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.

FINDING THE PERFECT WORK-LIFE BALANCE

Finding the Perfect Work-Life Balance

Finding, and maintaining, a healthy work-life balance can often be a challenging task. While work-life balance means something different to everyone, we have some tips that you can implement to help you find your perfect middle ground.

BETTER DONE THAN PERFECT

The desire to create something perfect can often eat into your already limited time, and in turn burn you out. A key practice is to let go of the need to create something ‘perfect’ and in turn celebrate the achievement of getting the task done. This simple mindset shift can save you hours each day and help to free up your time.

PUT TECH ON A TIMER

Mobile phones and TV are some of the largest culprits when it comes to distraction. When you have time to yourself it’s easy to reach for your phone and throw away hours checking emails or scrolling on social media. Instead, take the time to be present in the moment, making your quality time last longer.

EXERCISE IS KEY

Burnout isn’t only reserved for perfectionism, it can also be caused by built up stress. Making time each day for quality exercise can help to reduce stress levels, meaning more productivity at work and more quality time at home. 

LIMIT TIME-WASTING

Similar to putting tech on a timer, it’s important to recognise all time-wasting activities. These can include procrastination, indecision, social media and streaming services. Making a conscious effort to reduce these activities and help free up more time and create a healthier balance.

CREATE STRUCTURE

Planning out your day has many benefits, the most compelling of which is time management. Instead of trying to do everything at once, determine which of your tasks are urgent and to be completed immediately, important but could wait, and non-important. By breaking your tasks up in this way, you can manage your day more effectively allowing for additional free time. 

START SMALL

All change takes time, and jumping into a new life structure - no matter how beneficial - needs to be taken slowly to ensure it becomes a part of your routine.

THE BENEFITS OF AN ORGANISED WORK PLACEMENT

The benefits of an organise work placement

There are major benefits to taking your learning out of the classroom and into real-world settings, away from purely theoretical studies. It’s important to practice what you've learnt in organised work placements to help solidify your understanding of certain topics.

The benefits of organised placement go further than assisting learning, however, and can be beneficial in a number of ways, as outlined below:

1. LEARNING NEW SKILLS

There is only so far that online or classroom learning can take you when it comes to gaining new skills. When on a work placement, you’ll learn and be able to implement new skills such as effective communication, teamwork, planning, timekeeping and organisation. These new skills will help to build your confidence in the workplace for both your placement and when you start a new job and can act as an important foundation going forward.

2. APPLICATION OF ACADEMIC LEARNING

Work experience offers the opportunity of applying subject specific theoretical knowledge to a real-life situation. You’ll be able to test the skills you learnt in textbooks and discussions and see how they’re best applied to real world scenarios. Are they more challenging than you expected? Are you able to expand upon what you’ve learnt for a more desirable outcome?

3. COMMUNICATION AND PROBLEM SOLVING

Some of the most important workplace skills come down to the basics of communication and problem solving. Each day on placement you’re likely to face new challenges that your studies weren’t able to prepare you for and you’ll learn how to think on your feet, think outside the box, communicate effectively and work both by yourself and as part of a wider team to solve complex problems.

4. IMPROVE EMPLOYABILITY

At the end of the day, your goal for your studies and work placement should be to improve your employability. This doesn’t just apply for those new to the workforce, but also those who are looking to upskill and earn promotions.

When undertaking a work placement, the additional skills you learn on the job can be extremely beneficial when updating or writing your CV. It will also indicate to future employers that you are eager and willing to learn new skills, may give you an edge over other candidates and can be talking points for interviews.

It’s also beneficial while on placement to keep a record of what you’ve learnt and how you’ve applied your studies to real life situations, as you may find that going forward you’ll need to reference past experiences and may be able to build upon them when completing your studies and entering the workplace.

6 STUDY TIPS TO SUPPORT YOU TO THRIVE IN YOUR STUDIES

6 STUDY TIPS TO SUPPORT YOU TO THRIVE IN YOUR STUDIES

Read our top 6 study tips that can support you to thrive in your studies!

CREATE A COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT - Where you study has as much of an impact as how you study, and ensuring that your environment is clean, de-cluttered and quiet is very important to the learning process. For this reason, a lot of students choose to study in a library or at home in a quiet room.

PREPARATION IS KEY - Have you taken the time to plan out your studies, such as the topics you need to cover, the time you have to cover them and what you would like your outcome to be? It’s important to think about any areas of your own that are weaknesses and how you can address them in your studies.

CREATE GOALS - In line with preparation, goal setting can assist in keeping you on track and accountable. When setting goals for your studies, examples could be duration of study or topics to be covered. 
Setting goals assists you in staying motivated and can be used for both long-term and short-term projects.

ASK FOR HELP - It’s understandable that there may be holes in your knowledge on a topic or key area of study, but rather than spending time searching for answers on your own, draw from those around you who may be able to help. Teachers, classmates, friends or family are great resources for your studies.

START NOW - Procrastination is the enemy of motivation, and sometimes the hardest part of a task is to actually start. Set yourself a start time and commit to it without allowing yourself ‘another five minutes’ of TV or social networking. It will be a lot more rewarding than procrastination!

REWARD YOURSELF - You’ve set and reached your goals, and now it’s time to reward yourself. Little rewards along the way can assist with keeping motivation levels and productivity high.

We hope you found these tips useful and we would love to know how you implement them in your studies.

WHAT IS ALLIED HEALTH?

WHAT IS ALLIED HEALTH?

Allied Health Professionals, are universally qualified practitioners that have a specialised expertise in preventing, diagnosing and treating of a range of conditions and illnesses; they often work within a multidisciplinary health team to provide specific support to different patient’s needs.

In Australian Allied Health Professionals currently represent more than one quarter of the health workplace and delivery over 200 million health services annually (Allied Health Professions Australia 2019). 

Examples of Allied Health Professionals include:

• Physiotherapy

• Chiropractic

• Occupational therapy

• Dietetics

• Podiatry

• Osteopathy 

• Psychologists 

• Social Workers 

• Acupuncture 

• Myotherapy 

Stirling Institute of Australia’s Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy)is suitable for students who want to work as an assistant in Allied Health focusing in the areas of Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy. 

Graduates are able to gain employment in a range of settings due to the nature of supporting people with injury prevention techniques, rehabilitation, prescribing and monitoring of exercises to support the client’s health and wellbeing. Some of these settings include but are not limited to:

o  Acute Care – Hospitals

o  Rehabilitation Centres

o  National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

o  Community Health Programs and Centres

o  Aged Care Facilities

o  Fitness and Sporting Clubs

o  Athletic development institutes

The course enables you to become qualified to assist in providing support to Allied Health practitioners with implementing general care and assisting with ongoing therapy, as well as working with clients in recreational and leisure activities.

Interested in more, speak with one of our career consultants today 1300 790 265.

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

Source - https://ahpa.com.au/what-is-allied-health/

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