November 2011Volume 2, No 10

Monthly Newsletter

Nursing new horizons

TheGazette

As one door closes, another opens. But if you’re a nursing graduate, it seems doors are flung wide open before you.Closing one door behind them at Great

Southern Institute of Technology recently, a group of nursing students celebrated the completion of their 3½-year BSc (Nursing) through Curtin University, delivered at the institute.Though they must wait until the end of

the year before they officially graduate, the two men and six women are planning new careers in various areas of health, knowing Australian nursing graduates will be welcomed wherever they choose to work throughout the world.

Curtin Registered Nursing coordinator Ruth McLean, based at the institute’s Albany campus, said the students had arrived at the degree course via various pathways.She explained while some were school

leavers with TEE, one had a degree in another area and others had come through the Enrolled Nursing program, receiving 12 months’ credit towards their degree. “They all worked very hard and I’m proud

of them,” Ruth said of the first group she had taught from start to finish.One student who chose a radical change

of career to move into nursing is Brett Turbill.

Continued on page 5

Students celebrating the completion of their BSc (Nursing) at Great Southern Institute of Technology are: Jo Burges, Jess Proctor, Colin Bellinger-Brown, Emma Sandells, Sarah Dinneen, Brett Turbill, Shirley Hawkins and Lorelle Colangelo.

Great Southern Gazette 2

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Want to read The Gazettein another format?

Great Southern Institute of Technology’s Albany campus staff recently dug into wardrobes and dress-up boxes to come up with a gaudy array of fashions.But it was for the best cause – Loud Shirt Day – and the wearers all paid a gold coin for the privilege of turning heads wherever they went around the campus. The event raised funds for hearing-impaired children in WA.

Shirts coming in loud and clear

Great Southern Gazette 3

When students view training as a means to a very lucrative end, they have the best motivation for seeing their studies through.That motivation is

especially important for external students, whose lecturer contact is a blend of face-to-face, phone and email – and whose study relies in no small part on their own desire to succeed.One former Great Southern

Institute of Technology student whose dedication has taken him to great heights is Dennis Blewitt, now an Occupational Health and Safety Officer with a mining company in the State’s North-West.Dennis was working at

Fletcher International WA when the opportunity arose for him to step into the position of OHS coordinator.“I needed the Diploma of

OHS and I decided to do it through external studies,” Dennis explained.Lecturer Peter Slebos

set Dennis on track and was impressed with the young man’s tenacity and excellent organisation – and

the quality of his work – on his fortnightly visits to the Narrikup abattoir.“Dennis went straight into

the Diploma, and he really knuckled down to it,” Peter said.“I carried out a workplace

assessment every fortnight and he went flat out to complete the course.”That was in 2007, and

Dennis has shown as much drive since moving from the abattoir into industrial construction in the South-West of WA in 2008.Today, he is still an

OHS coordinator on a construction site, but he now works for a mining company at Nelson Point, Port Hedland and he is preparing for a move to another site 50km from Newman in a few weeks’ time.“I enjoy the challenge of

seeing a project through from start to finish,” Dennis said.“I communicate with

everyone from senior management to the people at ground level,” he said, explaining there was a strong safety culture on mine sites.Dennis said the first few

months of his intensive training with the institute had been a challenge, but as he had progressed, the workload had become more manageable.“It was a struggle at times

but my hard work paid off in the long run,” he said. “I would definitely

recommend others to go through the TAFE structure. You get better support and more feedback, and it’s lower in cost than other RTOs.”

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Dennis Blewitt is enjoying a well-paid career in health and safety on mine construction sites.

Dennis builds his career on safe sites

Great Southern Gazette 4

From the MD’s Desk

We’re approaching the sharp end of the year with only five weeks until the Christmas break and our campuses are as busy as ever.Corporate RetreatLast week’s corporate retreat for the institute’s executive was again a productive exercise, with a wide range of initiatives discussed and decisions made on strategies for next year and beyond.Ongoing investment in online delivery

is progressing this important aspect of training at our institute. A major focus for 2012 is the increased use of electronic media to deliver online, in tune with the State Government’s push to the entitlement model and the opening of the training market.The institute has set directives to

supplement sustainability and excellence in a new, competitive market and ensure resources are available to build online capacity.To do that, investment in an e-learning

curriculum officer and the purchase of available online resources funded by the academic board increase our staff’s ability through training and support in Moodle 2.The highlight of the development

has been the production of seven qualifications online for local government and government.Following feedback after the three-day

PACD, public sector staff may nominate their own PACD and complete training during work time. A two- or three-day PACD will be available for lecturers to develop their knowledge of the e-learning system and processes, including use of electronic equipment such as smart boards.Next year, we will concentrate our efforts

on the institute grounds, with a new look and waterwise plants to align with our sustainability initiatives.DirectoratesThe outcomes from the reviews of each of the three directorates held over the past three months are being addressed and recommendations implemented.Group meetings will be conducted by

the executive and portfolio managers following the InSync staff opinion surveys. This will ensure problems identified in the survey are targeted and addressed.We all want a happy work environment

and having a deeper understanding of how our own work contributes to the institute as a whole promotes wellbeing. These sessions will allow us to express our own views, explore those of other people, and suggest improvements to benefit everyone.SustainabilityThe sustainability committee is researching a wind turbine for R Block. If the project goes ahead, this will be funded from the $100,000 we have saved this year through various initiatives – mainly the reduction of printing and paper costs.As we move to a clean, green

environment, I urge you to consider joining the committee.OHSWe have a targeted approach to ensure all occupational health and safety issues are addressed, and I would like to remind you that directions from OHS officer Rick Muller are non-negotiable. I will continue my regular walk-arounds to identify potential problem areas and keep our campuses safe for students and staff.Welfare officerTo help students and staff members with emotional and mental health issues, the institute will appoint a .5 FTE welfare officer as a first point of contact.The appointee, who will be qualified to

assist in crisis care for students and staff, will work part-time on five days a week, initially for 12 months.In addition, the institute will carry on its

investment in staff health by continuing to fund the employee assistance program.

Continued on page 5

Great Southern Gazette 5

From page 1 Brett already had a degree in accounting

from Edith Cowan University and had worked as an accountant for six years when he decided to take a different career path and train as a paramedic.Six years working as a paramedic in

Perth and Albany whetted Brett’s appetite for a career in nursing, so he enrolled for the Curtin degree through Great Southern Institute.“Being able to take the degree down here

influenced my choice – I didn’t have to move to Perth,” Brett said.“With a high ratio of staff to students, it’s

easier here than at the bigger campuses,” he said.“It’s easier to find your way around and you

can concentrate on your studies,” he said.For Brett, a career in Accident and

Emergency or as a community nurse holds attractions.“The options for nurses are so varied,”

Brett said.Reviving a career she dreamed of as

a school leaver has been particularly rewarding for Shirley Hawkins.Shirley worked at Royal Perth Hospital as

a 17-year-old but then moved to the family farm and put her career on hold while she raised her family.Shirley came to the BSc course via

Enrolled Nursing, and while she said the course was full-on, it had been worth the effort.“You have to work at it, but it’s enjoyable

and this was a great group of students – we

supported each other,” she said.Having completed her final clinical practice

at Kalgoorlie Hospital, Shirley developed a particular interest in rural and remote practice and palliative care. She is now looking forward to her post-graduate year in Geraldton after which she plans to come home to Mt Barker.

“I’d recommend the course to anyone,” Shirley said.“It’s a supportive environment and it’s been

a fabulous bunch to study with,” she added.“You’re learning all the time, and there’s so

much scope for the future.”While the completing students prepare to

move into new careers in various health arenas, Ruth is preparing for the institute’s next intake of BSc students next July.She invited those considering nursing to

talk to her and Enrolled Nursing coordinator Jodie Watkins about their options both for the 18-month EN training and for the degree course. Phone Ruth on 9892 7531 or Jodie on 9892 8760.

Nurses set out for new horizons

From page 4 LogoThe transition to our new logo is underway and we will use it on electronic documents and printing jobs from now on.The beauty of the

institute’s electronic

environment is that the logo can easily be adopted – it can be changed with a mouse click – and without cost.I wish everyone all the

best in the run-up to the end of the year.

Until next month, happy reading,Lidia

From the MD’s Desk

With a high ratio of staff to students, it’s easier here than at the bigger campuses

“”

Great Southern Gazette 6

With recent advances in technology, students in rural and remote areas can have ready access to the instruction, help and advice of their lecturers.A new web-based

system to be adopted by Great Southern Institute of Technology is set to revolutionise the learning experience for those studying rural skills, particularly industry-based trainees on farms all over the State’s south.Introducing the technology

to lecturers, The Environment and Primary Industries portfolio manager Neil Binning explained the system had been developed by Queensland company Rural Skills Online specifically to facilitate assessment and lecturer contact for students working on farms in outlying areas.“It will not replace the

established online learning delivery platform Moodle, but it will complement it, as well as supplementing lecturer visits,” Neil explained.“This is an online system

used by students and lecturers, to facilitate task setting and assessment and allow the students to submit their written work and demonstrate their hands-on practical work,” he said.Using the system,

the lecturer sets tasks and the student shows understanding of the subject by submitting written work

and photographs. The lecturer gives feedback and both can track the student’s progress.All the student needs is

a basic understanding of computers and access to the internet.“It promotes

communication between the student and lecturer, allowing them to build a relationship even though they are many kilometres apart,” Neil said.It also aligns with the

institute’s strategic direction and support of online learning.While particularly useful

for industry-based dairy trainees, the new system may also be adopted for

online assessment of profile students in all areas of the institute.As for the technical

aspects, it is quick to download to desktop computers and portable devices such as tablets and smart phones, and it is designed to be intuitive and simple to navigate.For more information on

any of Great Southern Institute of Technology’s rural studies courses, including Certificates II and IV in Horticulture and Certificates II and IV in Conservation and Land management which both start next February, phone John Maddison on 9892 7581.

Great Southern Institute of Technology students Adam Offin, Tiffany Armstrong and Jack Sellenger check out the web-based student assessment system Rural Skills Online.

System makes remote learning easy

Great Southern Gazette 7

Great Southern Institute of Technology’s Katanning campus is nurturing artistic talent in students and staff alike.At the recent Katanning Agricultural Show,

students Mo Sinn and Shiekiel Ford, who is now also a member of the campus staff, took out a swag of awards.Lecturers Gaye Bushell and Sally Crossley

recognised the pair’s exceptional talents and went all out to help them develop their skills.Mo and Shiekiel then used the show as a

platform to impress the locals – and the judges.Mo entered three photographs, two of which

gained first prize. One of these photographs also won the title of Best Exhibit over the 13 photography classes.Mo went to the institute after leaving school

and worked hard to achieve his Certificate II in General Education for Adults. The photography unit in this course is

expanded in Certificate III, which he also recently started, allowing him to hone his talent.Mo said he enjoyed taking the photographs

and manipulating them on the computer, which aligns with his ambition of studying graphic design.Shiekiel left school a year ago and completed

her Certificate III in General Education for Adults before studying for Certificate II in Business in the first semester this year. She is now taking Certificate III in Business while working part-time as Aboriginal Programs Assistant at the campus office – and building an impressive portfolio of artwork.The talented young artist entered several

pieces and was surprised, and delighted, to take out three second prizes. These were for a large portrait in acrylic, a flower print and a pencil drawing of a crow.Shiekiel, whose passion is for all forms of art,

paid tribute to the lecturers for their constant encouragement and enthusiasm which had helped her to develop.She also has some advice for others looking

at improving their general education – and their outlook – to enrol at the institute.“Just go for it,” she said.

Katanning pair take out art awards

Mo Sinn with his trophy for Best Exhibit over the 13 photography classes.

Shiekiel Ford’s work gained three second places.

Great Southern Gazette 8

The Seeds of Sustainability committee has recently engaged the services of Greensense to assist in the monitoring of the institute’s electricity consumption. Research shows that education holds the

key to improving sustainability. The Greensense View system will

help with this by using wireless sensor technology to monitor electricity use and then displaying the results on an interactive dashboard that will be available for all of us to access on the web. The system works by providing timely

and sustained feedback and evidence of performance improvements. Feedback on consumption is necessary for

energy savings as without it, it is impossible to learn effectively. The Environmental Change Institute at

Oxford University states: “The process of giving feedback on consumption motivates

consumers to save energy through reduced waste, yet the body of evidence testifying to this is rarely acted upon in any systematic way. Feedback has a significant role to play in raising energy awareness and reducing consumption. “It also provides opportunities for improving

existing management systems” Stage one will involve the monitoring of

the whole campus as well as individual buildings including R, N, L, M, C and D Blocks, the Child Care Centre and the R Block solar system. It is envisaged that the system will

gradually be expanded across the entire Albany campus and will also incorporate the monitoring of water and gas consumption.The Greensense dashboard will help bring

data to life, enabling staff and students to see in real time how our actions are impacting on sustainability performance.

with Neil Augustson

Seeds of Sustainability Education holds key

to sustainability

Hatches, Matches and Despatches Sugar and spice

Melissa Berrigan of the Katanning campus and her husband Matthew celebrated the arrival of Gracie Patricia Berrigan, weighing 8lb 6oz, on 2 November. Gracie is a sister to Michelle (13) and Sophie (11).

Business Systems Coordinator Shenade Moir and her husband Wayne welcomed their daughter Quinn Lori on 29 September. Quinn, who weighed 8lb 8oz, is a sister for Zoe Emma.

Great Southern Gazette 9

Great Southern Institute of Technology’s horticulture students brought home a crop of awards from this month’s Albany Agricultural Show – and one student took out the trophy for champion pelargonium.Horticulture lecturer

Leah Goodrem said she was thrilled with the big numbers of first and second places the students won and she was proud of their achievements.Linda Gunn said she was

amazed to find she had taken out the trophy for her three pelargoniums, in complementary shades of pink and red.“It was awesome,” she

said.But that was not all – Linda

also took out first prize in the potted orchid category with a specimen in a rare shade. “They are usually a white

petal with red or pink, but the colours in this are fluoro,” Linda pointed out.Leah, who is also a

member of the Horticultural Society, said the students worked towards the show as part of their course and cultivated show specimens on campus and at home.She applauded their

enthusiasm for the event and their dedication to helping make horticulture one of the most popular exhibits. She said the show had helped them focus on their aspirations.“They asked lots of

questions and learnt from the experience,” Leah said.“Anthony Watson in

particular was a big hit with the judges, working from 8am-8.30pm on all three days – he wants to become a judge,” she said.Leah said the Albany

Horticultural Society wanted to encourage new exhibitors, especially younger people.“It’s a good thing that our

students are keen to carry on the tradition,” Leah said.The institute’s influence on

the show did not stop with the entries. Leah was the Albany

Agricultural Society’s horticulture counsellor, and student Carole Atkinson was chief steward, leading a team of other Certificate III in Horticulture students who worked as stewards over the two days.Most of this year’s group

will return to the campus in 2012 to complete Certificate IV in Semester 1 and the Diploma of Horticulture in Semester 2.

A blooming great show

Linda Gunn shows off the trophy for champion pelargonium, which she won at the Albany Agricultural Show.

Great Southern Gazette 10

Delivering relevant industry skills to its students in order to meet the demands of tomorrow’s workforce is a priority of Great Southern Institute of Technology.To do this, it is imperative the institute

understands the needs and expectations of industry in order to plan course delivery and teach students relevant, up-to-date skills.The WA Government, and the institute,

work closely with industry training councils (ITCs) to ensure training priorities and the vocational education and training needs of industry are met.For their part, ITCs ensure training and

skills development in the VET sector are available and reach industry standards.The next ITC in the series is the Food,

Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council

Skills for tomorrow’s workforce

See full list of industry training councils on next page

Diane Smith, Project Manager Light Manufacturing Sectors; Kay Gerard, CEO; Glazelle Van Wyngaard, Administration Officer and Brad Armstrong, Project Manager Agrifood Sectors.

The Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council is one of 10 Training Councils in WA. It services the following industry areas:• Animal care and management • Horticulture, conservation and land

management • Rural production • Seafood, food and beverage • Furniture, forest and forest products • Textiles, clothing, footwear and allied

services.The training council advocates for its

industry sectors, working with government to maximise opportunities.It works with registered training

organisations such as Great Southern Institute in a number of ways:• To assist the RTO to deliver products

and services that are really focused on the specific workforce skill needs of industry;

• To assist industry in understanding what products and services are out there and how to access them;

• To assist industry in identifying the workforce development issues that are impacting on their industries;

• In conjunction with industry and RTOs, help identify solutions to those

issues, either through training or other workforce practices.

The training council hosts seven industry advisory groups, most of which are already well attended by staff of Great Southern Institute. The FFTI enjoys a strong relationship

with the institute and welcomes this participation.The team at Food, Fibre and Timber

Industries Training Council are pictured below. Anyone interested in knowing more about the council is urged to phone 9477 5055 or visit the website, www.fftitrainingcouncil.com.au.

My Favourite AppSTAFF PICKS

Got a favourite app you want to recommend to everyone? Email gazette@ gsinstitute.wa.edu.au

Great Southern Gazette 11

Shazam

WoolworthsDeveloper: Woolworths LimitedType: UtilityDevice: iPhoneWhat it does: Scan groceries on your pantry shelf and lets you add them to your

shopping list, which is also on the app Let it know your favourite Woolies to shop at and it will tell you which aisle

to find stuffCost: FreeBuy from: Apple’s App Store.

Western Australia’s ITC website links – click to accessCommunity Services Health and Education Training Council Construction Training Council Electrical, Utilities and Public Administration Training Council Inc Engineering and Automotive Training Council IncFinancial, Administrative and Professional Services Training Council Food, Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council (WA) Inc FutureNow - Creative and Leisure Industries Training Council Logistics Training Council Inc Resources Industry Training Council Retail and Personal Services Training Council

Developer: Shazam Entertainment LtdType: UtilityDevice: iPhoneWhat it does: Hold your phone up to the music source and it will tell you what’s playing

and the artistCost: US$5.99 or free version with limited taggingBuy from: Apple’s App Store

Great Southern Gazette 12

The seven-week Fastrack to Aged Care course at Great Southern Institute of Technology was Amanda Ryan’s road to a new, rewarding career.Amanda is now working

as a personal carer at Hall and Prior’s Clarence Estate, a provider of residential aged care and community services in Albany and the outlying areas.The Fastrack is a

popular way of gaining a qualification, and after completing the course, Certificate III in Aged Care, most students walk straight into jobs.Amanda explained the

course comprised four weeks studying in the classroom at the institute’s Albany campus, followed by three weeks of practical work in a local aged care facility.Amanda completed her

practical component at Clarence Estate, so she was able to make the transition from work experience to paid work after she finished the course.Now clearly enjoying the

job, Amanda has started studying for her Certificate IV in Aged Care, which she will finish in the next few weeks.She said she had found the

course absorbing and the work rewarding.“I’m glad I moved into this

field of health care, you’re always learning something,” Amanda said.“It’s also possible to move

into allied health areas – the qualification opens doors to people,” she said.“I’d definitely recommend

it.”Amanda is now working

towards the STAT test for university entrance, and Clarence Estate is delighted that she will continue working for them while studying to expand her horizons.She is aiming for a degree

in nursing through Curtin University, delivered at Great Southern Institute of Technology, or for a Certificate IV in Community Service.

“I’ll be able to fit in work and study – you get lots of support from the lecturers,” Amanda said.The next Certificate III in

Aged Care via the fast track starts at the Albany campus on January 16, 2012, following an orientation day on January 13. Some units from the

Fastrack course may also be used towards other qualifications, such as Certificate III in Disability Work, Certificate III in Aged Care or Certificate III in Home and Community Care. A first aid component is also included.To find out more, or to

register your interest in the January course, phone Great Southern Institute of Technology Aged Care coordinator Bev Alexander on 9892 8724.

Aged care assistant Amanda Ryan with Clarence Estate resident Hazel Martin.

Amanda makes tracks to a quick qualification

Great Southern Gazette 13

The 11 members of the student administration team are the most widely spread of any section at the institute – five of the staff work from the far-flung corners of the Albany campus, from D Block to R Block.From the time a student enrols, this section

handles the fees, refunds and payments, withdrawals and payment plans, constantly updating and managing data and student records in the process. Five staff are based in L Block – acting

manager Gail Hastie, fees officer Rita Smith, student administration officers Pauline Murphy and Dawn Koenig, and chief filing officer Sue Reynolds.The five portfolio support officers (PSOs)

are widely separated, but members of this

cohesive team provide strong support for each other as well as for their designated portfolios.They are:• Sheridan Powell, The Environment and

Primary Industries• Anne North, Health Sciences and

Community Services• Jess Johnston, Trades and Allied

Industries• Jaime Eatt, Communication and The

Arts• Tanielle Sherwood, Business and

Creative Industries.Robyn Altus is a flexible team member –

an experienced ‘floating’ resource providing back-up to the PSOs.

Continued on page 14

what do they do . . .

Every one of the institute’s staff is a small cog in a big machine – each playing a vital part in progressing the organisation and developing the workforce.We get to work with people from other

sections every day, and on PACD days, we meet those we don’t normally come into contact with.But do we really know what each section

does?This month, Great Southern Gazette

continues a series of articles on the

various sections within our institute, with a focus on the staff in student administration at the Albany campus.

Back row: Anne North, Gail Hastie, Sue Reynolds, Pauline Murphy, Rita Smith. Front row: Sheridan Powell, Robyn Altus, Dawn Koenig, Jess Johnston, Jaime Eatt and Tanielle Sherwood.

Great Southern Gazette 14

Great Southern Institute of Technology’s art and craft students put on a stimulating and varied exhibition of work in the Bendigo Bank Southern Art and Craft Trail last month.The students selected their

best work of the year for their exhibition of 69 pieces at Kendenup Lodge, where they showed the broad spectrum of talent being nurtured at the institute’s various art classes around the region.Communication and The

Arts portfolio manager Justine Bradney said the students had welcomed the exhibition, which allowed these emerging artists a showcase for expression, the opportunity to gauge public opinion of their work and an outlet for sales.“The students are now

preparing for their major regional art exhibition to be held at the Vancouver Arts Centre from 2-7 December,” Justine said.“This big exhibition will be

a collection of the artists’ diverse talents and an opportunity for students and lecturers to celebrate a creative and productive year,” she said.

From page 13The primary role of the

PSOs is roll management and student enrolments. They work closely with their portfolio administration

officer and portfolio manager to ensure smooth workflow and efficient processes within their section.With 100 per cent of all

outstanding student debt for this year accounted for, the busy team in L Block clearly demonstrate their commitment to, and

pride in, the job they do while working together harmoniously.At the helm, Gail runs the

operation, liaising with the portfolio managers and finance for debt collection, managing the budget and assisting with payment plans.

Above left: Megan Bradley’s ceramic pot is from her B and W series. Above right: Corrina Asher’s Pussycat Temptation, a mixed media sculpture. Below: Boydan Coyne’s Yorgas Waiting for Future Husband, acrylic on canvas.

Trail to art exhibition runs hot

what do they do . . .

Great Southern Gazette 15

Spotlight on...

Star sign: TaurusFavourite food: Cheese, washed down with a ‘little’ red wine!First car: A yellow Holden GeminiSporting team: The Kazakhstan’s Men’s Synchronized Swimming TeamHobbies: I don’t have time for hobbies….. between working in the Skills Development Centre and taking care of Jim, my workload is too full! Though I do try and make some time to annoy David Hansen…. That could be seen as a hobby! Which three famous people would you take onto your desert island for a year, and why?: Bear Grylls. (man vs wild) I once saw him turn a dead sheep inside out to make a wool-lined sleeping bag. We could snuggle in that at night after he had spent all day collecting berries and nuts on the Island.

Ricky Gervais – he could entertain us and Jonny Depp (must be dressed as Captain Jack Sparrow) would be there as a ‘reserve’ when I grew tired of Bear’s ‘exciting’ stories of survival!

Favourite book or author: James Patterson, or any other author who writes about serial killers and sadistic murderers.. what can I say? I am a deeply troubled individual.Favourite music: Oldies…. Nina Simone, Buddy Guy, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Charles Aznavour, Gregory Isacks. Yes I am a nerd, and proud of it!I hate...: People who think they are way more important than they really are unless you are Mother Teresa or God! Pull your head in!I love...: I love... a rainy day, a ‘big’ glass of wine, chocolate and a good movie.

Position: Skills Development Centre AdministratorCampus: Albany

Natasha Henderson

HANDMADE TRUFFLE

GIFT BASKETSOrders are now being taken at institute café for December delivery

Fantastic Christmas Presents

Only $20

Great Southern Gazette 16

Staff from Student Services and the Skills Development Centre were on hand to give advice and information at the institute’s stands at the Albany Agricultural Show.Hundreds visited the stands

over the two days and many took advantage of the free manicure sessions from the beauty therapy students and a complimentary five-minute massage from the remedial massage students.

We show what we’re made of

Top left: Kimberley Walker, Deb Slater-Lee and Paula Fisher represented the Skills Development Centre.Top right: Jan Auld and Lesley Brand represented the institute.Above: The institute stand.Above right: Customer Alex Levack was one of hundreds of visitors to the stand to check out thier study options.

Great Southern Gazette 17

Steve Landells at the Port to Point.

Welcome relief for tired musclesAmong the most popular services for Albany Agricultural Show patrons and runners in the recent Port to Point event in Albany was the massage.Great Southern Institute

of Technology massage students based themselves and their equipment near the finish line of the Port to Point and gave complimentary muscle rubs to the tired competitiors.

They were practising their welcome skills again at the show, where they were kept on their toes giving popular short massages to revive showgoers at the institute’s stand.

Carol Wolfe and Gaynor Castle at the Port to Point.

Left: Janeen Rae and Mirelle Ekstrom at the show.Above: Pauline Wals at the show.

Great Southern Gazette 18

VET Trends

MyStudyBar is a floating toolbar of free, open-source applications which help overcome problems students commonly experience with studying, reading and writing.It can be downloaded and then easily

installed on a flash drive for use on any Windows computer.Although MyStudyBar is designed to

support learners with literacy-related difficulties such as dyslexia, it can benefit all learners.The MyStudyBar toolbar includes

applications for mind mapping, screen masking, word prediction, a talking dictionary, text to speech and voice recognition.Download the free suite of learning

tools, run from your desktop, or from a flash drive on any PC. Tutorials are provided for each of the programs. Go to: http://www.mystudybar.

org/?page_id=7Watch an introduction to mystudybar on

Youtube by going to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ymCa4um_l8.

Access All Areaswith Wendy Macliver

MyStudyBar puts tools in your pocket

Completing Year 12 has real benefits for young people, but is not an end in itself, recent NCVER reports reveal. Rather, finishing Year 12

is more valuable when combined with certain post-school study. And completing

high school is not a prerequisite for all young people to achieve success. Longitudinal Surveys of

Australian Youth (LSAY) show that, for young women, Year 12 followed by university study is a winning combination as far as gaining a higher-

paying full-time job goes. Young men, however,

benefit from completing Year 12 and then going on to an apprenticeship or university: those who go on to an apprenticeship have the best predicted pay at the age of 25, while those going to university achieve jobs with the highest status (and therefore higher earnings at older ages). Young men also seem

to have more options generally, in that not completing Year 12 and doing an apprenticeship still results in good job prospects and a decent wage for males. Why the difference in

opportunities between

young men and women? It may be because

women are less likely to take up an apprenticeship. NCVER data confirm

that from 1995 to 2010, the proportion of women commencing an apprenticeship or traineeship in the technical and trade occupations has remained a steady 15 per cent, with a similar proportion completing. And the women are almost wholly concentrated in the lower-paid trades of hairdressing and food. (NCVER Insight

Newsletter Issue 43 September 2011)

Study after Year 12 pays off

Great Southern Gazette 19

Institute staff celebrated Safe Work Week at the end of October with light-hearted events to spread a serious message.The fun lunch break in the café, with

dangerous tunes and safe sandwiches, included a song session by principal lecturer and musician Tony King, who put tunes to the poetry of various members of staff to promote Safe Work Week.Several initiatives came to fruition during

our big week:• A new safety fence was installed in

the aquaculture section. This was an item raised on an inspection with Lidia, when the free access was recognised as a hazard. Once it was decided to erect a fence, Pete Young, Neil Binning and I did the job. With the area now safely isolated, the flow of visitors can be controlled;

• Personal protective equipment (PPE) storage dispensers have been manufactured. During a workplace safety inspection, I noticed safety glasses, gloves and hearing protection lying around without a specific storage area. PPE storage dispensers in two sizes now provide a clean, safe designated storage area where PPE can be stored and readily accessed;

• A safe walkway has been installed at N Block, so students and forklifts no longer have to share the area. Isolating the forklift area by constructing a walkway allows students safe access to the demountable from the plumbing workshop;

• Denmark OHS representative Sue Dybing has put up an OHS notice board to raise staff and student awareness of safety issues. Sue will constantly update this board with the latest information and safety initiatives at the Denmark campus.

The Safe Work Week display in the library

drew good numbers for the week, some staff members borrowing the OHS books and DVDs.Even though the week is over, these

resources are still available, so if any of the books or DVDs below interest you, ask for them at the library.• Make it Safe: a guide to food safety• Australian workplace occupational

health management• Health and Safety at work• Essential Bushfire Safety Tips• Lessons from Longford: the ESSO gas

plant explosion• Office Copying Machines• Not in my class: managing classroom

bullying (DVD)• Hazards and risks (DVD)• Enhancing Safety: OHS fundamentals

(DVD)• Simple Slide Sheet Techniques (DVD)• Driving Straight (DVD)• Child’s Play in the Office (Video)

Safety First

With Rick Muller

Sing a song of safety

Top left: Peter Young and Rick Muller admire the new safety fence at the aquaculture area. Above: PPE storage dispensers. Left: Denmark’s OHS notice board.

Great Southern Gazette 20

If you’ve missed out on the Monday lunchtime series Everyone Has a Story, you’ve missed a treat. But with two still to go, it’s not too late to enjoy the informal sessions in the cafe on Mondays at midday, and get a free lunch into the bargain.The sessions, an initiative of principal

lecturer Tony King, have been popular – some have been to all the sessions so far.For the first story, wool classing and

shearing lecturer Pete Young’s talk ‘Came for two weeks, stayed for 24 years’ talked about his time at the institute and his hobby of making unusual guitars.Men on the Couch was the second

in the series, with institute characters Andrew Nicholson and Craig Bottomley regaling the audience with stories of their lives within and outside the institute. While Andrew’s life centres around trees

and anything to do with them, he also lists permaculture gardening among his hobbies.Craig talked about his career in

education and youth work, and his interests in martial arts.Crafty Beauty was another popular

session with ceramics lecturer Mary Wallace and beauty therapist and lecturer Alison Sharpe.From a luxury spa in the UK, Alison

moved to Australia. On inquiring about jobs at the institute, she was offered a start three days later.Mary, who runs her own pottery studio,

has taught ceramics for 25 years.She was invited to South Korea last

year to learn about the famous Celadon pottery and to present a workshop to the masters of Celadon.The final two in the series are on 21 and

28 November, with Ladies on the Couch (Gaye Bushell and Ruth McLean) and BN and the Bump Theory Man (Sue Bennett-Ng and Ray Tuckey).Everyone is invited.

The stories behind the staff

Pete Young.

Julie Robins and Lesley Brand at Pete Young’s session.

More photos on page 21

Top left: Andrew Nicholson and Craig Bottomley.Top right: Leaya Bailey, Sue Stokes and Jess Johnston.Above: Steve Marshall and Peter Slebos.Left: Mary Wallace.Below left: Alison Sharpe.Below: Dianne Madden and Betty Paunic.

Stories behind the staff

Great Southern Gazette 21

BOOKSHOPPhone Vicki Halliday

on 9892 8852

Mac Std 2011

Staff Price#

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* Great Southern Institute of Technology

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at ridiculously discounted prices!

# Limit of one per person

Great Southern Gazette 22