Short Courses - Learning for life

By Katie Cincotta

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” Chinese proverb

Great philosophers have said you can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him curiosity, he will continue on the journey to education for the rest of his life.

Whether it’s signing up for a short course or a fully- fledged university degree or diploma, making the decision to study could be one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of your life.

For those who are narrow-minded, education might seem like a burden of long hours and endless assignments, but for the wise and the ambitious, learning can open up your world to knowledge, confidence and new work opportunities.

Don't have the time? Today there are literally hundreds of correspondence courses for you to choose from to do online. The benefits of a correspondence course is that it allows you to do a course at your own pace, and is flexible for when and where you study - convenient at home or in your work place.

A short course is ideal for:

Individuals wanting to acquire new skills with the aim of opening up career opportunities. Remember, employers love initiative so show them you’re a go-getter.

Busy executives needing to keep pace with employer expectations and industry changes. Plus, an extra qualification or skill set is always a great way to justify a pay rise

Corporations that understand the value of on-going education and development to help staff work smarter, not harder. Learning also gives both individuals and their companies a competitive advantage in today's constantly changing workforce

Real stories

Kate - media
Kate Andrew, a journalist of more than 10 years, decided to add to her writing experience by taking on a short course in editing. Having completed a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism after high school, and working across a range of media jobs – from copywriting on a TV show to writing content for websites – she decided to expand her creative reach and learn how to edit copy for books, newspapers and magazines.

“After several years online during the tech wreck I decided I’d prefer to work for myself than to keep enduring the uncertainty of start-ups. But it’s competitive to be a freelance writer, so I wanted to give myself greater scope for work. I thought learning to edit would complement my existing writing experience and allow me to offer a whole range of services to clients.”

Kate went on to complete her short course in editing, learning how to improve stories, write headlines and proofread.

“That 12 week course was one of the best career moves I ever made. Since I’ve been running my own business, I’ve combined both writing and editing work, which I think gives me an edge as a freelancer. And I’ve also got a much better eye for detail about my own writing since the course,” she said.

Diana - hairdressing
For those considering teaching in their field of expertise, a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training opens up a whole new career path – often one that pays better and is extremely rewarding.

Hairdresser Diana De Lorenzo got a promotion after she took on a Certificate IV – turning her from hair stylist to hair educator.

“I really did enjoy the salon environment but after a few years I just got tired of being on my feet all day. I thought teaching color and cutting would be a great way to side-step and still stay in the industry I loved,” said Diana.

Taking subjects in assessment and training small groups also increased Diana’s public speaking skills, which she now uses to conduct training nights on the latest hair trends.

Mark - IT
Having studied science and currently working in IT, Mark Watson is considering a dramatic shift into advertising – a short course is his way of testing the waters.

“I see a short course as a way of finally striving towards an area that I have an interest in and allowing me to apply some skill – like a stepping stone into new waters,” said Watson.

“Perhaps the short course will show me that advertising is not for me, but I think it's a great means of finding out. I’d prefer not to rush down a path that may lead to a dead end,” he said.

For those in IT, who’d like to stay long-term, it’s almost essential to continue updating your skills. For technical staff like programmers and designers – software and hardware evolves – making it important to stay on top of emerging technology.

And if you’re job hunting, those who are proficient in the latest software and online trends are certainly going to jump to the top of an employer’s shortlist when he’s sifting through hundreds of CVs.

Ultimately, for those who are getting itchy feet in their current role, a short course allows you to nurture the brain cells. Wether you decide to do correspondence courses, tafe courses or even a basic first aid course, short courses provides you with stimulation and the motivation to reach your full potential. And as the saying goes: if you don’t use it, you lose it.

Short Courses Database - Coming Soon