HOW TO CREATE A HEALTHY WORK FROM HOME ROUTINE

For some, working from home is an already established part of their daily routines. For others, it’s something that they’re needing to rapidly adapt to in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’re sharing 5 tips to make working from home easier, more focussed and highly productive.

Create a dedicated workspace

It’s easy to find yourself working from the couch, or from your bed when you first begin remote working. In the long run, this leads to poor posture, lack of focus and distractions.

Creating a functioning working environment in your home - within a spare room or at the dining table - allows you to have an area dedicated to work. This makes it easier to ‘leave work’ at the end of the day.

Get dressed

Creating a morning routine - similar to your usual workday routine - will help keep your working ay on track. Shower and dress as if you were going to work. Maintaining this routine will help you remain productive, and will lessen the chances that you find yourself working from bed, in your pyjamas.

Don’t work through lunch

In the same way that you’d utilise your lunch break at the office foie fresh air or to stretch your legs, giving yourself a dedicated lunch break when working from home is essential for keeping your productivity levels high, and your mental focus sharp.

Complete your shutdown ritual

At the end of each working day, take some time to practice a ‘shut down’ ritual. These are steps taken that, when done each day, help to form a routine, set boundaries, and effectively end your working day.

Some ideas are:

• Ensure your inbox is cleared

• Closed your email

• Review your next day’s tasks

• Set three big tasks for the following day to be completed

• Shut down your computer

Take short breaks

Getting up to stretch every 20-30 minutes is essential for maintaining a focus and keeping your mind fresh and active. Too many consecutive hours in front of your screen can lead to waning energy, headaches and a lack of productivity.

We’d love to know if you found these tips useful, and if you have any that you’d like to add, feel free to do so in the comment box below.

How To Work More Collaboratively In Teams

HOW TO WORK MORE COLLABORATIVELY IN TEAMS

No matter which career path you choose, it’s highly likely that you will need to work in a team environment for some, if not most, of your job. Working in teams - big or small - requires a skill set that most learn on the job.

Studies have shown that collaborative teams are overall more productive than teams where each member works in isolation, and collaboration has the added benefit of establishing and building trust.

Here are four tips to help get you started on working collaboratively in team environments.

Capitalise on strengths

Each member of your team, yourself included, will have unique strengths and weaknesses. Knowing how your strengths can work in collaboration to compliment another members’ strengths will help you understand the team dynamic and work more effectively together.

Encourage new ideas

For some, being a part of a wider team can be daunting, especially if they have trouble expressing their ideas and speaking up. Encouraging each member to offer an idea, solution or desired outcome ensures that each person’s unique viewpoint is heard.

Establish metrics

Working together towards a shared goal can sometimes be easier said than done. Setting expectations early through key metrics is important to hold each member of the team accountable and maintain transparency. To create a balanced system, performance metrics should be based on how well each person works, and their strengths, and should be evenly distributed amongst the wider team.

Celebrate collaboration

Maintaining momentum and motivation can be a challenge, especially with a larger team. Taking the time to highlight positive collaboration or the achievement of team goals goes a long way in strengthening the team. Simple ways to celebrate key moments are through team emails or making a point of shining a light on the person or task at a team meeting.

Next time you’re in a team environment, take a moment to implement some - if not all - of these tips for collaboration success. Following the right approach, and listening to feedback is a great path to long term results and success. 

The Importance Of Exercising When Studying

THE IMPORTANCE OF EXERCISING WHEN STUDYING

Regular exercise, be it short walks, resistance training, running or yoga, has been shown to increase brain function through the release of a protein called FNDC5. This protein produces a secondary protein, known as ‘brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which prompts your body to grow new nerves and helps existing brain cells to survive. 

All of this to say, when you exercise, it quite literally makes your brain stronger.

Other benefits of exercise for study include:

Improved concentration

According to research, when you perform exercise in as little as 20 minutes before studying - or during your study break - it results in a boost in concentration. Activities such as running and brisk walking can promote increased blood circulation, in turn increasing blood flow to the brain, and as a result increasing focus.

Enhanced memory

The protein produced through exercise is responsible for memory retention. It’s important to note that the intensity of exercise also plays a part, with more intensive exercises leading to increased levels of epinephrine, dopamine and BDNF levels.  

Increased productivity

Exercise, even when performed for short periods of time, has been found to facilitate improved productivity and motivation. A reason being that exercise increases blood flow, loosens muscles and relieves frustrations, which in turn frees up headspace for tasks to be completed.

Better quality of sleep

When exercise is neglected, it can lead to hypertension, obesity, depression and low academic performance. Integrating exercise into your daily routine has been shown to increase the discharge of melatonin, a hormone that manages sleep and alertness. It also has a positive effect on anxiety, stress, hypertension and depression - all of which can negatively impact sleep quality.

Reduced stress

Exercises such as yoga have been shown to stabilise blood pressure and regulate your heart rate, which works to reduce stress. Yoga works specifically to relax muscles which have been tightened due to stress and poor posture. Short breaks of yoga, or desk yoga, between study can help to reduce overall stress and increase academic performance. 

For better academic performance, ensure you schedule regular exercise into your daily routine, and allow for short study breaks of yoga or stretching.

Four Ways To Manage Time More Efficiently

FOUR WAYS TO MANAGE TIME MORE EFFICIENTLY

One of the key elements of successful study is effective time management, which becomes increasingly harder as you begin to juggle more in life - such as studies, work and family responsibilities. 

Good time management has many benefits across both your personal and professional life, and plays an important role in creating and maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle.

Here are four of our favourite time management techniques:

Create a “to-do” list

If there is one technique for time management that definitely does not work, it’s going in blind and without a plan. Creating a to-do list helps you visualise the tasks at hand, and helps you prioritise those tasks, which in turn streamlines your planning process for better time management.

Budget your time

It’s not enough to simply know which tasks you need complete; you now need to allocate time for each task. Knowing the estimated - or allocated - time for each task helps you to better plan your study schedule. Remember to include some time in your schedule for relaxation or study breaks. 

Focus on your long term goals

Setting your sights on big goals can be incredibly motivating when you look at the bigger picture, and you may find that in the midst of study sessions, when your focus is on smaller, more particular tasks, you may lose motivation. Knowing and understanding your long term goals, And taking time to reflect upon them, is an effective way to successfully accomplish your short term goals. 

Find a dedicated study or work area

Setting up an effective study or work area, away from distractions, is essential for effective time management. Working through your tasks to be completed, in the amount of time allocated, can quickly be derailed where there are distractions. 

Instead, create a quiet area free from your phone to complete your study or work. If you don’t have a suitable area at home, you can venture to your local library or cafe.

The Power Of A Study Schedule

When it comes to studying, it’s important to have a plan in place that acts as a guideline for how long you should be studying, what you should be studying and which topics you need to cover in the alloted time.

Without a schedule, it’s easy to spend too much time on one subject and neglect another, or even overlook key study topics.

Here are our top tips for creating and maintaining a healthy and effective schedule.

CREATE A BALANCED SCHEDULE

While it’s important to plan out your studies, it’s equally as important not to neglect allowing yourself time for lunch, for short breaks and for personal errands that may arise.

ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME

Ensure that you’ve allocated enough time for each subject. It’s highly likely that one topic or subject may require more time investment than others, and it’s important to plan for this.

CREATE CONSISTENCY

Studying at set times, and in set locations, can assist with creating a sense of routine in your study. Routine is important as it reduces time wasted in making decisions on where to study or deciding which materials are needed.

STUDY AS SOON AFTER CLASS AS POSSIBLE

The saying goes ‘strike while the iron’s hot’ for a reason. Studying as soon after class as possible helps to solidify your knowledge and allows you time to research and fill in any gaps you may have. Simply rewriting notes helps to transfer memories from short term to long term.

KEEP CAREFULLY ORGANISED NOTES

When studying, you’ll soon realise the importance of organised and detailed notes, as they will make your study a lot easier, and will save time retracing or relearning a subject. 

Creating a schedule, and sticking to it, is a vital element of the ultimate success of your studying. It also allows you to fully utilise your time, resources and knowledge for the desired outcome.

Career Paths You Can Take After Studying A Certificate III In Horticulture

CAREER PATHS YOU CAN TAKE AFTER STUDYING A CERTIFICATE III IN HORTICULTURE

Have you considered a hands on career, with the option to work in the fresh air that incorporates creativity and science? Studying horticulture could be for you. In a broad, progressive ever-expanding industry, horticulture offers a number of challenging roles with plenty of room for personal and career growth.

Discover some of the most rewarding career paths horticulture has to offer.

HORTICULTURAL TECHNICIAN

As a horticultural technician, you’ll be responsible for planting, nurturing and maintaining plant life in a wide variety of industries, including food, medicine, educational and decorative. You may also play a role in diagnosing and treating plant diseases.

LANDSCAPE DESIGNER

Using your skills to combine landscape and horticulture, you’ll create gardens that aspire to aesthetic objectives whilst also ensuring that the landscape has the correct soils, plants and maintenance to thrive long-term. Your clients could range from corporations, to governments or even private clients.

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

With a Certificate III in Horticulture, you might wish to flex your entrepreneurial muscle, and branch into a sector of business that pulls from your horticulture skills and know-how. Examples include setting up a farm, opening a nursery or establishing your own landscaping practice. 

PLANT PATHOLOGIST

If you’re not interested in working outdoors, plant pathology may be an ideal career path for you. As a plant pathologist, you’ll conduct experiments and tests to determine the diseases and their characteristics that may be a threat to plants.

You may also develop new strains of plants that are disease-resistant and contribute to society through the avenue of food production.

PEST MANAGEMENT

Experience in horticulture is the ideal introduction to a career in pest management. With a thorough understanding of horticulture and plant mechanics, you will be able to assist farm and garden owners to protect their flora from pests. 

If you are interested in learning more about our Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30716), contact us on info@sia.edu.au or call us directly on 1300 790 265.

Four Places To Study In Melbourne

FOUR PLACES TO STUDY IN MELBOURNE

When it comes to studying, Melbourne offers a rich variety of study locations that are not only conducive to learning, but are also free for public use. Whether you’re after a quiet spot nestled amongst books, or a lively spot surrounded by hustle and bustle, we’ve listed four of our favourites below.

The State Library of Victoria

Melbourne’s State Library has is our favourite study spot, with many levels and desk options. From open plan desks to private desks, you’re bound to find the right study spot.

To top it off, if you’re stumped on a subject or need extra study material, you’re in one of the best libraries Melbourne has to offer, so you’ll be bound to find the book you’re after.

Something to note though, is that the library opens from 10am - 9pm Monday - Thursday, and until 6pm on Fridays and weekends.

Melbourne Museum 

If you enjoy studying with a side of creative inspiration, the Melbourne Museum is your go-to. Open daily from 10am-5pm, you’ll find yourself surrounded by beautiful works of art and fascinating exhibits, which lend themselves to a inspiring study session.

Melbourne Central and Emporium Concourse

Located in the walkway connecting Melbourne Central to the Emporium, this study area is a favourite with students. Offering recently updated facilities, such as wireless charging pads, and large bright windows overlooking the city, you’ll be surrounded by like minded students. Another perk? You’re a minute walk away from great coffee and cafes.

Auction Rooms Cafe

Located in North Melbourne, Auction Rooms is a fantastic study option. With some of Melbourne’s best coffee on offer, and an all-day menu, you won’t have to leave for lunch. With an industrial interior, lots of space and seating, plenty of power outlets and reliable internet, it makes for a great study spot.

City Library

With six branches located in the central city, Carlton, Docklands, East Melbourne, North Melbourne and Southbank, you’ll have plenty of sites to choose from. With great facilities and quiet nooks, you’ll have hours of uninterrupted study.

Five Reasons To Study A Certificate IV In Allied Health This Year

FIVE REASONS TO STUDY A CERTIFICATE IV IN ALLIED HEALTH THIS YEAR

A career in Allied Health is incredibly rewarding and offers daily opportunities to enrich the lives of those you work with, and help make a positive impact on those who need it most. 

Allied Health roles include Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Podiatry, Speech Pathology, Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy and Exercise Physiology.

If you’ve ever considered a career in any of the above, this is the right course for you, and here’s why.

PRACTICAL AND SPECIALIST SKILLS

While studying Allied Health, you’ll be equipped with a highly practical skillset, learning from incredibly passionate and experienced teachers. You’ll also have ample opportunity for hands on practice with reputable and innovative health professionals through organised practical work placements. 

GREAT JOB PROSPECTS

With Allied Health professionals representing approximately 30% of the Australian Health workforce, and expected to continue increasing, there’s never been a better time to study an Allied Health course.

Career prospects include working in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Audiology, Athletic Training and even Dental Hygiene.

JOB SATISFACTION

Working so closely with people in a hands on role means building connections and positively impacting peoples’ lives. Caring for others, and being a part of their health journey, is an incredibly rewarding and satisfying element of any Allied Health role.

DAILY VARIETY

In a people-centric job role, each day is different. You’ll be caring for different patients, who will each have different needs, requirements and treatment plans. Not knowing what will arise with each day keeps the job interesting and the challenges fresh.

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY

One unchanging truth is that each country has a need for healthcare professionals, which opens up job opportunities for Allied Health professionals on a global scale. So, no matter where your career takes you, you’ll be backed by one of the world’s most in-demand skill sets.

If you’re interested in learning more about our Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance – (HLT43015) (Physiotherapy), contact us on info@sia.edu.au or call us directly on 1300 790 265

Setting A Positive Mindset For The Year Ahead

SETTING A POSITIVE MINDSET FOR THE YEAR AHEAD

With the first month of 2020 behind us, it can be easy to lose focus on any goals you’d set for yourself for the year ahead. This can sometimes lead to a shift in mindset, with a swing to a more negative outlook. However, when it comes to achieving your goals, mindset is everything. So, we’ve pulled together a list of our favourite methods for creating and cultivating a positive mindset.

FIND YOUR WHY

Having a goal is one thing, but finding your reason - your ‘why’ - is another. It’s easy to mistake your ‘why’ for your goal, but they’re separate. Your ‘why’ helps to cement the goals you have, and they’re the underlying reason for any goals you set; they’re also essential for keeping you on track and pushing forward.

PRACTICE GRATITUDE

Each day you’re faced with challenges, and it can be easy to let them get the better of you. However, when you practice gratitude, you remind yourself of all the positives despite the challenges. For example, taking a moment to be grateful for the people you’re surrounded by, where you live, and even being able to buy groceries can help shift your mindset into a more positive space. 

SAVOUR THE GOOD

It’s often not enough to just practice gratitude, sometimes we need to take a moment to savour the good too.

It can be easy to let great - or even good - moments pass without acknowledging them, but stopping and holding onto those positive feelings can be a great way to develop long-lasting positive thoughts and emotions.

SHARE POSITIVITY

You may have heard that by simply smiling, even when you don’t want to, your body produces feel-good neurotransmitters called dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. These cause you to feel happy, relieve stress and act as a 100% natural painkiller. And more than that? Smiling is contagious.

So, whenever you feel moments of positivity, sharing them with people around you not only boosts your mood but also positively impacts those around you. 

TREAT YOURSELF WITH KINDNESS

It’s important to remember that while these guidelines can help you cultivate a positive mindset, you needn’t dedicate all your time and energy to them. Being a positive person, and creating a positive mindset involves a conscious commitment to meeting your own needs and practicing kindness and patience with yourself.

Nothing happens overnight, but small steps taken everyday will all add up to one giant leap.

5 Different/Effective Ways to Study

5 DIFFERENT / EFFECTIVE WAYS TO STUDY

When it comes to studying, we are all unique and learn in different ways. For some, they may find that they learn best by teaching, and others may learn by ‘doing’.

No matter how you choose to study, there is no one-size-fits all approach, but we’re here to talk to you about 5 of the most effective ways to study, no matter how you like to learn.

Take a Pre-Test

This might sound a little backwards, but testing yourself on the subject you’re trying to learn, before you undertake your studying, has been shown to improve post-test results more than just study itself.

Space Out Your Study 

Cramming isn’t an effective solution when it comes to studying, and we recommend spacing out your studies to allow your brain, time to absorb the information given to it. Focusing on a specific topic for short periods on different days has been shown to improve retention and recall. An effective way to practice spaced study is using flash cards and self-quizzing. When using flash cards, create different piles when reviewing your cards. Cards that were answered correctly should be placed in a pile and reviewed three days later. Those answered with difficulty should be reviewed two days later, and those that were answered incorrectly should be reviewed the next day.

Practice by Self-Quizzing

Much like the methods in spacing study, self quizzing can be extremely helpful as a method of active retrieval practice. As you learn new information and topics, create questions for yourself relating to specific areas, such as what you may expect to find in a test. Take the time to answer these questions whenever you study, even if you feel that you know the answer.

Teach Others

This may sound a little confusing - afterall, how could you possibly teach someone something you’re trying to learn yourself? The benefit to teaching others is that it forces you to not only learn the information, but more importantly to understand it. If one of your ‘students’ asks for further explanation, it creates a scenario you wouldn’t have been faced with otherwise. 

Paraphrase Your Learning

How many times have you read a textbook, about to turn the page, when you realise you haven’t retained any of what you’ve read? This is more common than you think, and one of the best ways to overcome this is to paraphrase each page or section as you finish it. Explain or write the information as you might explain it to a five year old, or reflect on, and ask questions about the content. 

Benefits of Setting Goals

BENEFITS OF SETTING GOALS  

Not only does setting goals keep you accountable, but it also allows you to reflect on your past endeavors, and set new directions and destinations for yourself. 

Three key benefits to setting goals are:

Clarity

By setting goals, you make a clear list of what’s important to you, and this can take the weight off when it comes to making decisions. Instead of being faced with a decision that leads to an unclear path, you are now able to make better decisions on how you want to proceed and follow paths that reflect, and help you accomplish, your greater goals.

Direction

Goals give you focus and something to aim for, whether it’s a financial goal, career goal or study goal. They help you establish a path to where you ultimately want to be in life and what you would like to achieve. 

Setting goals helps you move forward with purpose, alignment and direction,

Motivation 

With something to aspire to, goals can provide incredible motivation and purpose. Long term goals are often accompanied by short term goals, which are effectively ‘milestones’ in life, that serve to get you closer to your big life goals.

With clear written goals, you are able to focus and take positive proactive steps to achieving them.

The process of setting goals can sometimes be overwhelming, but it’s an incredibly invaluable exercise that will ultimately help you create the life you want, and offer you greater satisfaction in your achievements.

5 Ways to be a Better Leader

5 WAYS TO BE A BETTER LEADER

As you complete your studies and enter the workplace, you’ll find yourself in contact - either directly or indirectly - with those in leadership roles, such as managers and directors .However, leadership generally isn’t a quality people are born with, in fact, it’s a learned skill that can take years to master effectively. An important incentive to learn leadership skills is increased employability, so we’ve pulled together some of the 5 best practices for leadership.

Have Humility

Arrogance is never an aspirational quality in a leader, and in fact the opposite is true. No matter your position, it’s important to practice humility; people want to know that their leader understands them and can relate to their issues.

Lead by Example

When asking others to perform a task, it’s important to show that it’s something you’d be willing to do yourself. For example, if you would like others to tidy after themselves in communal spaces, be proactive in cleaning after yourself. Not only does this show others that you practice what you preach, but it also builds trust and respect. 

Communicate Effectively 

Without communication, things can quickly fall apart. Effective communication paves the way for strong relationships, with changes of misunderstandings becoming fewer. Great leaders know how to speak to people, regardless of personality types, to convey ideas and produce solutions.

Seek Mentorship

As the old saying goes, we are standing on the shoulders of giants. While Isaac Newton wasn’t referring to leaders, this very much applies here. Acknowledging your shortcomings and being open and willing to learn from those with more experience and knowledge than you will always pay dividends further down the road. Great leaders are often bred by being great followers.

Respect Boundaries

When it comes to people, communicating your boundaries and when/if it’s appropriate to cross them is key. While being humble is a key characteristic of a leader, it’s also important to let people know that you practice boundaries that can’t be crossed.

How 'SMART' Goals can Assist you in your Studies.

HOW 'SMART' GOALS CAN ASSIST YOU IN YOUR STUDIES

Study needs structure, whether it’s goal setting, time allocation or topic planning. One of the best ways to assist in your study is to set yourself what are known as S.M.A.R.T goals. 
These are designed to help you identify if what you would like to achieve is realistic and can assist with deadline setting too.

SPECIFIC

When setting goals, they should be clear and specific, otherwise you’ll find staying focused a challenge. When planning your goals, try to answer the following ‘W’ questions:

What do I want to accomplish?

Why is my goal important? 

Who is involved?

Where is it located?

Which resources or limits are involved?

MEASURABLE 

Having goals is an important first step, but even more important is being able to measure and know if you have achieved these goals. This will help you stay focussed, track progress and meet your deadlines.

Examples may be:

-      When will it need to be accomplished

-      How many are needed?

ACHIEVABLE

Once you’ve set a goal and determined the measurability of it, you’ll need to ascertain whether it is achievable or not. A goal can be incredibly challenging, but still achievable. 

An achievable goal will need to answer questions such as:

-      How can I accomplish this goal?

-      What do I need to accomplish this goal?

-      How realistic is this goal?

REALISTIC

This step is all about ensuring your goal is realistic - or relevant - to you. Are you able to achieve this goal? While we all need support in achieving goals, it is important that you are in control of the goals you set for yourself. 

A realistic goal will answer ‘yes’ to the following:

-      Is this the right time?

-      Can I reach this goal?

-      Does it seem worthwhile?

TIMELY

For success, every goal needs a time frame for achievement. This target date ensures you have something to work towards and will keep you on track. This part of the S.M.A.R.T goal setting ensures that everyday tasks don’t overshadow long-term goals. 

Time-bound tasks will be able to answer the following:

-      When is it due?

-      What are the sub-tasks that can be done today?

S.M.A.R.T goals are not only incredibly useful when it comes to studying, but they can also be applied to personal development, travel plans or events.

Increasing Demand for Aged Care Workers in Australia.

INCREASING DEMAND FOR AGED CARE WORKERS IN AUSTRALIA

The Aged Care industry is one of the fastest growing industries in Australia with 

regards to employment projections.

The future growth of the aged care sector in Australia in expected to be significant in the coming years. It has been forecasted to double, over the next 40 years increasing from around 3.6 million in 2014-15 to 8.9 million by 2054-55. (Aged Care Health) 

The aged care industry provides older Australians with a range of different services, allowing them to access appropriate levels of care when they require it. At present the aged care sector is made up of a workforce that directly employs more than 350,000 workers and supports over 189, 283 residential care facilitates and 66,149 home care facilities. (Deloitte Access Economics)

With the significant increase in aging Australians, the Australian Government is predicting a that 76,000 new residential aged care facilitates will be required by 2023-24 to meet the growing demand, and therefore we are expected to see a tremendous increase in the number of jobs available. (Deloitte Access Economics) 

The role of an aged care worker within the industry can vary from nurses, care workers, management and administrative staff support roles. 

Stirling Institute of Australia’s Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015)prepares you to care for Australian seniors effectively in residential facilities or in their homes, making a real change in their lives. 

This qualification reflects the role of workers in the community and / or residential setting who follow an individualised plan to provide person-cantered support to people who may require support due to ageing, disability or some other reason.

Interested in learning where a career in the aged care sector could take you? Speak with one of our career consultants today on 1300 790 265 or enter your details in the contact us form on our website for a representative to call you. 

Please note –This training is delivered with Victorian & Commonwealth Government Funding. (Eligibility Criteria applies - speak with our representative to learn more). 

Source – 

(1)  2019, Aged Care Health, www.agedcare.health.gov.au

(2)  Deloitte Access Economics: Australia’s aged care sector: economic contribution and future directions 

THE MAN WITH THE PLAN

Josh Rennex is a man on a mission.

 Whether it be cleverly outsmarting opposition defences on the pitch or carefully planning for his professional future, there is a drive and determination to Josh Rennex that is refreshingly palpable.

 A young man with a casual exterior and laid-back persona, it is onwards and upwards for ‘The Man With The Plan’ since completing his Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30716) qualification at the Stirling Institute of Australia (TOID 21132).

 Relaxed but calculated, polite yet competitive, it’s not hard to feel comfortable around a likeable young man with such a seemingly placid and gentle nature.

 But don’t be fooled by the friendly mannerisms and approachable personality, for behind the well-mannered, slightly vulnerable exterior is a highly organised, intelligent man with a burning desire to succeed.

 “I’ve always been pretty competitive in whatever I do,” Josh says.

 “Whether it’s playing lawn bowls on the weekend or trying to do my best in class, I just don’t like losing,” he adds matter-of-factly.

 That’s ‘The Man With The Plan.’

 Not surprisingly, Josh was an exemplary student throughout Stirling’s highly regarded and increasingly popular Certificate III in Horticulture program based at Noble Park.

 The one day a week course runs for 35 weeks in duration along with 120 practical placement hours, and Josh is quick to praise those who assisted him in complet

“The Horticulture course at Stirling was first class,” Josh says.

 “The facility is excellent, the staff are really accommodating and the Trainers are both current and experienced.”

“I’ve always enjoyed being outdoors, so it seemed a natural fit to study a course like Horticulture and ultimately build a career in the industry,” he adds.

 They are profound words from a bright young man with the foresight to know what he wants in life and perhaps more importantly how he plans to get there.

 Acknowledged for his work ethic, reliability and attention to detail throughout the course, Josh’s qualities and attributes would not go unnoticed, particularly by those who he impressed during his work placement with Citywide Landscape Construction.

 “The placement was initially set up by Stirling,” Josh says.

 “It’s one of the real positives of the course at Stirling – they actively help in finding placements for all their students which is fantastic because it can be quite daunting and overwhelming for some people.”

 “I really enjoyed the placement with such a great company so I thought it can’t hurt to ask if there was an opportunity to join Citywide on a full-time basis after I completed my qualification,” he adds.

 Josh Rennex is now a full-time landscape crew employee with Citywide Landscape Construction.

 That’s ‘The Man With The Plan.’

At only 21, it would appear that Josh Rennex has the world at his feet.

 Mature beyond his years, his zest for knowledge and methodical planning comes as no surprise to many, including his trainer at the Stirling Institute of Australia, Quentin Kirley.

 “Josh is a real go getter,” Kirley says.

 “As a trainer you see many students come and go, but you could see right from the start that Josh had something special.” he adds.

 It’s a glowing endorsement from a highly experienced trainer who stops short at wanting to single out any of his Horticulture pupils.

 “Josh was a hard worker from the outset. He had a definitive plan he was working towards and I’m not surprised that he has progressed so quickly since completing his Certificate III in Horticulture at Stirling,” he adds.

 So what’s next, I hear you ask, for ‘The Man With The Plan?’

 For a young man with a Certificate III in Horticulture and 12 years of experience as a lawn bowler under his belt, you don’t have to be Einstein to work out what may be next on Josh Rennex’s professional agenda.

 “I’d love to get involved in turf management down the track,” Josh says with a smile.

 “At the moment I just want to gain as much knowledge and experience as I can, but with my passion for lawn bowls and perhaps further education in the future, who knows, anything is possible.”

 That’s ‘The Man With The Plan.’

 The Stirling Institute of Australia’s Certificate III in Horticulture course is run one day a week for 35 weeks plus 120 practical placement hours at various locations throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

 For more information please call on 1300 790 265 or visit www.sia.edu.au

DO YOU CARE?

YES WE DO! – If you love caring for others, then you’ve come to the right place.

Did you know?

One of the fastest growing industries in terms of employment projections is within the Health & Community Services sector.

That’s right and we’re talking about Aged Care & Allied Health.

Here are some things that you need to know if you are intending on changing careers.

LMIP Projection

According to the Australian Government’s Labour Market Information Portal (LMIP),
It is projected that:

39.9%

Between Personal Carers & Assistants, Aged and Disabled Carers, there will be an expected growth of 39.9% which is equivalent to 168,000 jobs!

29.6%

For Allied Health Services an expected increase of 29.6% or approximately 55,200 jobs.

NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is an initiative that will generate a need for up to 18,100 full time positions to be filled by 2020.

This is achieved with the assistance of funding injected into the scheme
expected to be up to $5.1 billion by 2020.

Reference & more information:

Labour Market Information Portal – Employment Projection

NDIS – Victoria MPS

ANATOMY OF AN ALLIED HEALTH ASSISTANT

The Stirling Institute of Australia (RTOID 21132) embodies a holistic method of education and training with a specific emphasis on the practical components associated with each and every one of its courses.

In simple terms, we strongly believe that the best way to learn is to experience.

Never is this philosophy more relevant than in Stirling’s Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance program (HLT43015).

‘Allied Health’ is a term used to describe the broad range of health professionals who are not doctors, dentists or nurses.

Allied health professionals aim to prevent, diagnose and treat a range of conditions and illnesses and often work within multidisciplinary health teams to provide the best possible patient outcomes.

Allied Health professionals currently represent approximately 30% of the Australian health workforce, encompassing more than 175,000 practicing individuals across 22 professions including Physiotherapy, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Podiatry, Speech Pathology, Pharmacy, Occupational Therapy and Exercise Physiology.

The Stirling Institute of Australia’s Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance program is conducted one day a week for a period of 30 weeks, along with 120 hours of practical industry placement.

The qualification best reflects the role of individuals who provide therapeutic and program related support and assistance to Allied Health professionals.

As a result of the extremely broad scope of Allied Health professions across the board, this qualification is particularly appealing

to anyone interested in pursuing a career as an Allied Health Assistant in health related professions either specifically or in general.

In other words, the Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance program is suitable for students already with a specific health profession in mind, but also for those who are unsure, or yet to categorically determine which profession they wish to pursue as a career in the future.

Furthermore, the course is particularly attractive for first year students in courses such as Physiotherapy, Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Podiatry and Occupational Therapy.

For these students specifically, a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance provides a qualification and pathway to be able to work in their field of choice while simultaneously completing their ‘major’ qualification.

Without a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance qualification, such students are not qualified to work while they study (in their health related profession of choice) and are often forced to look for jobs in completely unrelated industries to subsidise their substantial university fees.

From a course syllabus perspective, having a clear and definitive emphasis on the practical component of this qualification is a non-negotiable pre-requisite, according to the Stirling Institute of Australia.

The provision of a first class practical workplace and health related equipment is critical, particularly in the delivery of hands-on units including client-specific physiotherapy programs, implementing injury prevention strategies, conducting group sessions for individual client outcomes and instructing fitness programs.

The current group of Allied Health Assistant students at Stirling are a classic cross-section of students from a diverse range of backgrounds and with varied objectives and motivations.

From Physiotherapy students to aspiring Exercise Physiologists, the group has been particularly impressive thus far throughout the program, and collectively speak glowingly of the course, staff and facilities at the Stirling Institute of Australia.

“The course at Stirling has been fantastic,” says Lisa (SIA Allied Health student).

Trainer Adam Heath with students from SIA’s Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (HLT43015) program.

“The teaching and facilities are outstanding, and we’re a pretty tight knit group so the whole experience has been really beneficial,” she adds.

“I’m currently studying Physiotherapy, and in reality if you want to work in the field while you are studying, which I do, you need to complete a qualification like Allied Health Assistance, otherwise you are essentially just a qualified Year 12 student.”

They are profound words from an intelligent young woman who clearly knows what she wants in life and how she plans to get there.
She is not alone in her plans to work in the same industry that she studies, and her sentiments are supported strongly by her fellow SIA colleagues.

“The primary objective is to get a job in the industry from this course,” says Georgia (SIA Allied Health student).

“I really like the content of the course and the method in which it is taught.” “Adam (SIA Trainer) has been outstanding and we are all really happy with how the course has been structured – It’s really interactive and delivers exactly on what we are all trying to achieve,” she adds.

Adam Heath, a senior trainer of Allied Health at SIA is quick to praise his prodigy of students and current group of Allied Health Assistance students. “This group of students is particularly well equipped to achieve exactly what the Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance is designed to do,” Heath says.

“They are an intelligent bunch, with the foresight to know that studying a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance can only be beneficial with respect to what each individual is trying to achieve within their careers,” he adds.

For more information on Stirling’s (TOID 21132) Certificate IV in Allied Health course please contact us at info@sia.edu.au.

Released May 2018

SIMPLY STIRLING

The Scottish town of Stirling needs no introduction.

Best remembered in medieval times for the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, where William Wallace led a grossly outnumbered Scottish army in conquering its nemesis England, the infamous battle is as significant as any in Scotland’s history and successful struggle in finally gaining its independence from English rule.

The Stirling Institute of Australia (RTOID 21132) may not share the colourful history or drama of its Geographical namesake, however its position and relevance in the Victorian education and training sector is significant, and growing exponentially.

Now in its third year of existence, The Stirling Institute of Australia (SIA) continues to enhance its reputation as one of the most reliable and professional registered training organisations in Victoria.

Highly regarded for its diversification, flexibility and unwavering attention to detail, SIA deliver a broad range of qualifications across a variety of industries encompassing a widespread geographical reach throughout metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.

SIA’s courses are efficient in design and practical in method, run by highly talented, experienced trainers and reinforced by qualified support staff.

Qualifications range from Certificate I through to Diploma level, and include:
Certificate I in EAL (Access)(22250VIC)
Certificate II in EAL (Access)(22251VIC)
Certificate III in Horticulture (AHC30716)
Certificate III in Food Processing (FDF30111)
Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015) (Ageing) or (Ageing/Disability) Streams
Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015)
Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (HLT43015)
Diploma of Business (BSB50215)
Diploma of Leadership and Management (BSB51915)
Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy (10177NAT)

The Stirling Institute of Australia has a clear and definitive emphasis on completion rates and employment outcomes for its students.

In its unwavering commitment to achieving this, SIA offer all students work experience or work placement throughout all of their programs, irrespective of whether the qualification requires It or not.

Not only is this an additional learning tool for students throughout their study, it is by far the most practical and realistic method of preparing students for future employment.

In contrast to other training organisations, Stirling meticulously review their students prior to the commencement of all of their programs to ensure they attract the most suitable students who are totally committed and dedicated to completing their respective qualifications.

Equally, SIA’s flexibility remains one of its strongest points of difference in comparison to other registered training organisations.

Innovative in their approach, Stirling’s philosophy with respect to training locations is consistent with their commitment to their students – if the interest is there, Stirling will come, and this is reflected by the numerous Victorian regional locations that currently incorporate SIA students and courses.

Stirling offers quality hands on training with a clear emphasis on the practical components associated with each qualification.

Their mantra of “We believe the best way to learn is to experience” is aptly reflected by the compulsory incorporation of a practical training venue or simulated lab at each of SIA’s training locations.

With a clear emphasis on health and wellbeing related qualifications, the importance of practical based training methods is as critical as it is effective, and the Stirling Institute of Australia continues to break new ground and be an industry leader in this regard.

SIA Director, David Youssf believes Stirling’s practical training methods and philosophy of aligning each and every student with the most appropriate qualification are two of the reasons why the company has flourished in its first two years of operation.

“We are strong in our belief at Stirling that the best way to learn is to experience – in a practical, hands-on, professional training environment,” Youssf says.

“We are meticulous in doing our due diligence on each and every student, not only to ensure they are suitable for their respective course but also to understand their needs and objectives and then developing a program that delivers on those requirements,” he adds.

The Stirling Institute of Australia is a rapidly growing training organisation providing quality education and training in a practical and professional learning environment.

For more information on any of Stirling’s courses contact info@sia.edu.au 

Released May 2018