capable of meeting all mandatory indicators in the Standards.

The assessment process

In order for a general practice to be accredited, an approved accreditation agency must be selected from this list of agencies. Each agency has trained surveyors who assess general practices. The agency selected will work with your practice to help you prepare for the accreditation process. They will also appoint a team of surveyors who visit each location from which your practice operates to assess your practice against the Standards.

The Australian Association of Practice Management (AAPM)

The AAPM was established over 40 years ago and is a professional association for Practice Managers in healthcare including in general practice, specialist, dental and allied health as well as multi-disciplinary clinics. It offers a wide range of education, networking and membership resources and benefits.

Definition of a Practice Manager

The AAPM has developed the following definition of a Practice Manager that can be used and widely recognised across both the healthcare sector and the general community.

“A Practice Manager may have various titles, for example, Chief Executive Officer, Business Manager, Executive Director, or Director. The definition of a Practice Manager is someone who performs all or some of the Practice Management tasks in a healthcare setting. A Healthcare Practice Manager’s tasks may include strategic planning, review and implementation of processes in a practice that increase efficiency and contribute to the overall notion of excellence in healthcare.”

The Core Principles of Health Care Practice Management

  • Financial management – Having financial literacy with the ability to manage the legal and financial requirements of a practice.
  • Human resources management – Understanding organisational leadership and culture, and ensuring compliance with employment and labour laws.
  • Planning and marketing – Being able to allocate resources to meet the practice’s strategic plans and direction, and identify, anticipate and satisfy customer requirements, including establishing partnerships and strategic alliances.
  • Information management – Understanding data management technology with the ability to facilitate the development and implementation of appropriate information systems, including support, training, security and maintenance.
  • Risk management – Being able to identify, assess, prioritise, monitor and minimise risk, including financial, HR, legal, physical and clinical risks and manage the security of personnel and assets like data, property and equipment.
  • Governance and organisational dynamics – Understanding structures and systems to enable the organisation to make the right decisions with the ability to develop leadership and change-management skills.
  • Business and clinical operations – The ability to ensure the organisation operates efficiently to maximise profit and productivity while providing a safe service to the satisfaction of patients. It includes ensuring efficient processes, sufficient resources, legal compliance and quality assurance programs.
  • Professional responsibility – Promoting ethical standards for individual and organisational behaviour, and maintaining continued professional development to ensure up-to-date knowledge that is applied in ways that benefit patients and the wider community.

Become qualified to seek employment as a practice manager or pursue further studies in a range of similar environments with a medical practice management course such as our Advanced Certificate of Practice Management.

Hungry For a Career Change? Study a Short Nutrition Course!

Good nutrition can optimise health, and understanding how this is achieved is crucial for personal wellbeing and for those involved in the health, fitness and wellbeing industries. This short nutrition course is ideal for nutritionists, health food bloggers and wellness and fitness coaches, and explores the importance of human nutrition in health promotion and disease management.

Our Certificate of Food and Nutrition Disorders will teach you about nutrition and dental health, fibre and diseases of the bowel, vegan, vegetarian and alternative diets, and nutrition during pregnancy. You will also learn about food laws and labels, food allergies and sensitivities, detoxification and body cleansing, and how to set up a nutritional program.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a short nutrition course include:

  • Learning about nutrient imbalance and disease
  • Exploring food risk factors
  • Gaining an understanding of important micronutrients that are often lacking in different diets
  • Studying fats, lipids and cholesterol
  • Examining low salt and low sodium diets
  • Understanding sugar and the types of sugars and sweeteners
  • Attaining knowledge of triglycerides and cholesterol
  • Gaining an understanding of how PEM is diagnosed, treated, prevented and the prognosis for people with PEM
  • Studying health problems and solutions
  • Examining the special considerations for pregnant and nursing women and children
  • Understanding dental problems, tooth structure, the anatomy of teeth and nutrition and dental health
  • Attaining knowledge of fluoride intake, who needs fluoride and calcium intake
  • Gaining insights into the decay process, how to prevent plaque and examples of simple sugars as food
  • Learning about complex carbohydrates, nursing bottle syndrome and how to prevent dental problems
  • Exploring the role of diet, reasons to prevent tooth decay and the causes of tooth decay
  • Gaining an understanding of dental hygiene and homemade toothpastes and mouthwashes
  • Studying fibre and the diseases of the bowel
  • Examining fibre as a complex carbohydrate, how fibre works in the body and fibre in food
  • Understanding health and dietary fibre, resistant starch and how the digestive system works
  • Attaining knowledge of conditions linked to low fibre diets and fibre and the management of blood cholesterol
  • Gaining insights into fibre and diabetes and fibre and weight control
  • Learning about bowel checks and how to increase fibre intake
  • Exploring different ways of eating
  • Gaining an understanding how why how we eat is important and the compatibility of ingredients
  • Studying incompatible and compatible combinations
  • Examining vegetarian, vegan and other alternate diets
  • Understanding the health considerations with non-animal diets
  • Attaining knowledge of how to source non-animal foods
  • Gaining insights into alternative diets for young children and diet in pregnancy
  • Learning about food toxicity and sensitivity
  • Attaining knowledge of food laws and labels and special considerations
  • Gaining insights into food toxicity and food poisoning
  • Learning about bacterial food poisoning and how to prevent it
  • Exploring the characteristics and treatment of bacteria responsible for food poisoning
  • Gaining an understanding of contamination from cooking and from food processing
  • Studying preparation for cooking, food production and processing, milling and refining and the effects of food preparation on nutrition
  • Examining enzymes, microorganisms, rotting and deterioration of food and additives, colourings and flavourings
  • Understanding the ripening of fruit, mechanical deterioration, low temperature damage and hygiene to practice
  • Attaining knowledge of detoxification, body cleansing and the methods of detoxification
  • Gaining insights into fasting, the side effects and symptoms and water therapies
  • Learning about herbal treatments, cathartics and herbsand remedies for digestive complaints and detoxification
  • Exploring massage including Swedish massage and lymphatic drainage massage
  • Gaining an understanding of bowel movements, urination and cautions
  • Studying consulting/giving advice and legalities
  • Examining insurance, professional bodies, ethics and holistic approaches
  • Understanding the consultation, compliance and setting a nutritional program

And more!

National Food and Nutrition Policies

Poor diet is responsible for over seven per cent of Australia’s disease burden — an important statistic that highlights the value of a short nutrition course. The Australian Government’s Department of Health develops policies, resources and initiatives to help Australians eat a healthy and nutritious diet.

Policy work

The Department of Health’s National Preventative Health Strategy aims to help improve the health of Australians over the next ten years, including through a healthier diet. The Strategy provides a long-term and overarching approach to prevention by building systemic change to ensure the best outcomes for all Australians. It identifies areas of focus and outlines the key achievements Australia should be striving for by 2030.

Effective prevention requires a comprehensive and collective effort across sectors to “better prevent disease and to promoteenvironments that support individuals to lead healthy lives”. The responsibility for creating positive change is shared by all governments, the non-government sector, the private sector, academia and research, communities, industries and individuals. Every Australian and every sector has a role to play in achieving this vision.

The Department has also developed the Australian Dietary Guidelines, which helps Australians make healthy food choices.

Legislation

  1. The national Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 aims to:
  • protect public health and safety
  • help Australians make informed choices about the food they eat
  • prevent fraud and misleading conduct by food companies.
  1. Imported food must meet strict requirements under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and Imported Food Control Act 1992 to ensure it is safe. Each state and territory also has its own legislation relating to food safety. The Health portfolio also administers laws on behalf of ministers, which are set out in the Administrative Arrangements Order.

Regulation and compliance

Food companies must adhere to the Food Standards Code when preparing, manufacturing, handling, storing and and serving of food and drinks.

All levels of government work together to protect people’s health and safety under the joint Australian and New Zealand food regulation system:

Initiatives and programs

The Australian Government funds several programs and initiatives to help Australians make healthy food choices:

  • The voluntary Health Star Ratingsystem rates the nutritional value of packaged foods from half a star to five stars. This enables people to quickly compare similar foods – the more stars, the healthier the food.
  • Through the Healthy Food Partnership, it works with the food industry and the public health sector to make healthier food choices easier and more accessible.
  • The Healthy Food Partnership Reformulation Program aims to reduce the amount of sodium, sugar and saturated fat in manufactured and processed foods.
  • Eat for Healthcontains the Australian Dietary Guidelines, tips and advice on eating healthy, and resources to help people make healthy food choices.
  • Nutrient Reference Valuesrecommends the level of nutrients we need to be healthy, based on scientific evidence.

Research

National research gives the Department insights into the eating habits of Australians and how they might affect health and wellbeing. This helps them develop food and nutrition programs and policies that are relevant and effective. National research includes the:

Other affiliations

To support healthy eating among all Australians, the Australian Government works with:

Resources

There are a wide range of resources available that can assist all Australians make healthier food choices and provide valuable insights to those undertaking a short nutrition course. These include:

Gain insights into the importance of nutrition in maintaining optimum health and the management of disease with a short nutrition course such as our Certificate of Food and Nutrition Disorders

Stimulate Your Health Career With a Gut Microbiome Course

Ideal for nutritionists, wellness coaches, health food bloggers or anyone interested in enhancing their health and wellbeing, this gut microbiome course explores the function and management of the human gut microbiome. The human gut microbiome consists of trillions of fungi, bacteria and other microbes. This abundant and complex ecosystem requires a delicate balance to function optimally as it impacts nutrition, mood, mental health, behaviour and immunity.

In our Certificate of Gut Microbiome you will study practical approaches and strategies to maintaining a health gut microbe. This course will give you insights into the functions of microbiome and how to recognise the signs of dysbiosis — a disruption to the microbiota homeostasis caused by an imbalance in the microflora, changes in their functional composition and metabolic activities, or a shift in their local distribution. You will also learn how to implement a plan for optimising health through improving the gut microbiome.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a gut microbiome course include:

  • Learning what microbiome are and how gut microbiome are established and maintaining the microbiome as adults
  • Exploring the gastrointestinal tract, stomach and small and large intestine
  • Gaining an understanding of birthing and breastfeeding
  • Studying diet and nutrition for improving the microbiome, lifestyle and other factors and the gut microbiome effect
  • Examining the contribution to metabolic function and protecting against pathogens
  • Understanding how to educate the immune system and gut microbe disruption and dysbiosis
  • Attaining knowledge of genetics, metagenomics and metabolomics
  • Gaining insights into bioinformatics, microbiome heritability, health hereditary, metabolomics and technologies
  • Learning about bacteria metabolism, short chain fatty acids, organic acids and vitamins
  • Exploring DNA sequencing technologies, next generation sequencing, the applications of PCR and DNA sequencing and metagenomics
  • Gaining an understanding of samples and sampling techniques, biopsy, luminal brushing, laser capture micro-dissection and sampling considerations
  • Learning about firmicutes, proteobacteria and bad biota
  • Exploring about diet, how to nurture a healthy gut and what happens to microbes with antibiotics
  • Gaining an understanding of how to maintain the gut environment
  • Studying an anatomy overview, the stomach and the small and large intestine environment
  • Examining how to manage the large intestine and the large intestine environment, diarrhoea and digestion
  • Understanding microbiome and hormones and microbiome and allergies
  • Attaining knowledge of microbe imbalances, gut dysbiosis, stomach conditions and abdominal pain
  • Gaining insights into bloating, leaky gut syndrome and then function and process of inflammation
  • Learning about biosensors, gut health treatment and nutrition-based interventions
  • Exploring lifestyle practices including stress reducing techniques
  • Gaining an understanding of faecal microbiota transplants
  • Studying diseases and immunity
  • Gaining an understanding of homeostatis and gut microbiota and how nutrition can affect it
  • Attaining knowledge of the future of psychobioticsand psychobiotics in the diet
  • Gaining insights into the applications of gut microbiome management
  • Learning how to cultivate and grow the gut microbiome and the right conditions for microbes to thrive
  • Exploring pre-schoolers, young children and the microbiome
  • Gaining an understanding of teenagers, young adults and the microbiome
  • Understanding adults and the microbiome
  • Studying behaviour and temperament and improving cognition and learning
  • Examining mucosal immunity, stress, arthritis and pain management and grief and emotional disturbances
  • Understanding how to increase psychobiotics in the diet and enhancing microbiota in ways other than through eating
  • Attaining knowledge of more strategies to address SIBO and responding to subsequent small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO) or eradication of H.Pylori
  • Gaining insights into biofilm disruption and preventing sporulatio

And more!

Why is microbiome research important?

Humans are host to an enormous invisible ecosystem of microbes that influence almost every system in the body. The most common microbes that live in or on our bodies are bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi and protozoa. This intriguing community of microbes are collectively known as our microbiota.

Our microbiota contributes to over fifty percent of our cellular makeup and can influence a wide range of physiological functions including our appetite, mood and immune responses. The collective genetic material of the microbiota, our microbiome, is remarkably dynamic.

However, we know very little about how our microbiome swings the pendulum between disease and health. What we do know, and what you’ll study in a gut microbiome course, is that there is an inextricable link between the balance and diversity of our microbiome and our susceptibility to disease.

The abundance of our thriving, beneficial microbes keeps the pathogenic microbes in check and maintains a harmonious balance. However, when pathogenic microbes dominate, this balance is disturbed and we enter a state of dysbiosis.

Dysbiosis is associated with several diseases including cancer, obesity, asthma and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our diet, lifestyle choices, medications and the environment we live in can influence the composition of the microbiome.

Research is realising the potential of the human microbiome. By understanding how over one million genes contributed by the human microbiome, together with our 25,000 inherited genes nurture our state of health, we can better improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of several diseases.

Gut Microbiome research covers several diseases that fall under the following themes — cancer, immunity and inflammation, infection, critical care, women and children’s health, and mental health and neuroscience. Research is particularly interested in skin cancer, liver cancer and gastrointestinal cancers including gastric, oesophageal and colorectal cancer. Research also studies the role of microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease, fatty liver disease, urogynecological diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, thrombosis, pregnancy and pregnancy-related diseases, Helicobacter pylori infection and its associated diseases, and schizophrenia and various autoimmune diseases.

Microbiome test kits

Many experts believe gut flora plays a significant role in preventing disease and may even influence your mental health. If you are studying a  gut microbiome course, you may be familiar with books such as Giulia Enders’ Gut and Michael Mosley’s Clever Guts, as well as direct-to-consumer (DTC) gut microbiome tests.

As scientists continue to unravel the secrets of the human gut, many are fascinated by the possibilities these discoveries may offer. And understanding our own unique gut microbiome and how we can optimise it to potentially prevent disease, improve health and enhance our quality of life is certainly a compelling prospect. But what do the experts say?

Dr Sam Forster, group leader at the Microbiota and Systems Biology Laboratory, Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research, looked at the results of two of the most popular gut microbiome tests.

He was impressed at how they were interpreted and presented, however, comments, “I think there’s a danger of people over-interpreting their results and making major diet and lifestyle changes based on an association with a particular bacteria that may be detrimental for some people but beneficial for others. It should be seen as a component of a wider evaluation of your health”.

While scientific knowledge of the gut microbiome has come a long way in a short space of time, Forster says it’s important to be mindful that we still have a great deal to learn.

“I do see the weaknesses at the moment, and it’s our lack of knowledge. We aren’t yet able to say that for you, at this time of your life, with your genetics, with your lifestyle, that this bacteria is absolutely going to be positive or negative,” he says.

Forster adds that, while interesting, no action should be taken on the results of these tests without the advice and supervision of a medical specialist or dietitian who is able to interpret the results.

“I don’t think it will ever be a scenario where you’d be interpreting the results on your own. I mean, it’s equivalent to someone getting a detailed blood chemistry result and trying to interpret it,” he says.

Nicole Dynan, an accredited practising dietitian, a spokesperson for Dietitians Australia and a Microba-certified dietitian has also commented that although they are a great resource for curious people, they are not yet ready to be used as a diagnostic tool.

As she says, “The reason to take that test is really from the point of view of being interested in the information it provides. These tests aren’t necessarily diagnostic at this stage but they certainly can give you some insight. It’s definitely worth speaking with somebody that’s had some training in these test interpretations, to make sure you’re reading it correctly. You should be aware of the limitations of these results and if you have any concerns you should definitely talk to your health professional about it”.

Reference:

Kylie Matthews & Rachel Clemons, 2020, Gut health check-up: should you use a microbiome test kit? Choice

Enhance your career prospects and your own health and wellbeing with a gut microbiome course such as our Certificate of Gut Microbiome.

Learn Helpful Anxiety Management Techniques

Whether you’re managing your own anxiety or want to help others manage theirs, our Certificate of Anxiety Management is a practical resource. Awareness is crucial to controlling the escalation of anxiety, and understanding anxiety management techniques will help alleviate this uncomfortable emotion.

If you work with people in a caring, teaching or counselling role, this course will give you the strategies you need to help clients manage their anxiety. You’ll also learn what constitutes normal anxiety and when to suspect an anxiety disorder. This professional development course will also give you the knowledge and skills to create an anxiety management plan for a client, patient or student in your care.

Learning Outcomes

You’ll discover many anxiety management techniques in this course, plus the following topics:

  • Normal Anxiety
  • The Autonomic Nervous System
  • Anxiety Today
  • Types of Anxiety Disorders
  • Defining Anxiety and Panic Disorders
  • What are Anxiety Disorders?
  • Physical Affects of Anxiety
  • Mental Symptoms of Anxiety
  • Anxiety Symptoms in Children
  • Recognising Anxiety
  • What is Panic?
  • Panic Symptoms in Children
  • The Difference Between Anxiety and Panic
  • Managing Anxiety: Anxiety Management Plans
  • Methods of Managing Anxiety – Developing an Anxiety Management Plan
  • Anxiety Spirals
  • Understanding Triggers
  • Dealing with Triggers
  • Helping Children Articulate Feelings
  • Medication
  • Making an Anxiety Management Plan
  • Biofeedback
  • Managing Social Anxiety Disorder
  • What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
  • Treating Social Anxiety Disorder
  • Managing Generalised Anxiety Disorder
  • Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
  • A Day in the Life of a Person With GAD
  • Recognising Anxiety Triggers
  • Managing Anxiety
  • Self-Help Ideas for GAD
  • Managing Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
  • Panic Disorder
  • Treating Panic Attacks
  • Agoraphobia
  • Treating Agoraphobia
  • Managing Environmental Factors that Increase Anxiety and Panic
  • Defining the Term Environment
  • Environmental Management
  • Strategies to Manage the Environment to Reduce Anxiety
  • Alternative Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Panic
  • Pet Therapy
  • Horticultural Therapy
  • Ecotherapy
  • Creative Therapy
  • Play Therapy
  • Project – Anxiety Management

And more!

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone will experience at some point in their life. It’s only problematic when it becomes an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders negatively affect a person’s life as it interferes with social, professional, and educational experiences.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety manifests in many ways and is experienced differently by everyone. Understanding the different types of anxiety disorders and how to implement anxiety management techniques is an important tool for any professional. There are six major anxiety disorders, each with its own challenges and treatment options.

  1. Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Feeling worried or anxious sometimes, like when preparing for an exam or job interview, is expected. The type of anxiety experienced during heightened stress can help people feel motivated and achieve goals.

So, anxiety can be positive by providing extra energy (mental or physical) to perform at our peak. However, it becomes problematic when this anxiety is experienced every day, even multiple times a day. The types of worry that interfere with life are intense and persistent and can wreak havoc on an individual’s work, family and social life.

Symptoms: excessive worry that work, study or socialising becomes challenging.

  1. Panic Disorder

While many people may experience a panic attack once or twice in their lives, panic disorder is associated with recurrent and disabling attacks of anxiety (panic attacks) that come ‘out of the blue’ and are followed by a persistent worry that another will occur.

Symptoms: a sense of overwhelming panic or fear; feelings of dying, choking, losing control or going mad; increased heart rate; difficulty breathing (like there’s not enough air); excessive sweating; dizziness, light-headedness or feeling faint.

  1. OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Individuals with OCD experience intrusive thoughts, obsessions and compulsions that have a profound negative impact on their lives. It is estimated that around two to three percent of Australians (more than 500,000 people) have OCD. The condition is characterised by recurrent and persistent thoughts, images, or intrusive or undesired impulses. People with OCD also perform repetitive behaviours that are excessive and time-consuming. While those with the condition are aware the thoughts and behaviour are irrational, they feel unable to control their obsessions.

Symptoms: repetitive thoughts/concerns not connected with genuine problems; repetitive behaviours; constant checking.

  1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is brought on by a traumatic event that threatens an individual’s life or feelings of safety. As a result, people feel a prolonged sense of fear and hopelessness even long after the event. Around 12 percent of Australians will experience PTSD in their lifetime, with serious accidents being the leading cause of the illness.

Symptoms:

  • Being easily startled or frightened
  • Always being on guard for danger
  • Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Irritability, angry outbursts or aggressive behaviour
  • Overwhelming guilt or shame

  1. Social Anxiety Disorder

It’s normal to feel some social anxiety when in unfamiliar company or when in the spotlight. Many people will feel anxious about giving a speech at a wedding or presentation at work, but social phobia leads to intense, debilitating fear. People with a social anxiety disorder have a persistent fear of being judged, criticised, laughed at or embarrassed in the company of others.

Symptoms: excessive sweating, trembling, blushing, stammering, nausea or diarrhoea.

  1. Phobia

A phobia is a fear of a specific situation, activity, animal or object that is irrational and extreme. While many people fear dangerous animals, like snakes, the response is rational if it poses a risk to safety. However, those with a phobia of a snake will avoid any areas where a snake may live and even looking at a photo of a snake causes extreme fear and anxiety. Specific phobias are often related to fear of having a panic attack, so avoidance behaviour is repeated.

Specific phobias are generally catorgorised into the following areas:

Animal – fear of snakes or dogs

Natural environment – fear of thunderstorms or heights

Situational – fear of driving or shopping centres

Medical/injury – fear of needles, blood or breaking bones

Other – fear of vomiting or choking

Symptoms: persistent, excessive and unreasonable fear of an object, activity or situation (dogs, flying, driving, heights); avoidance behaviour.

Children and Anxiety

Anxiety disorders affect one in 14 young people and children in Australia. So, while anxiety is normal and can affect anyone, including children, as parents, carers or professionals working with children, it’s helpful to understand anxiety disorders and to be able to incorporate anxiety management techniques.

Feel confident in managing anxiety, whether personally or professionally, through learning about anxiety management techniques and how to create an anxiety management plan. Enrol in Certificate of Anxiety Management today.

Sheep Farming Course – Raise Sheep (& Prospects)

Sheep farming is a diverse agricultural export enterprise for wool, meat and dairy production. This course is ideal for farmers, farmhands, farm supervisors, wool brokers or anyone who wants to raise sheep or improve their prospects on a sheep farm.

Our Certificate of Sheep Farming will give you insights into the sheep farming industry, including processes and techniques to market sheep and sheep products. In this sheep farming course, you will learn about terminology, nutrition, selection and breeding, wool production, sheep rearing and management systems, and disease management and prevention. You will also study feeding, the factors that affect wool yield, and sales and marketing techniques for sheep and related products.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a sheep farming course include:

  • Learning about terminology and breeds
  • Exploring sheep breeds and the factors that affect the choice of breed
  • Gaining an understanding of climate and vegetation, internal parasites, product and market and rearing and management systems
  • Studying UK breeds, including Dorset Horn, Suffolk and Romney
  • Examining Australian and New Zealand breeds, including the merino, Border Leicester, Southdown, Polwarth and Turkdale
  • Understanding South African breeds, including Damara, the Dormer, the Dorper and the South African mutton merino
  • Attaining knowledge of the Ile de France and Ronderib Afrikaner
  • Gaining insights into selection and breeding including oestrus, the gestation period, weaning, mouthing, selection, economically important traits, growth rate and reproductive efficiency
  • Learning about carcass quality, wool traits, culling old ewes, reproduction and physical factors, selecting replacement ewes and rams, culling for age, and culling for reproductive performance and physical abnormalities
  • Exploring how to buy a replacement ram, commercial sheep production, choosing a lambing time and the advantages and disadvantages of Autumn and Spring lambing
  • Gaining an understanding of accelerated lambing, managing the ewe prior to mating, using hormones to control reproduction and managing the ram prior to the breeding season
  • Studying joining (mating) methods, flock joining (group mating), and hand and individual mating
  • Examining the anatomy of the ewe and ram reproductive organs, ultrasonic scanning of ewes, mating records and the signs of lambing
  • Understanding the nutrition of sheep including sheep nutrition, condition scoring, loin transverse cross section and when to condition score
  • Attaining knowledge of the factors affecting feed requirements, the animal’s production and environmental influences
  • Gaining insights into feed requirements including feeding rams and ewes
  • Learning about the reproduction and lactation stages and feeding lambs and fatteners
  • Exploring nutrition and wool production, mineral needs and vitamins and waters
  • Gaining an understanding of the common sheep diseases and disease prevention
  • Studying viral and rickettsial diseases, contagious ecthyma (ORF, contagious pustular dermatitis, scabby mouth), contagious ophthalmia (ovine infectious keratoconjunctivitis), blue tongue (BTV), rift valley fever and Wesselbron disease, bacterial diseases, clostridial diseases and pulpy kidney (enterotoxaemia)
  • Exploring internal parasites
  • Gaining an understanding of the categories of drenches
  • Studying the general management of commercial flocks including handling and dipping facilities, shower or power spray dips and foot baths
  • Examining drenching, drenching practices and injecting
  • Understanding hoof trimming, shearing, castration, tail docking and weighing and recording
  • Attaining knowledge of the species of flies, blowfly strike and the factors affecting, types and control of fly strike
  • Gaining insights into tail docking and mulesing and crutching
  • Learning about the classes and unique characteristics of wool
  • Exploring wool classing and processing, the factors influencing the estimation of yield, piece picking, wool scouring and carding
  • Gaining an understanding of the marketing of sheep and sheep products
  • Attaining knowledge of private selling, wool buying, AWC appraisers, the wool exchange and wool auctions, transfers and false packing, delivery and dumping, lamb and mutton marketing and paddock sales and sale yard auctions
  • Gaining insights into over-the-hook sales, electronic marketing, live sheep exports and forward price contracts
  • Learning about the factors affecting the value of lamb or mutton, carcass weight and skin value and payment bases (hot or cold weight)

And more!

Top Australian and New Zealand sheep breeds

Merio

This is the predominant breed of sheep in Australia. It was first introduced into the country in 1797 and over the years it was developed for wool production. It has also been used for cross-breeding with British Short Wool and Long Wool breeds for mutton and prime lamb production.

British Long Wool Breeds

These were originally bought to Australia for experimental purposes, and include:

  • This sheep is hornless with a large frame.
  • English Leicester. This is a hornless sheep with a large frame and black feet.
  • Border Leicester. A large-framed, hornless sheep, it is a popular breed for producing first cross (Merino ewe x Border Leicester ram) ewes.
  • This is a large-framed sheep with a white, hornless head that is free from wool. It produces prime lamb sires.
  • Romney Marsh. This is a large-framed hornless sheep with has a white face and kemp fibres on its legs and face. When crossed with British Short Wool breeds, they produce high quality lamb.

British Short Wool Breeds

These are commonly known as Downs breeds. They have fine grain meat and are commonly used as prime lamb sires. They include:

  • This sheep has a wide back and a small, chunky frame. Its head is well-covered with wool and it has no horns.
  • Dorset Horn and Poll Dorset. These are renowned as prime lamb sires and are usually mated to Merino, British Long Wool or Merino cross ewes.
  • This is hornless sheep with a wide back, a medium blocky frame and black legs, hooves and head. The White Suffolk is an Australian breed that has been developed for Australian conditions. It is predominately a meat sheep breed.
  • This is a well-developed, lean and heavily-muscled sheep. It is predominately a meat breed.

Australasian Breeds

These include:

  • This is a dual-purpose sheep and was developed by mating purebred Merino ewes with English Long Wool Lincoln rams. They have a large framed body and a polled head, dark hooves and wooled legs.
  • This is a dual-purpose sheep bred from a Lincoln-Merino Cross. It has a large framed body and is well wooled. Equal emphasis is placed on meat and wool production.
  • This sheep is a result of combining Border Leicester and Romney Marsh bloodlines and was developed in New Zealand. It has excellent mothering and milking ability.

Snapshot of the Sheep Meat and Wool Industry

As you’ll learn in our sheep farming course, Australia is a major producer and exporter of sheep products. In fact, according to the Wool Producers Australia and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), the country is the largest exporter of sheep meat and prime quality fine wool. It encompasses:

A diverse landscape

Australia’s sheep industry is an extensive pasture-based industry, with an average flock size of around 2000 sheep. Sheep are produced in a wide range of climates — from the arid and semi-arid parts of the inland regions to the medium to high rainfall areas of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, southern Western Australia and Tasmania. Sheep are grazed on pastures year-round, with supplementary feeding occurring when there are pasture shortages.

Commitment to the industry

The nature of Australia’s unique landscape brings numerous challenges to farming, which have led to innovative methods of production. Investment in research, innovation and development through the levy scheme also ensures that farming practices remain competitive.

The sheep industry has two Research and Development Corporations (RDCs) — Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). Both RDCs invest in producer levies and matched funds from the Australian Government in research, information, development and marketing.

Sustainable sheep production

Sheep play an integral role in the ability of Australian farmers to sustainably manage the land. Sheep producers work to protect, preserve and improve the natural resources and biodiversity on their farms and manage an estimated 65.8 million hectares of land.

When managed well, sheep can regenerate the land on which they graze by initiating the regeneration of pastures, controlling and managing weed infestation, and encouraging an increase in soil biota diversity. By supporting, protecting and encouraging biodiversity in the soil, insect life, vegetation and fauna, sheep producers can ensure farm ecosystems thrive.

Wool is a natural, biodegradable and renewable fibre. Wool-producing sheep are shorn at least once a year, and sheep are often retained by the same producer over their lifetime. This maintains bloodlines and genetics over many generations.

Integrity and quality systems

The sheep industry takes quality standards seriously — from the demonstration and reporting of specific measures to anticipating and establishing customer specifications. These sophisticated traceability systems guarantee the integrity of Australia’s wool products and sheep meat to customers.

The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) provides identification and lifetime traceability of sheep. The national Livestock Production Assurance (LPA) is an on-farm assurance program covering animal welfare, food safety, biosecurity and traceability. It protects the disease-free status of Australian

sheep and underpins the reputation of products as safe, clean and natural.

The Australian National Wool Declaration (NWD) and Classers’ Specifications are the standardised mechanisms by which  woolgrowers declare specific wool quality, on-farm practices and traceability. Australian wool is bought and sold with an International Wool Textile Organisation (IWTO) test certificate that characterises all critical features of each bale of wool.

The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Sheep apply to all those responsible for the care and management of sheep. They are based on current scientific knowledge, community expectations, and recommended industry practice.

Australian Sheep Sustainability Framework

The Australian Sheep Sustainability Framework was released in 2021 by the Australian sheep meat and wool industry and led by Sheep Producers Australia and Wool Producers Australia. It was initiated to identify areas for improvement, demonstrate sustainable practices and better communicate with consumers and customers. It is insightful reading for those interested in undertaking a sheep farming course.

The Framework has four themes:

  1. Caring for our sheep. Which involves (a) Animal care and handling – reducing, refining and replacing painful husbandry practices, implementing best practice sheep management and ensuring humane processing and on-farm euthanasia and (b) Animal health – preventing and managing disease.
  2. Enhancing the environment and climate. Which involves (a) Environment – improving natural resource management, responsible environmental practices and encouraging biodiversity and (b) Climate change – reducing net greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to a changing climate, including extreme weather events.
  3. Looking after our people, our customers and the community. Which involves (a) Health and safety – improving industry safety culture and improving our people’s health, (b) Capacity building – supporting and growing the workforce and encouraging workforce diversity, and (c) Contributing to the community – enhancing community trust and delivering products that customers demand.
  4. Ensuring a financially resilient industry. Which involves (a) Profitability, productivity and investment – maintaining or increasing industry profitability, maintaining or increasing the contribution to the Australian economy, increasing productivity, and encouraging innovation, and (b) Market access – ensuring positive market positioning and access and guaranteeing product integrity and safety.

 

Enhance your awareness of sheep and the sheep industry to work with sheep or develop a start-up farm with a sheep farming course such as our Certificate of Sheep Farming.

Discover Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Culture in Education

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture has existed in this country for over 50,000 years. The uniqueness of these cultures and the wisdom and knowledge embedded in them are highly valued by all Australians. And in many regions, teaching aboriginal culture in primary schools or care services is a distinct and important part of the learning curriculum.

Relevant courses can help educators navigate culturally appropriate interactions, experiences, behaviours and physical environments in their daily practice with children. They can also give insights into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island historical issues and culture and how to embed culture into learning experiences, facilitate children’s experiences in appropriate ways, and adapt their educational practices to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ way of learning.

(AIATSIS) Education Strategy

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS), established as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies in 1964, is an independent Australian Government statutory authority. Its Education Strategy 2021-25 aims to influence what children learn at school about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia and support educators to teach confidently. If you are interested in teaching aboriginal culture in primary schools, it is a document well worth reading.

AIATSIS vision

The AIATSIS are custodians of the largest collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander materials in the world. Its vision is of a world where “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultures are recognised, respected, celebrated and valued”. Its role is significant as a place for culturally important Indigenous knowledge and a resource for improving individual understandings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.

It is in a unique position to “develop authoritative resources from an Indigenous viewpoint, support teaching about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, and provide teachers with professional learning to teach in a culturally safe way”.

AIATSIS Education Strategy background

Families and communities have long lobbied governments (including education ministers) and national curriculum bodies and education standards to demand schools teach about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures and improve pedagogical practices for teaching Indigenous students when teaching aboriginal culture in primary schools and secondary schools. AIATSIS joins this important call to action and will support education systems, schools and teachers by enacting the AIATSIS Education Strategy.

Its strategy complements the Education Council’s Mparntwe Education Declaration. Prepared by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment in agreement with Australian education ministers in 2019, it has two distinct but interconnected goals.

  1. The Australian education system promotes equity and excellence and aims to provide all young Australians with access to high-quality education that is inclusive and free from any form of discrimination. It ensures that learning is built on and includes local, regional and national cultural knowledge and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and works in partnership with local communities.
  2. All young Australians should have the freedom to become successful lifelong learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed community members. They should understand, acknowledge and celebrate the richness and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories. They should possess the skills, knowledge and understanding to contribute to and benefit from reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians.

AIATSIS Education Strategy goals

The goals of the AIATSIS Education Strategy are to:

  1. Develop and implement cutting edge schools programs by:

  • Establishing a place-based learning collective that delivers engaging, interactive school programs and culturally responsive curriculum resources for those teaching aboriginal culture in primary schools and secondary schools.
  • Develop and deliver transformative learning opportunities for students and educators visiting Canberra and those accessing content online.
  • Bring the stories from the AIATSIS Collection to life and make them accessible to all Australian students and educators.

  1. Generate world-leading education resources aligned to the Australian Curriculum by:

  • Creating a comprehensive bank of resources to support educators in confidently teaching about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and strengthening their pedagogical agility to improve learning and engagement for Indigenous students.
  • Develop education resources linking the AIATSIS Collection to the Australian Curriculum.
  • Create a digital platform to house world-leading, authoritative curriculum resources.
  • Publish and vend high-quality education resources and tools for both students and educators teaching aboriginal culture in primary schools and in secondary schools.

  1. Develop and deliver culturally responsive professional learning for educators, including:

  • Provide in-person and online professional learning, including culturally responsive pedagogy, about how to confidently embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and cultures into the curriculum.
  • Develop Core learning modules for

Source:

2022, AIATSIS Education Strategy 2021-25, AITSIS

Queensland Government initiatives

The Australian Curriculum sets consistent national standards to improve learning outcomes for all young Australians. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) acknowledges the gap in learning outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their non-Indigenous peers. It also recognises the need for the Australian Curriculum to provide every opportunity possible to “close the gap”.

The Queensland Government Department of Education is committed to building the capacity of all educators teaching aboriginal culture in primary schools in Queensland to confidently embed the cross-curriculum priority and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures in teaching and learning. It allows them to provide opportunities for all students to deepen their knowledge of Australia by engaging with the world’s oldest continuous living cultures and understanding that contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are strong, rich, resilient, and diverse.

All state schools are required to teach a language from at least years 5 to 8 aligned to the Australian Curriculum. Principals should consult with parents and local community members to choose which language(s) to teach in their school.

For many schools across Queensland, the most appropriate language to teach will be the local Aboriginal language or Torres Strait Islander language. This is because many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students speak a traditional language as their first or home language or creole (a variety of Aboriginal English). There are many benefits to all students when Australia’s first languages are respected and kept strong. Most importantly, Aboriginal languages and Torres Strait Islander languages are essential to ensuring the sustainability, vitality and identity of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people.

However, to access the curriculum for Standard Australian English, these students may need to be actively and explicitly taught Standard Australian English as an additional language or dialect. This is known as EAL/D.

Sustainable Farming Course Helps You Nurture Nature!

Alternative farming — which combines sustainable and organic farming systems — is becoming increasingly popular worldwide as consumers increasingly seek organic alternatives to “standard” supermarket goods. As a result, those who work in the farming industry need to continuously adapt to meet demand.

Our Certificate of Alternative Farming is ideal for organic farmers, farm consultants, farm managers, farm consultants, those working in farm supply or farm service businesses and hobby farmers. This course will give you insights into “whole farm” planning and how to make a farm more  sustainable — both environmentally and economically.

In this sustainable farming course, you will explore the economic rules that apply to farm enterprise and explore land management programs, such as permaculture, organic farming and biodynamics. You will learn about sustainable crop management techniques, how to avoid serious water and soil degradation, and how to evaluate the potential and financial viability of animal enterprises.

You will study the scope, history and types of organic farming, the viable economic gains in pursuing organic farming, as well the benefits to the environment and health of the consumer. You will gain an understanding of how to handle organic management issues from environmental concerns and certification to promotion and marketing.

You will also discover integrated farm management systems for organic farming, including waste management systems, rotation design and how to manage weeds, pests, pasture, soil, livestock and crops.

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking a sustainable farming course include:

  • Learning about sustainable agriculture including land management programs, sustainable ways of farming and natural and organic farming.
  • Exploring permaculture, “no dig” techniques and biodynamics.
  • Gaining an understanding of soils including growing media, soil problems, soil structural decline, erosion, salinity, acidification and phytotoxicity
  • Studying cultivation techniques, conservation tillage, plant nutrition, soil life, cover crops and how to add organic matter to soils
  • Examining the types of water storage, water problems, water quality and water saving measures
  • Understanding reed beds, recycling, irrigation systems, swales, key lines and livestock water requirements
  • Studying personal welfare, risks, quality systems, plan drawings of farms and marketing
  • Examining crop management, hay, hydroponics, new crops and agro-forestry
  • Understanding nuts and herbs
  • Attaining knowledge of animal enterprises including poultry, deer, ostriches, emus, alpacas and llama
  • Gaining insights into goats, horses, wool and meat production and aquaculture
  • Learning about organic farming including its scope, nature and benefits, how to promote and prolong plant growth
  • Exploring intercropping, manurial systems, the soil microbiome and the cultural, biological and physical control of pests, weeds and diseases
  • Gaining an understanding of decomposition, nutrient availability and nutrient cycling and recycling
  • Studying organic farming systems, the variables and how to choose a production system
  • Examining “no dig” techniques, vegetable-sod inter planting, broad-acre and row cropping
  • Gaining an understanding of composting and mulching on organic farms, green manuring and cover crops
  • Studying sheet composting, organic fertilisers, animal manures, blood and bone meal, rock dusts, seaweed and how to boost the soil microbiome
  • Examining organic weed management, environmental and noxious weeds and how to control weeds without chemicals
  • Understanding soil condition, cultivation, grazing, mulching and biological weed control
  • Studying organic beef and milk production including food processing terms, lot feeding, feedlot records and variable costs
  • Examining organic pasture management including choosing and managing pasture sites, seed coating, grasses, legumes, choosing the correct seed mix, preparing land for pasture, sowing and germination and testing the soil microbiome
  • Understanding a cotton strip assay, weed control, grassland management rests and the major types of pasture grasses
  • Attaining knowledge of pasture management principles, stocking and carrying capacity, how to apply grassland management principles, continuous light stocking, and split, one-herd, four-paddock and intensive systems
  • Gaining insights into broad-acre organic crops including wheat, sesame seed, mung beans, plant fibre crops, hay and sorghum (grain and sweet varieties)
  • Learning about quality control, storage and handling and pits and bunkers

And more!

The Australian Organic industry

The Australian Organic industry is a vibrant, dynamic industry valued at more than two billion dollars in the domestic and export markets as of 2020. According to market research company, IBISWorld, the industry is expected to be worth more than $3.9 billion over the next five years to 2025/26.

There are over 3200 certified operators in Australia including farmers, wholesalers, manufacturers,

and retailers. Farmers account for 41 per cent of certified operations, running mixed farms producing fruit, vegetables, cattle, sheep, dairy, grain and fodder.

An organisation you will no doubt become familiar with if you undertake a sustainable farming course is Australian Organic Limited (AOL). It is the peak industry body representing Australian Organic certification bodies and operators. Not-for-profit and member-owned, it advocates on behalf of its members, and more broadly, the certified organic industry and works with government to drive awareness through industry and consumer initiatives.

Compared with overseas, Australia’s organic industry expansion has recently been stronger than New Zealand’s which grew by 6.4 per cent annualised over the past three years (Organics Aotearoa New Zealand, 2021), but below the UK at 12.6 per cent (Soil Association, 2021) and the US at 12.4 per cent (Organic Trade Association, 2021), both in the past year.

Across each country, growth over the past decade has been being driven by health and environmental factors such as climate change, and in-line with surging consumer interest about where their food comes from and how it could benefit them and potentially the environment. The trend has also spiked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Australian Organic Market Report 2021 shows Australians are buying more organic products than ever. Some interesting stats for those interested in a sustainable farming course include:

  • 80 per cent of shoppers purchased an organic product in the past 12 months, equating to
  • approximately 9 million households.
  • Household penetration of organic products grew by 3.6 per cent to 92 per cent. The increase is the
  • equivalent of over 565,000 new households and 9 million households overall.
  • 37 per cent of organic shoppers increased their household food allocation to organics.
  • More than half of organic shoppers check for certification marks on their organic
  • 39 per cent of shoppers say they would avoid purchasing an organic product if it did not
  • display a certification mark.
  • 62 per cent of shoppers recognised the Australian Certified Organic Bud trademark logo.

According to AOL, “Australia is the world leader in hectares of organic farming land. Forecast high growth underlines the organic industry’s potential in Australia, which provides Australia with a distinct advantage compared with the rest of the world. As consumers across the globe look to alternative sources for food, Australia’s organics industry has the infrastructure in place to deliver the growth predicted.”

How organic farming practices benefit a circular economy

In Australia, the increasing consequences and effects of climate change have meant that we continue to experience extreme drought and heat and devastating bushfire seasons that have extensively destroyed property, businesses, wildlife and vegetation.

This has prompted an urgent need for cleaner, greener and more sustainable environmental practices going forward. It also calls for drastic changes in the way we deal with waste and where it needs to be diverted from landfill and reused. Adopting a closed-loop “Circular Economy” model can help achieve this.

A “Circular Economy” approach to waste diversion can be best demonstrated by organic farming practices. This is because they support natural systems of regeneration, and waste is minimised as it revolves through the system to complete the Circular Economy cycle.

The traditional Linear food systems have for many years supported economic growth and a fast-growing population, but also left a detrimental effect on biodiversity, soil quality, water, climate and ecosystems. As a result, a fundamental transformation to adopt circular economy systems globally is needed now more than ever.

As you’ll discover in a sustainable farming course, the practice of organic farming has had a number of benefits on the environment, including:

  • Reducing the environment’s exposure to chemicals and pesticides that can cause long term contamination in the water and soil supply.
  • Promoting a sound state of health and resilience of farm land including by using compost as organic fertiliser which promotes soil organic matter and fertility which boosts biological activity within the soil.
  • Combatting soil degradation and erosion by building healthy soil and helping to combat serious land and soil issues like soil erosion.
  • Encouraging water health as organic farming can help keep water supplies clean by stopping polluted run-off from toxic pesticides and fertilisers.
  • Promoting biodiversity which can influence how resilient farm land is to issues like disease, pests and harsh weather.

Enhance your ability to create and market a successful organic farming enterprise — including undertaking strategic agricultural planning processes — to meet your desired sustainability goals with a sustainable farming course such as our Certificate of Alternative Farming. 

6 Reasons Digital Literacy Skills Are Crucial

Digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any other innovation in history, and they are changing how we live and work. But you don’t have to be a digital native to behave like one. Older generations are nurturing their social media profiles, choosing FaceTime over phone calls and tablets over newspapers. And even younger generations are consistently up-skilling their digital literacy to keep abreast of this ever-evolving technological beast!

In terms of the work environment, digital literacy is a skill that can be continually honed and it plays an important role in ongoing professional development. These same technologies are also giving rise to new business models, with organisations using digital platforms to create new forms of value.

So whether you are an individual keen to enhance your social media or digital skills or a leader or business owner keen to implement a digital action plan, here are some reasons why digital literacy skills in today’s business environment are crucial.

What is digital literacy? 

Digital literacy is similar to traditional forms of literacy — the medium may change, but the basic skills remain the same. Digital literacy is part of media literacy, and both are included in the concept of “information literacy”, which is the ability to find, identify, evaluate and use information effectively.

Global management consulting firm, McKinsey, defines digital literacy as “the ability to handle data, use popular software, access digital services, and interact with AI.” A few key indicators of digital literacy include being able to:

  • Access, interpret, and critically evaluate information in digital spheres
  • Create digital content, not just consume it
  • Communicate with others using online tools
  • Confidently identify and operate different technologies
  • Manage your online identity while being conscious of safety, security and privacy

Why is digital literacy important? 

Digital literacy skills are important for a range of reasons, including:

#1 – We live in an increasingly digital society

From online payments to social media platforms and video conferencing, much of society today is filtered through a digital lens. The demand for those with digital skills has also increased with the challenges of COVID-19 and the widespread move to more remote work.

According to the Digital Skills Organisation, up to 87 per cent of jobs in Australia now require some level of digital literacy. Similarly, a report by McKinsey identified digital literacy skills as one of four “distinct elements of talent” (DELTAs) that will be vital to the future of work and include cognitive, interpersonal, self-leadership and digital skills.

#2 – Digital literacy skills are top-of-mind with employers

Every year LinkedIn identifies the skills organisations are needing (and demanding) most. In their 2020 Workplace Learning Report, “hard” skills were dominated by analytical, data-centred and digital skills, including:

  • Blockchain
  • Cloud computing
  • Analytical reasoning
  • Artificial intelligence
  • UX design

#3 – Demand for those with digital literacy skills is increasing

According to the Tech Council, there will be over one million tech jobs in Australia by 2025. And demand for tech jobs is growing incredibly fast — at a rate of around 66 per cent since 2005. Over 280,000 people will enter the sector over the next four years, with approximately 140,000 of these jobs expected to come from people re-skilling or transitioning from other industries.

The other half are expected to come from those undertaking training and from the migration of international students.  However, because of the visa rules for international students, many are leaving Australia within two years of completing their degree.

#4 – There is a demand for Australians with digital literacy skills

Filling these types of jobs can be difficult, many have some of the highest vacancy rates, and their job ads are staying open the longest. So there are an abundance of opportunities, however, not enough Australians are being trained to fill vacancies.

As Patrick Kidd, Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Skills Organisation, says, “Every single job, every single industry and every single employer needs to have digital skills to enable them to be successful in what they do. However, we are not generating enough people from our education system and we’re not doing it quickly enough. If you go to university, it’s taking you between one and eight years to complete that qualification. We need to be generating people into the workplace in a matter of months, not years”. (Hence, why our IT courses are so valuable).

#5 – Digital literacy skills are critical to business success

According to MYOB’s Chief Employee Experience Office, Helen Lea, one in five Australian SMEs have no or low levels of digital adoption. As she has commented, “Digital capability and technology move and shift all the time. It’s about learning and keeping on learning. Our employers and our workforce have to recognise its importance and drive it accordingly. We see digital fluency and the confidence and capability to use digital tools in everyday business processes as a critical enabler of business success and as we move through the pandemic, for survival”.

#6 – Digital literacy skills improve workplace productivity

From a business perspective, a team without these skills is likely to be less productive. New technologies can also be intimating when they are first being introduced. However, employees are generally open to learning. So business leaders should demonstrate the importance of digital literacy and continued education in the workplace.

Enhanced skills increase productivity. Plus, employees are more engaged, have greater job satisfaction and empathy for their colleagues.

Study Motivation Techniques You’ll Love

Study for two minutes. Check email. Study for two minutes. Scroll through Instagram. Study for two minutes. Browse TikTok. Sound like you? If this mirrors your typical study process, you are certainly not alone. One of the hardest things about study is finding the motivation to actually get started!

But not every study motivation strategy works for everyone. Some work well in isolation, others find a combination works better for them. Some strategies that work today may not work tomorrow. Regardless, simply reading this blog means your intentions are on the right track! Read on to find out more about how to get motivated to study.

Remember your ‘why’

When you’re lacking the motivation to study, it helps to remember why you’re undertaking your course in the first place. Being able to articulate your “why” can help you set long-term goals, which can be a powerful motivator. One valuable tip is to imagine your life in the future and how the course will help you succeed once you’ve completed it. You can also ask yourself why your study initially interested you, what you enjoy most about it, and what you hope to achieve once it’s done and dusted.

Set achievable goals

In terms of how to get motivated to study, it’s also important to consistently remind yourself why you are studying. It might be because you are passionate about the topic, study will bring you closer to an achievable goal, or there might be financial benefits that could lead to a better lifestyle. Goals should be “SMART”, an acronym that stands for the words Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-specific.

Part of setting goals is practising self-motivation. Visual reminders like vision boards or motivation apps can keep you inspired. But regardless of your motivation, make sure you aren’t overloading yourself by trying to do everything at once. Breaking down your study into manageable chunks can help make it a bit less daunting.

Commit to a study routine

Life can be fairly hectic at the best of times, so incorporating study into the mix can be a little overwhelming, even to the super-organised. It’s important to establish a routine that incorporates everything you have going on, so you don’t feel snowed under.

Everyone’s routine will be different depending on their life circumstances, so you need to discover what works best for you. A study plan or timetable is a valuable tool that can give you a visual overview of your workload and help you stay accountable. It can also be tailored around work or social commitments. Firstly, know your existing commitments, then estimate how much time you’ll need for study, and finally leave some room for flexibility.

Create an encouraging study space

Another tip for how to get motivated to study, is to create the right environment. Consider:

  • Choosing a dedicated space that is clean, organised and quiet.
  • Ensuring your space has a decent-sized desk, an ergonomic chair and your screen contrast is comfortable to look at.
  • Having access to natural light, which studies have shown can improve mood and give you a better quality sleep.
  • Avoiding facing direct light which can be distracting and uncomfortable.
  • Listening to music, whether it is music without lyrics or louder music to keep your energy levels (as long as it’s not too distracting!)
  • Adding a bit of greenery, like a space-saving trailing plant, a low-maintenance succulent or a vibrant fern.

Eliminate temptations

Regardless of age, all of us can be  istracted by things that can tempt us into procrastination. Whether it’s watching TV, scrolling through Facebook or picking up that new novel, in terms of how to get motivated for study, it’s best to keep distractions to a minimum. Because the more focus you have, the better your ability to concentrate will be.

Tips include leaving your phone in another room, listening to music rather than having the TV on, or using that great book as a reward when you’ve completed a study milestone. Some phones have anti-procrastination features like the Screen Time feature on iPhones. There are also apps like Study Break that allow you to set timed study blocks and breaks.

Get enough sleep

According to the National Sleep Foundation, “sleep is an active period in which a lot of important processing, restoration, and strengthening occurs”, including:

  • Restoration – which helps our minds and bodies revitalise so they can function properly.
  • Energy conservation – when sleeping we are using less energy and building our reserves for the day ahead.
  • Brain processing and helping build memories – brain fluid increases its flow when we are sleeping, which helps us remember things we have learned during the day.
  • Enhancing our creativity and problem solving – when we sleep, our neuro-connections are linked which strengthens our brains.

Reward yourself

Some people can work really well under pressure, and a certain amount of pressure is needed in order for you to push yourself and succeed. However, in order to keep your mental and physical health in order, remember to reward yourself. Treats can be a great incentive for motivation and they can be as big or small as you like! Some include:

  • Watching a favourite TV show, movie or streaming service
  • Going to see a new-release movie
  • Enjoying some snacks you’ve been craving
  • Making your favourite meal for dinner
  • Getting outside for some exercise and fresh air
  • Face-timing a friend or family member
  • Meditating or doing some yoga
  • Reading your new favourite book or listening to a podcast
  • Soaking in a bubble bath
  • Purchasing something online you’ve been wanting
  • Getting a massage
  • Taking a day off

Use the Pomodoro Technique

A valuable tip if you’re looking for how to get motivated to study is to use the Pomodoro Technique. Invented by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, it uses a timer to break work down into intervals that are separated by short breaks. You can customise this method to suit  you and your specific study goals. The process includes:

  1. Setting a timer for 25 minutes and working on one task during that time.
  2. Stopping work when the timer goes off and putting a check mark on a piece of paper.
  3. If you have fewer than four checkmarks, taking a five-minute break.
  4. Repeating steps 1 to 3 until you have completed four “pomodoros”.
  5. After four “pomodoros”, taking a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes, resetting your checkmark count to zero and going back to step 1.

8 Highest Paying Careers – No Degree Required!  

There are many jobs that pay well without a degree! The world of recruitment has changed dramatically over the past few decades. Many organisations these days take a skills-based approach to hiring rather than the traditional degree-based approach. In fact, many careers don’t require a degree and employers themselves often determine what a candidate requires in order to secure an interview.

Taking the time to gain a degree (which is often years) can also be a negative, whereas Certificates and other entry pathways take a lot less time to obtain — time that could be spent honing your skills in the workplace, which can give you a competitive advantage. There are also a range of jobs that pay well without a degree, which is added incentive for you to undertake one of our online courses!

#1 – Construction Manager

Construction is a large industry that encompasses the construction, renovation, demolition, maintenance and repair of buildings and infrastructure. There are a wide variety of opportunities available for construction managers, from planning and surveying to structural construction and ensuring the sustainability and health of buildings.

Construction professionals are often sole traders with their own businesses, and with the continual boom of the real estate industry in Australia, the demand for construction managers is high. They can also earn fairly decent coin, as according to Payscale, Construction Managers earn an average of over $111,000 per year.

And while construction managers don’t need a tertiary degree to work in the construction industry, it does help if they have a number of particular skills in order to do the job well. These include having project management qualifications and practical experience in construction and building.

#2 – ICT Manager

Given the reliance modern workplaces have on technology, it’s no surprise that ICT Managers are well-paid. According to Payscale, they earn an average of over $105,000 per year. They are one of the most popular jobs that pay well without a degree. ICT managers also don’t just fix computer issues. They can be responsible for the acquisition, setup, security and ongoing maintenance of computer systems within an organisation. Many ICT Managers also create strategic policies and plans that are specific to a businesses’ unique needs.

You don’t need a degree to become an ICT Manager, although it is recommended that you have a broad knowledge of IT operations and computer systems. You can also enhance your career further by studying IT courses that focus on providing computer systems and service troubleshooting.

#3 – Project Manager

Project Managers are among the highest paid professionals in Australia. According to Payscale, they earn, on average, over $100,000 a year.

They are responsible for ensuring projects are completed on budget and on time. From building a website to constructing a bridge, project managers can work on a wide variety of projects. A great place to start if you are interested in a project management career is with a Certificate of Project Management.

#4 – Senior Care Worker

With Australia’s ageing population on the rise, the demand for senior care workers is growing rapidly. According to Treasury’s 2015 Intergenerational Report, the number of Australians aged 65 years and over is forecast to more than double over the next 40 years, increasing from around 3.6 million in 2014-15 to 8.9 million in 2054-55.

Senior care workers are responsible for monitoring and overseeing care assistants, care workers and home carers. According to Indeed, their average earnings a year are around $96,000. They are another one of the jobs that pay well without a degree, although basic qualifications are highly regarded. There is also the scope to study in specialised areas, including in home and community care or supporting elderly people with conditions like dementia.

#5 – Human Resources (HR) Manager

HR Managers play an integral role in workforce recruitment, planning, employee relations and performance management within an organisation. According to Payscale, they earn an average of over $91,000 a year. If you’re a people person who is passionate about shaping an organisation through employee management and helping employees reach their potential, then a career in HR is for you!

You don’t need a degree to be a HR Manager, although in order to work your way up from an entry level position, there a range of courses that will kick-start your career trajectory.

#6 – Digital Marketing Manager

Digital marketing is a crucial part of modern business, as regardless of the product or services a business provides, digital marketing can help grow their audience and customer base. And it not only has a range of diverse disciplines, it has proven over the years to be a moneymaker for organisations, so they are often willing to pay high salaries when they see direct returns on their investment.

If you are after jobs that pay well without a degree, you may want to consider the role of a Digital Marketing Manager, as, according to Payscale, they earn, on average, around $83,000 a year.  Specialising in platforms like social media can also allow you to diversify and boost the revenue of an organisation (and possibly even your salary!)

#7 – Health and Safety Advisor

Workplace Health and Safety Advisors play a critical role in ensuring staff, contractors and the general public are protected from potential hazards. They can work across a range of industries, including agriculture, construction, manufacturing, hospitality and transport.

According to Payscale, Health and Safety Advisors can earn an average of over $82,000 a year. You can work in this role in Australia without a degree, although you will need qualifications such as a Certificate of Workplace Health and Safety.

#8 – Office Manager

If you are looking for an office role and love to be organised, then a career as an Office Manager will be right up your alley! Responsible for the smooth running of an office on a day-to-day basis, the duties of Office Managers can vary greatly depending on the organisation they work for. Tasks can range from greeting visitors, developing new admin systems and setting up appointments, to managing office expenditure, booking business travel, organising the office layout and ordering equipment and stationery.

An Office Manager role is one of the more surprising jobs that pay well without a degree, with Payscale citing a salary of up to $81,000 per year. Undertaking an office administration course can also help you negotiate an even better salary!

5 Ways to Find a Publishing Job!

Publishing is a competitive industry, and getting a foot in the door can be challenging but possible. It’s also important to keep in mind that publishing is bigger than just editorial. Many people mistakenly think publishing is all about writing and editing, but that’s simply not the case. Publishing is a diverse and dynamic industry covering everything from typesetting and design to marketing and promotions. 

So, if you long to find a publishing job, make sure you know what area you’re most suited to before you start knocking on doors (digital or otherwise)! Do you have desktop publishing and design skills? Perhaps your strengths lie in editing and proofreading? You can break into the publishing industry with persistence, whatever your skillset. 

10 Types of Publishing Jobs 

There are typically five main areas of publishing, including writing and editorial; production; sales and distribution; and marketing and advertising. The following are some of the most common roles in the publishing industry.

Editor 

An editor’s primary role is to prepare content for publishing or production. An editor will obtain and review manuscripts and review them for market potential in line with the publishing house criteria. 

Copy Editor 

A copy editor is responsible for proofreading copy before publishing to ensure work is free of errors. One of the most crucial publishing jobs, copyeditors work closely with book editors to review manuscripts. 

Publisher 

In the publishing industry, a publisher is responsible for the daily operations of the publishing company. The role is crucial to the company’s editorial and commercial goals. Publishers establish publishing criteria, identify target markets, oversee manuscript and rights acquisitions, sales and marketing activities, and budget and production processes. 

Literary Agent

Literary agents search for books to be published. They’re responsible for sourcing new literary talent in the publishing industry. Their role requires finding promising authors, promoting books to editors, and receiving a commission on the sale.

Publicist

In publishing, a publicist works for a publishing company to attract press attention for books and authors. Publicists work directly with authors and agencies, pitch books and build relationships with reviewers, media outlets and websites. 

Marketers and/or Copywriters 

If you’re looking for a publishing job that requires writing, then marketing and copywriting might be the best fit for you. These publishing jobs are responsible for creating press releases, media kits, campaigns and catalogues that showcase books and authors.

Sales Positions 

Sales positions in publishing require excellent communication skills and collaboration with marketing and editorial departments. The role is responsible for closing book sales and being an expert on various books, titles and authors. 

Graphic Designer

A graphic designer is a publishing job focusing on creating visual content using digital and print processes. Responsibilities include designing book layouts, covers and jackets and marketing and promotional materials for publishing houses. 

Illustrator 

Illustrators working in a publishing house are responsible for drawing and creating visual artwork for digital and print publications and marketing and advertising collateral. Illustrators work with authors to create an art style, drafts and illustrations using software programs and physical tools of the trade.

Production Manager 

A production manager, often referred to as a production editor, oversees and coordinates the publishing production process. Responsibilities include making sure manuscripts are edited, designed, and printed to meet schedules and deadlines. Production managers commonly hire and supervise staff, including copy editors and proofreaders. 

5 Ways to Find a Publishing Job 

While a degree can make you an attractive candidate for a publishing job, it’s certainly not a requirement to find entry-level roles in the publishing industry. So, if you’re interested in publishing, even shorter online courses in publishing can give you the edge you need to compete for entry and mid-level positions. So, how do you get started in publishing? The following five ways can help you get a foot in the door.

  1. Apply for internships

Internships have replaced many trainees or apprenticeship models in creative industries such as journalism and publishing. So, don’t discount the value of an internship for the experience that leads to permanent employment. If you can, learn as much as you can in the short time, you’re interning and try to get experience in all areas and roles in the publishing company. It’s also helpful to add this experience to your resume and ask for a referee supervising your internship to be included as someone who can vouch for your work.

  1. Learn publishing programs 

Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator are just a few of the programs that publishers value when hiring entry-level employees. If you would like to secure a graphic design and illustration position, training in these areas is particularly important to securing a publishing job. 

  1. Build your digital skills

Social media and digital skills training courses help you gain the knowledge you’ll need in the publishing role. If you’re keen to secure a publishing job in the copywriting, marketing and advertising areas of publishing, a short course that improves social and digital media skills is a must. 

  1. Enrol in publishing courses

You don’t need a degree in publishing to get your foot in the door at a publishing house, but a short professional development course in publishing will improve your chances of securing an entry-level position. Australian Online Courses have three courses in publishing, including the Certificate of Publishing – Writing for Children; Certificate of Publishing – Commercial Non-Fiction; and Certificate of Publishing – Adult Fiction.

  1. Show you’re passionate about publishing. 

If you’re serious about finding a publishing job, it’s crucial to show your enthusiasm for the publishing industry. Read widely and research all the top publishing houses in your area. You should also join writer’s festivals, writing groups or indie start-ups that show your passion for publishing – it will set you apart when it comes to securing your dream role in publishing. 

You will have more success finding a publishing job if you are persistent and create opportunities for yourself. If you’d like to explore publishing as a career option, enrol in one of our online publishing courses. 

You can start studying for your future in publishing today with access to helpful support staff and knowledgeable tutors. 

 

How to Write a Company Newsletter

A company newsletter is an electronic or printed communication piece that an organisation uses for internal or external communications. Its goal is to stay top-of-mind with leads, prospects, partners, existing customers or employees. Short communication courses can give you insights into the world of corporate communications, including business writing.

There are typically three main types of newsletters:

  1. Employee newsletters. Often referred to as an “internal” newsletter, these are generally created for internal communication within an organisation.
  2. Customer newsletters. These are often used as part of marketing campaigns. They are designed to reach customers to build brand authority in an industry and keep customers alert to new products and services.
  3. Prospect newsletters. These often represent the foundation of marketing efforts. They build brand authority and help maintain relationships with leads, who (hopefully) become customers in time with nurturing. Electronically, these are referred to as Electronic Direct Mail (EDMs).

Print or email formats? 

Company newsletters can take two primary forms — printed or email newsletters. Before the modern advances in technology and data use, printed newsletters were the go-to. However, there are downsides to printed versions. They need to be designed and printed (often outside the organisation), and there are typically mail processing and postal charges — all of which add to the cost of production.

The other drawback with printed newsletters is the reduction in the ease of response (there is a reason it is often referred to as “junk mail”, as it is often thrown away). Even if they are opened and read, there is no easy way to prompt the audience to take the next step. The longer it takes the audience to act on the message they’ve received, the more likely it is that most of these customers simply won’t get around to responding, whether it be by visiting a website or taking action to purchase. 

As many short communication courses will teach you, email newsletters can bypass many of these challenges. According to software developer and marketer HubSpot, there are over four billion daily email users globally. Marketers who leverage segmented campaigns using email newsletters as part of their marketing strategies typically see higher reader engagement, significant increases in revenue, and a healthier return on investment for the money spent. Therefore, in this blog, we will focus on email newsletters and provide some tips on including interesting copy, following design rules and encouraging engagement.

Email design tips

A company newsletter shouldn’t be an afterthought. It should be planned and executed strategically in line with organisational and business objectives. Many short communication courses will teach you how to get the most out of electronic newsletters, but there are a few basic content and design rules that apply. Following these will ensure your customers don’t ignore, delete or unsubscribe to your newsletters. Important design elements include:

  • Branded visuals. This includes making sure the colour scheme matches your brand and fonts are legible and well-organised.
  • High-quality images. Copy should be backed up with appropriate images that are organised in an intuitive and mobile phone-responsive email template so the newsletter can be viewed on multiple devices.

Email content tips

Important content elements include:

  • A creative subject line. This will give readers a reason to open the email.
  • A strong call to action (CTA). This sums up what you are trying to achieve with your newsletter.
  • Informative and organised copy. Copy should be polished, engaging and kept to a minimum (because we are all time poor, right?) Sub-headings can also help your readers easily navigate through the content. Key positioning typically includes your logo at the top, followed by a small introduction, key content in the middle and an email footer and social icons at the bottom.
  • The ability to opt-out. There are laws pertaining to electronic mail, and one is giving your readers the ability to opt-out of receiving your emails.

Tips on compelling business storytelling 

Many short communication courses can also teach you how to write compelling copy that tells the story of your business and sets you apart from your competitors. Some tips include having:

  • A creative newsletter name. This sets the mood for what’s to come and keeps your readers coming back (you can find some inspiration here).
  • A customer, client or employee success story. Testimonials can be incredibly powerful and give other readers “proof” that you are an organisation or brand worth following!
  • A company story or employee spotlight. This gives readers an inside look into positive, real-life experiences with your organisation and intimate behind-the-scenes insights into your business. Important employee or company anniversaries or milestones are also valuable.
  • A letter from the CEO. A great way to make a connection between readers and your brand is by including a personal message from your organisation’s top leader.
  • Training resources, E-books or webinars. Readers will value the information you are sharing, particularly content that focuses on your organisation’s strengths.
  • Blog teasers. These are a great way of inspiring readers, particularly if you ask readers a question and then provide an informative, engaging answer in blog form.
  • Discounts or giveaways. Everybody likes freebies and discounts, and it can be a valuable way of building loyalty.
  • Surveys and FAQs. Often the smartest strategy for ensuring your target audience is suitably informed about your business is by being upfront and honest about your company goals and intentions. Surveys and FAQs promote transparency, particularly if you follow through with customer feedback (and show them how you have).
  • Use video email marketing. Creating content that includes videos is another valuable way of engaging with your audience. Common types of video content include brand, demonstration, educational, event highlight, team and product videos.

Getting results

Analysing its metrics is part of gauging whether your email newsletter is successful or not. Many short communication courses will tell you that common metrics can be tracked through marketing automation software and include:

  • Subscription growth rate
  • Deliverability rate
  • Spam rate
  • Un-subscription rate
  • Open rate
  • Click-to-open rate
  • Click-through rate

Click-through rates, in particular, can tell you a lot about the audience you are targeting. A high click-through rate means your audience is clicking on the calls to action or links that are embedded in your email. It’s a sign that you are sharing relatable messages and engaging your readers.

If you have a Google Analytics account set up on your website, you can also track incoming traffic from emails you’ve sent. The audience tab in Google Analytics can also help you understand the demographic you are targeting.

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