Diploma milestone for general staff

The first general staff to study the work-based Diploma of Business Administration graduated in a recent awards ceremony.

Sixteen staff from the Caulfield and Clayton campuses completed the diploma, delivered by Career Brokers and Trainers, a registered Vocational Education and Training (VET) provider.

Most undertook the diploma, developed to extend the skills of general staff, after completing the Certificate IV in Business Administration, which was launched in 1999.

The diploma gives general staff the skills to initiate, research and prepare information for communication, develop and implement strategies in line with goals, manage meetings, and manage teams to ensure goals are met.

Trainer Mr Michael Coll said it was exciting to see the first students from the certificate program finish the diploma.

He said the participants were mostly women who had extensive work experience but no formal qualifications.

"The awards ceremony was a milestone for all the participants, as it represented recognition of the work done by general staff in the university," he said.

"The diploma will also enable them to pursue further studies if they wish. Some have indicated an interest in completing a degree course, for which they can now receive credit."

Participant Ms Wendy Sulman, personal assistant to the head of the Mechanical Engineering department, said the course enabled her to take a more proactive approach in her work.

"The course gave us the confidence to initiate and take responsibility for the management side of the jobs and tasks we already do," she said.

Other course participants came from the faculties of Business and Economics, Medicine, Education, Engineering, Science and Law, as well as the Staff and Student Services Division (Personnel Services), the University Solicitor's Office, the University Secretariat, and the Office of the Deputy Vice-chancellor (Academic and Planning).

(From left) Trainer Mr Michael Coll, course participant Ms Wendy Sulman and deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and Planning) Professor Alan Lindsay.