Today’s executive assistants are tech-savvy project managers who work hard, take on complex tasks and are well compensated for it. So, if you’ve been considering a career as an Executive or Personal Assistant, you’ll enjoy a highly rewarding, challenging role that’s full of potential.
The Executive Assistant Program is an online professional development program that will provide you with the knowledge and skills required to develop your career as an Executive or Personal Assistant.
In this executive assistant course, you will discover administrative support, office communications, recordkeeping, and time management strategies. You will also learn to nurture relationships and manage personal and professional development.
Throughout this course, you will learn to design and produce business documents, communicate with stakeholders, establish and meet work priorities and organise schedules, appointments, and meetings.
On completion of this program, you will maximise your communication effectiveness, improve your time management skills and develop your professional competence and success as an Executive or Personal Assistant.
Course Structure
Unit 1 - Organise personal work priorities
- Develop work goals and Key performance indicators (KPI’s)
- Organisational objectives
- Team goals
- Personal work goals
- KPI’s
- Time management
- Prioritising tasks
- Urgency – urgent/non urgent tasks
- Minimising constraints
- Providing training for workers
- Developing a work plan
- Risk assessment and contingencies
- Performance issues
- Work standards
- Work variations – not providing quality of service
- Seeking feedback
- Performance reviews
- Signs and symptoms of stress
- Needing extra support
- Identifying skills gaps
- Personal and professional development needs
- What skills do you need to improve?
- Accessing learning support
- Recording achievements
- Incorporate feedback into learning plans
- Organisational policies and procedures
- Signs of workplace stress
Unit 2 - Plan and apply time management
- Work goals and plans
- Discussions with supervisors, managers and team
- Short-term and long-term goals
- Team performance
- Relationship between work and organisational goals and plans
- Time management techniques and strategies
- Time management plan
- Time management tools
- Planning and prioritising work tasks
- Perform tasks according to timelines and instructions
- Compiling lists with deadlines and priority
- Seek assistance from colleagues when difficulties arise
- Appropriate action
- Factors affecting your work plan
- Communicating progress
- Seek feedback
- Evaluate own performance
- Address feedback to improve your time management
- Plan opportunities for improvement
- Employee development plans
- Develop and improve skills
Unit 3 - Design and produce business documents
- Technology and software requirements
- Business suites
- Word processing
- Desktop publishing
- Spreadsheets
- Software applications – what is it to be used for?
- Software suitable for specific tasks
- Layout and style
- Document design principles
- Format and style
- Identifying, opening and creating files
- Opening a Microsoft Office program
- Creating files
- Designing a document
- Templates
- Styles and working with themes
- Organisational requirements
- Editing
- Checking documents meet task requirements
- Enhancements to formatting
- Creating a mail merge
- Storing and saving documents appropriately
- Difficulties with document design and production
- Help functions
- Proofreading (spelling, grammar and punctuation)
- Changes
- Saving and naming documents
- Document presentation
- Printing and PDF file format
Unit 4 - Organise business meetings
- Type and purpose of meeting
- Meeting types
- Frequency options
- Legal, ethical and organisational requirements
- Meeting arrangements
- Prepare notice of meeting, agenda and meeting papers
- Distribute documentation and meeting details
- Confirm required resources (speakers and printed materials)
- Taking meeting notes
- Assign minute taker
- Key decisions and actions
- Accurate minutes
- Distribute meeting materials within designated timelines
Unit 5- Organise schedules
- Establish schedule requirements
- Organisational requirements for staff planning tools
- Planning tools
- Appointment types
- Items to diarise
- Features of scheduling systems
- Daily tasks
- Appointment schedules consultatively
- Recurring appointments and deadlines
- Scheduling new appointments according to timelines
- Negotiating arrangements to appointments
- Record and manage appointments and schedules
- Seek feedback on schedules
- Effectiveness of schedules
- Identify improvements
- Regular meetings
Unit 6 - Apply communication skills
- Identify your work tasks
- Channels of communication
- Verbal, written and visual communication
- Identify organisation channels
- Identify stake holders
- Seek advice from supervisors
- Purpose and planning communication
- Closed and open questions
- Speaking skills
- Effective listening
- Non-verbal communication
- Body language
- Using symbols to communication
- Seek and respond to feedback
- Format requirements
- Document proposals
- Policies and procedures
- Templates and style guides
- Drafting proposals and submit for approval
- Editing and formatting
Unit 7 - Develop and maintain strategic business networks
- Purpose of strategic business networking
- Alignment between networking and organisational strategy
- Internal and external business networks
- Professional and ethical networking practices
- Strategic networking objectives
- Identifying relevant business contacts
- Evaluating contacts for strategic fit and value
- Planning communication purpose and messages
- Selecting appropriate networking methods
- Establishing professional contact
- Communicating value and mutual benefit
- Engaging internal and external stakeholders
- Confirming communication channels and protocols
- Reviewing existing business relationships
- Assessing strategic importance of networks
- Planning and maintaining key relationships
- Identifying collaboration opportunities
- Monitoring and improving network effectiveness
- Strategic thinking and judgement
- Professional communication and influence
- Relationship management and trust-building
- Culturally aware and ethical practice
Study Hours
Estimated duration 90 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
My experience with Australian online courses has been great and would do another course through them and recommend them to everyone to use.
S. Muir, Duingal, QLD | Executive Assistant Program
I was very happy with the experience and look forward to completing more in the future!
R. Kirwood, Wynnum West QLD | Executive Assistant Program
I thought overall the course was excellent
M. Jones, Southbank, VIC | Executive Assistant Program
Experience was smooth and simple, loved that fact that study expectations were set to your own pace of learning, was great to be able to complete during any spare time as well as time allocated to study. All tutors who I communicated with were easy to contact and were quick to reply to any questions I had. Overall would recommend Australian Online Course to anyone looking to do short courses online.
T. King, Toowoomba, QLD | Executive Assistant Program
My experience was very seamless and easy to understand. It was very straightforward and the learning material was very useful.
Kate-Leigh | Taigum, QLD | Executive Assistant Program
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrolment Form – Employment Services and Rehabilitation Providers
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and EFT/Direct Deposit. Please allow 1-2 Business days for processing for EFT and BPAY.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
- Executive Assistant
- Personnel Assistant
- Administrative Assistant
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