January media releases
TAFE digital media course at the cutting edge
From Auto Mechanic to Wine Maker
Veggie gardening raises numeracy and literacy skills
Indigenous students shine at Nurunderi graduation
TAFE digital media course at the cutting edge
Designing mobile phone interfaces and interactive kiosks and working in interactive digital TV are just some of the jobs for which Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE's new Interactive Digital Media course will prepare graduates. SQIT's digital media teacher Rod Smart said the diploma course, being taught over a 12-month period in 2009, is designed to fill jobs resulting from the Federal Government's push for new digital media. Mr Smart said the roll-out acrossAustralia of cutting edge digital television and other interactive media will start in one to two years. He said the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE's new course is nationally accredited but unique and designed differently from others.
Other graduates will have general qualifications while this course's graduates will have qualifications more specific to booming interactive digital media industries which are already crying out for qualified people.
"This course will prepare people for jobs as web developers, interaction designers and information architects," Mr Smart said.
" Graduates will be prepared for emerging technologies including internet TV which is going to boom in coming years. That industry will be starved of developers."
Mr Smart said the Federal Government is aiming to make digital media a major export industry. He said the 12-month course is also designed as foundation training for the burgeoning games industry.
" Other institutions are running their programs over 18 months," Mr Smart said.
" That's an asset to our graduates because other courses release graduates into the job market in June and July whereas ours is at the end of the year," Mr Smart said.
Enrolments are now open for the 2009 Interactive Digital Media
diploma course. It is also available for those people wanting to study off-campus, allowing people currently in the industry or in remote areas to participate. Mr Smart said entry requirements for mature-age entrants are basic computer skills while school leavers require Year 12 completion. For more information contact Rod Smart, Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE Toowoomba 4694 1626.
From Auto Mechanic to Wine Maker
Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE student Peter McGlashan has proved it's never too late to learn new skills and to change careers.The former auto mechanic, hotel manager, bottle shop attendant and farm assistant recently decided to turn his talents to wine making. As guest speaker at Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE Stanthorpe Campus's Graduation evening Mr McGlashan outlined his career path to the inspired group of graduates and their families. Originally from Ipswich, Mr McGlashan is a long way from his initial career as an auto mechanic. Gaining his mechanic's qualifications at Bundamba TAFE, he then worked in tool rooms, making dyes, welding jigs, and differentials before moving onto repairing cars and trucks.
Realising he wanted a career change he again enrolled with TAFE where he completed his Hospitality Certificate. This led to a career in hotels, clubs and bottle shops throughout Queensland.During this time, he found work in Stanthorpe believing it would be a short stint. But fifteen years later he happily resides there with his family. Working with his wife at numerous Stanthorpe wineries, he developed a passion for the wine industry.
At the time he had a trainee who was studying viticulture at TAFE and Mr McGlashan fondly recalls thinking he couldn't have his trainee holding higher qualifications than him.
" So I decided to undertake further study at the Stanthorpe TAFE," he said.
" These qualifications have made it easier for me to gain work in the agricultural and wine sector in Stanthorpe. And with a bit of discipline I was amazed how easily I picked up the study mode again."
" TAFE has been a tremendous support for me over the years and their flexible delivery is perfect for my busy lifestyle."
Mr McGlashan is manager and winemaker at Ridgemill Winery and runs its vineyard. He now holds qualifications in Viticulture and Certificate III in Food Processing (Wine).
" I encourage anyone who wants to either improve their qualifications in their current career or change career paths completely to go through TAFE as they can help you achieve your dreams," Mr McGlashan said.
TAFE Campuses are currently accepting enrolments for Semester 1 and 2 for 2009. For more information on all courses on offer phone Stanthorpe Campus on 4685 5000.
Veggie gardening raises numeracy and literacy skills
Learning literacy and numeracy has never been more fun or interactive according to long-time TAFE teacher Merisa Ots. Mrs Ots recently had her class create a very successful project, 'No Dig' veggie garden as part of its literacy and numeracy study activities.
" I like to get my class involved in team projects as this is often the best ice breaker when it comes to addressing language and communication barriers," Mrs Ots said.
" Lessons can be taught using all sorts of mediums and the construction of our 'No Dig' veggie garden was a wonderful project for our class to work on."
" Twelve of my students who participated are currently enrolled in Skills for the Future."
Many of these students have intellectual disabilities and attend two days a week where they receive help with their reading, spelling and writing as well as numeracy and computer skills.
" My other students involved are either undertaking English as a Second Language (ESL) or are those simply wishing to improve their basic education."
Mrs Ots said some of the skills attained by the students who participated in the 'No Dig' veggie garden included following procedures written and verbal, team activities, researching plant requirements/horticulture, calculating and costing projects, story board creation, using digital cameras and cooking with vegetables.
" Our students really enjoyed the challenge and the team work plus the bonus was we all had some fresh veggies to enjoy," she said.
Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE provides a varied range of literacy and numeracy programs to assist adult learners to develop language and literacy skills and to integrate into the community/workforce.
Mrs Ots said literacy and numeracy skills affect our daily activities more than we realise. Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE offers more than 300 nationally accredited courses and is currently accepting enrolments for Semester 1 and 2 for 2009. For more information on numeracy and literacy courses and to enrol, contact the Warwick Campus on 07 4660 4600.
Indigenous students shine at Nurunderi graduation
Indigenous students are graduating from Nurunderi TAFE College in record numbers and with higher levels of qualifications than ever before.The indigenous students represented more than half of 130 students who received awards at the recent South Burnett graduation ceremony. Campus business coordinator Santina Schmocker said all 11 courses offered in 2008 had successful indigenous students.
" The previous 2006 and 2007 graduations were good ones but last year we doubled our enrolments and our graduands," she said.
" The indigenous graduates are predominately from the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg and Nurunderi graduates generally found employment within Cherbourg.
" The message is that success creates more success," Mrs Schmocker said.
Mrs Schmocker made special mention of students who completed the Certificate IV in Community Services - Protective Care and the Diploma in Community Services - Protective Care.
" We had 13 indigenous students graduate with a Certificate IV and 11 with a Diploma," she said. Mrs Schmocker said the 2008 success story was due to the hard work of the students and the diligence of Nurunderi staff. Cherbourg was one site chosen for the Safe Haven program which aims to get youth off the street at night and to ensure they are in a safe environment.
" We realised Safe Haven staff needed training in youth-work skills to be more effective."
Getting the program off the ground took immense effort - finding the right people to teach it and the most suitable days to deliver it. Safe Haven staff were working full-time and to enable students to access their training our staff opened the Nurunderi campus on Saturday and delivered training during the weekend.
Eight indigenous students graduated with a Certificate III - Indigenous Primary Health Care with seven now employed within Cherbourg and one working for Blue Care. One of these graduates is now undertaking a Certificate IV in Indigenous Primary Health Care, Mrs Schmocker said.
Two indigenous students graduated with Certificate III in Children's Services and two with a Diploma in Children's Service.All are now employed at Cherbourg's Gundoo Day Care Centre.
" We were also able to deliver suitable courses when our local respite centre asked for training for their workers in the Certificate III in Home and Community Care," Mrs Schmocker said.
" We had eight successful indigenous students which was phenomenal. They are all employed now at our local Cherbourg respite centre in various roles.
" It gives community organisations the confidence to encourage their staff to access training and it spreads the word to local people they should be going to their TAFE which is part of their community."
Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE Director Paul Murphy attended the graduation as one of his first official duties.