Photo: (L-R) Gaye Cook (Branyan Clinic Practice Manager) and Morgan Engstrom (QTA Nominee).

MEDICAL PRACTICE ASSISTING NEWS!

Queensland Vocational Student of the year 2020 nominee…

Congratulations to one of our students, Morgan Engstrom who has been nominated for Queensland Vocational Student of the year 2020. The QLD Training Awards are being held in Brisbane in September 2020.

Morgan has completed our Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting which was delivered through Brisbane North PHN.

Congratulations Morgan and we wish you all the very best!

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Did you know that the US Bureau of Labour Statistics expect the employment of Medical Assistants to grow by 23% over the next decade, with similar growth expected in Australia. Medical Practice Assistants have an important role to play within the practice, alleviating some of the stress and workloads on medical practitioners.

Here at UNE Partnerships you can study our Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting. This is a nationally recognised qualification and is suitable for those in the health practice or medical setting wishing to expand their skills into a clinical arena. With our qualification you will work within the scope of delegation, and legal and ethical regulatory frameworks to support delivery of healthcare and contribute to the provision of coordinated healthcare services. You will be able to assist in a range of front and back of office, medical and administrative tasks to support a team of medical practitioners and healthcare professionals.

For more information about or Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting (HLT47715) qualification click here.

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Government Funded Training is now available!
Traineeships are available through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Program in Medical Practice Assisting. Traineeships are employment-based training programs, which combine nationally recognised qualifications within a workplace context. For all enquires, contact Maralan Southern via email maralan.southern@brisbanenorthphn.org.au or phone 07 3630 7349.

Next intake for the Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting (HLT47715)
We are now enrolling for our next intake on the 8^th May 2020, please note places are limited.  For all enquiries, contact Annette Dunlop on 07 3630 7341 or email Medicalassistant@brisbanenorthphn.org.au

Our thoughts are with those who have been affected by COVID-19, whether through illness or the economic impact of this global pandemic.
We are committed to continuing the provision of high quality online vocational education and training as this crisis unfolds, however some areas of our business may be limited by medium-term restrictions on travel and social gatherings.

Student Support

We will be available as usual via phone and email.

Please continue to use the contact information you have been provided.

Our Student Services Team and your allocated assessor will be happy to help!

Business Premises

We are preparing transition our workforce to work from home from Friday 27 March 2020.

While this will require some adaptation we expect normal service levels to continue without disruption.

Travel

There is a complete restriction on international travel for staff.

Domestic travel will be limited to essential travel only until further notice.

We are eager to continue to work with our clients and partners using Skype and Zoom.

Workshops

Public workshops scheduled prior to 31 May 2020 will be postponed or delivered virtually.

We will work with our clients to determine the best course of action for workshops scheduled for the rest of this year.

If you are enrolled in a course with a workshop and you would like more information then please contact Student Services for an update.

Online Learning

This may a good opportunity to harness any spare time and devote it to your personal or professional development.

UNE Partnerships has been a leader in the provision of distance and online vocational education for more than 30 years.

We also offer a range of short courses and skillsets that may help you or your team to make the most of a terrible situation.

Policy and Protocol

UNE Partnerships follow the Emergency Management protocols of the University of New England.

https://www.une.edu.au/coronavirus-information

Together, we are facing an unprecedented situation. Please contact us if you wish to know more about we can support your business or your studies through this challenging time.

UNE Partnerships would like to congratulate the NSW Government Graduate Program cohort of 2018, with 101 graduates celebrating the successful completion of the Diploma of Government Dexus Place in Sydney on 12 July 2019. We are incredibly proud of our partnership with the NSW Public Service Commission, which has seen the NSW Government Graduate Program grow from a pilot group of 25 graduates in 2016.

Suzanne Crew, UNE Partnerships CEO described some of the strengths of this highly customised training program on the day;

“UNE Partnerships is extremely proud of its association with the NSW Government Graduate Program and the role the Diploma of Government plays not only in the success of the Program but in the long-term future of each Graduate.

As an educator and trainer of the workforce of tomorrow, I know that a future-focused Program that instils the hard and soft skills required of graduates to tackle some of the complex and wicked problems governments face is essential for the economic, social and environmental future of our State”. 

Graduates were also treated to an inspiring speech from Emma Hogan, who shared some of the highs and lows of her career journey from an early school leaver, to eventually become the NSW Public Service Commissioner, imparting some valuable life lessons and career advice to everyone who was fortunate enough to attend.

UNE Partnerships looks forward to continuing this important relationship with the NSW Public Service Commission and we wish all of the graduates every success into the future.

• Learn more about the Diploma of Government from UNE Partnerships:
  https://unep.edu.au/course/diploma-of-government/

• Learn More about the AFR Top 100 Graduate Programs:
  https://top-graduate-employers-2019.afr.com/pride-purpose-australias-largest-ehttps://top-graduate-employers-2019.afr.com/pride-purpose-australias-largest-employer/mployer

• Photo: (L-R) Sue Crew (UNEP, CEO), Elizabeth Grist, Kathryn Hogan (UNEP, Client Relations Manager).
  

   

   

  Congratulations to Elizabeth Grist, a graduate of ours who has won the NSW Vocational Student of the year 2019 – Health Industry award  last Friday night, at the 2019 NSW Training Awards (New England Region).

  Elizabeth Grist has been a successful student from the first day she enrolled in the qualification. She has been motivated and grateful for all assistance provided to her in the class of Medical Practice assisting in South Eastern NSW.  Elizabeth was interested in the role of Medical Practice Assistant and responded exceptionally well to our webinars on each topic and to the support components which include working within your scope of practice, assertiveness training and conflict management. Whilst these topics are not directly related to the competencies, they assist with transition into the role. We wish you all the very best in your future career Elizabeth!

   

   

  Excerpt from Elizabeth’s successful application can be read below.

  I enrolled in Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting HLT47715 with UNE Partnership RTO:6754, through the Smart and Skilled Targeted Priorities Full Qualification funding.  This qualification reflects the role of medical practice assistants whose work includes a broad range of administrative functions combined with tasks to support medical practitioners in the delivery of care to clients. These tasks are completed under the direct or indirect supervision of a medical practitioner, that is a registered nurse or doctor.

  The qualification requires students to complete 23 units of competency, over an 18-month study period. The 23 units are in four streams, 4 Community Health units, 10 Clinical skills units, 6 Business units and 3 First Aid units.  The course commitment is approximately 5 to 6 hours of online study each week including learning and support webinars plus 7 days of face to face training

  I chose this course for the following reasons:

  1. The Health industry is growing at a rapid pace and I like the individual assistance that customers (Patients) receive. I chose to study in this industry as I find it personally very rewarding and satisfying.
  2. It would assist my Practice with better patient flow
  3. It would assist my practice medical professionals in the workplace with administration duties
  4. It would increase my employability in the health industry
  5. Government funding was available, so it became more affordable.
  6. It was offered by UNE Partnerships, an RTO well recognised for the quality of training delivery and expertise in the Practice Management sector
  7. The combination of flexibility and support offered by UNE Partnerships.
  8. The Practice nurse and business owner encouraged and supported my application
  9. My family encouraged and supported my decision to return to study

  The journey began when my colleague had her initial interview to join the admin/reception team at Ulladulla Endoscopy and Medical Centre (UEMC), where I work.  She was part way through Medical Practice Assisting HLT47715 (MPA) with OTEN.  My boss took interest and found out about MPA through UNE Partnerships.  She asked that I consider applying for the NSW Government funded program, Smart and Skilled funding. The expression of interest by the 6^th December 2018 which happened to be the day before the closing date.  UNE partnerships thoroughly explained the opportunity and checked my eligibility. What intrigued me about the course was the clinical aspect.  Having background in dental nursing I was keen to learn the clinical side of things in a medical practice and appreciate the variety of roles and responsibilities. 

  Since I last studied about 20 years ago, this has changed / impacted me in various way such as setting goals to complete modules in set timeframes, prioritizing with study first, it was like an addiction.  I was unable to pace myself with the given freedom for each module and feeling an irresistible urge to complete each module within a few weeks.  This career path has given me a wider scope of opportunity and variety when working in the medical field; broadening my knowledge and skills to understand the reason for completing particular task after a lot of late nights studying into the quiet hours of the morning.

  I have gained practical useful knowledge which has helped me implement the skills with confidence in the workplace.  This has provided the ability to increase clinical duties and responsibilities adding variety to our work roles, enjoyment and satisfaction with hands on tasks. 

  As I progress through the 23-unit course, I am now qualified to perform some clinical and administrative tasks, this has brought workflow efficiencies and increased the patient/ doctor ratio and patient satisfaction rate, in my practice.

  As I’ve been studying each unit, I’ve been able to further develop processes and workflows by compare what is being done in the workplace and how, bringing new ideas, suggestions, and participating in the continual improvement process.

  I’ve been able to tell my patients about the benefits of MPA course and vocational education, when they ask about the training whilst doing an ECG.  They query after seeing me only at the front desk and now doing ECG’s.  The patients have appreciated the structure of the course to assist the practice with both clinical and duties at the front desk.  I was able to encourage my work mates with eating habits at the front desk in regards to hand hygiene, also doing stretches to prevent stiffness and poor posture by following the exercises on the laminated sheet placed in various places as reminders. 

   

  Learn more about this course.

  • Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting

   

  Contact us today!

  • Call 1800 066 128 or email ask@unep.edu.au

UNE Partnerships offers nationally recognised qualifications in Leadership and Management and Project Management. Our range of flexible delivery models are designed to suit your individual level of experience and expertise.

Get Qualified Sooner

UNE Partnerships offers Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and accelerated pathways for experienced professionals in some programs, to help you become qualified sooner.

Funded Training Available

You may be eligible for funding through the UNE Professional Study Development Fund, or through the NSW Government Smart and Skilled initiative.

Leadership and Management

• Certificate IV in Leadership and Management
• Diploma of Leadership and Management
• Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management

Our Certificate IV in Project Management Practice and Diploma of Project Management are endorsed by the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM). We are a Registered Education provider for Project Management Institute (PMI).

Project Management

• Certificate IV in Project Management Practice
• Diploma of Project Management
• Advanced Diploma of Program Management

Contact us today to find out more about these programs and funding eligibility!

• Call 1800 066 128 or email ask@unep.edu.au

• The Facility Management Association (FMA) and UNE Partnerships are proud to announce the inaugural recipient of the Diploma of Facilities Management Indigenous Scholarship is Payden Barrett from BGIS. Payden was excited to accept his scholarship at the FMA Conference Dinner as part of Ideaction in Sydney earlier this month (Monday 3 June 2019).

   

  Payden is a Maintenance Coordinator for the BGIS-Shell QC LNG project in central Queensland.  He is a qualified tradesman with 10 years of experience as a building carpenter, and brings extensive experience in concrete repair, painting, difficult access and general building maintenance to his role in integrated property and service solutions.

   

  Matt Osbourne, Account Manager at BGIS, has described Payden as a motivated and aspirational facilities manager.

  “He has always displayed a keenness to learn more about the Facilities Management world and has proven his willingness to put in the extra effort required to better his knowledge and himself when the opportunity arises.”

   

  Nicolas Burt, Chief Executive Officer of FMA, met with Payden at the FMA Conference Dinner.

  “Payden is clearly a very capable, well-liked and motivated member of the BGIS team. We hope the Diploma of FM helps him take the next step in his career.”

   

  This new annual scholarship aims to foster and promote continuing training and professional development for FMA members who are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. Each Scholarship will cover the full course fees for the Diploma of Facilities Management.

   

  Sue Crew, Chief Executive Officer of UNE Partnerships, is proud to be working with FMA to support this emerging initiative.

  “We are delighted to be working together with the Association to provide this scholarship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander FMA members to help further their careers in this growing industry.”

   

  We would like to congratulate Payden on receiving this scholarship and wish him all the best in studying for the Diploma of Facilities Management over the next couple years.

   

  Submissions for the 2020 FMA and UNE Partnerships Indigenous Scholarship will open in March 2020.

  • Learn more about our Diploma of Facilities Management:
    unep.edu.au/course/diploma-of-facilities-management-fma/
  • Learn more about the Facility Management Association (FMA):
    fma.com.au

   

   

  Photo credit: FMA

  (from left)

  Sue Crew, Chief Executive Officer, UNE Partnerships

  Payden Barret, 2019 Scholarship Recipient

  Benjamin Gilmore, Director of Learning and Innovation, UNE Partnerships

UNE Partnerships offers nationally recognised qualifications in Leadership and Management.

We offer a range of flexible delivery models designed to suit your individual level of experience and expertise.

Our  Certificate IV in Leadership and Management qualification is suited to applicants that provide leadership, guidance and support to others within their organisation.

• Certificate IV in Leadership and Management

This Diploma of Leadership and Management qualification is suited to applicants who have autonomy in their role and are expected to show initiative and judgement in planning, organising, implementing and monitoring their own workload and the workload of others.

• Diploma of Leadership and Management

The Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management qualification is suited to dynamic leaders who wish to broaden their business perspective, enhance management capability and strengthen leadership behaviour.

• Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management

You may be eligible for funding through the UNE Professional Study Development Fund, or through the NSW Government Smart and Skilled initiative.

Contact us today to find out more about these programs and funding eligibility!

• Call 1800 066 128 or email ask@unep.edu.au

• The Path to ProsperityDeloitte report titled The Path to Prosperity: Why the Future of Work is Human, which explores the future of work and employment in Australia.

   

  More than 80% of jobs created between now and 2030 will be for knowledge workers, and two-thirds will be strongly reliant on soft skills, suggesting there is a need for employers and workers to continue to invest in education and professional development to remain competitive.

   

  Deloitte predicts that by 2030 the five greatest skills shortages will be customer service, organisation and time management, health, digital literacy and leadership. “Business leaders will have to make active choices, and just buying skills won’t be enough. They will have to adopt an investment frame of mind, and train them,”  Deloitte Australia managing partner Carl Harris said.

   

  Author David Rumbens has dispelled three common myths about the future of work through this report:

   

  • Robots will take jobs
  • People will have lots of jobs throughout their careers
  • People will no longer work in offices

   

  Contact us today to learn how to prepare yourself and your organisation for the Future of Work.

   

  You can access the full report from Deloitte:

   

  • https://www2.deloitte.com/insights/us/en/focus/technology-and-the-future-of-work/building-the-lucky-country.html

UNE Partnerships offers nationally recognised qualifications in Project Management.

Our Certificate IV in Project Management Practice and Diploma of Project Management are endorsed by the Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM). We are a Registered Education provider for Project Management Institute (PMI). The modules delivered are flexible and designed to suit your individual level of experience and expertise.

Funding may be available from UNE and the NSW Government

You may be eligible for funding from UNE through the Professional Study Development Fund), or from the NSW Government through Smart and Skilled.

Certificate IV in Project Management Practice is suited to project team members whose task is to coordinate one or more elements of a project and provide direct support to the project manager.

• https://unep.edu.au/course/certificate-iv-in-project-management-practice/

Diploma of Project Management is ideal for emerging and experienced project managers, with a clear focus on contemporary methodologies, tools, techniques and strategies to effectively manage projects.

• https://unep.edu.au/course/diploma-of-project-management/

Advanced Diploma of Program Management is suited for highly experienced program managers, who are responsible for highly complex projects or portfolios of interrelated projects.

• https://unep.edu.au/course/advanced-diploma-of-program-management/

Contact us today to find out more about these programs and funding eligibility

• Call 1800 066 128 or email ask@unep.edu.au

Suzanne Crew was recently appointed Chief Executive Officer of UNE Partnerships, a registered training organisation that specialises in vocational education, including the Diploma of Facilities Management (FM). She brings a wealth of knowledge, gained through her extensive experience in the tertiary education sector and a 10-year career in federal politics.

What has been the biggest challenge in your new role?
The biggest challenge I faced in the first three months of my tenure was the development of a new strategic plan and budget for approval by the UNE Partnerships Board. If the strategy was going to have any chance of success, it needed to be informed by our staff, students, partner organisations and clients. Given the tight time frame, I knew from the outset that building the trust necessary for people to be open and honest with me was going to be my biggest challenge. I needed to hit the ground running, spending most of my time building relationships with staff and stakeholders. We met the deadline and the strategy was approved by the board. Only time will tell if it is a success or not!

More generically, my challenges are the same as most CEOs and senior management teams in tertiary education; an uncertain public policy environment, an increasingly complex and volatile regulatory environment, changing student and client expectations (and the need for pedagogical innovation and the technological investment required to keep pace with these demands), and increased competition domestically and internationally. Thus, it is now imperative to instil change-readiness and agile processes as core to any tertiary education institution.

What are your main priorities for the future of UNE Partnerships?
I have four main priorities for 2019:

1. implement a new course design model to make our courses more adaptable in a changing tertiary education market
2. introduce supplementary student support initiatives to create a unique learning support environment for our students
3. roll out access to Vet Student Loans for our students
4. seek registration as a CRICOS provider.

How do you ensure students receive quality training that aligns with industry needs?
Our aim is to deliver experientially and research-informed vocational education and training courses that are practical, contemporary, customised and unique in an Australian vocational sector dominated by the delivery of standardised training packages.

UNE Partnerships has a long history of closely partnering with key industry bodies – such as the FMA – to ensure that the needs of the industry are reflected in course design, delivery, content and assessment. We also select trainers and assessors based on their reputation and standing in their sector to ensure students are receiving contemporary and informed knowledge and skills from leaders in the field.

The content development process for the Diploma of FM included two expert review stages for each module. Members of the FMA education committee were invited to review content at the first and second drafts to ensure the concepts, case studies and assessment expectations aligned with best practice in the FM sector.

We also make the most of our relationship with the University of New England (UNE) to ensure that the knowledge-based components, especially in relation to the leadership and management components of our higher-level qualifications, remain aligned with current applied research findings and trends.

The Diploma of FM is a self-directed/paced online course. How do you ensure students remain engaged when they have the freedom to learn at their own pace?
UNE Partnerships students are generally mature adults working in a role directly related to their area of study, and are strongly motivated to succeed. While many find it difficult to fit study around existing professional and personal commitments, they appreciate the flexibility of the UNE Partnerships approach, and the encouragement and support of our staff.

Attention to individual students is a key factor in their success. Each student is provided with an individual study and submission plan in their enrolment dashboard so that they can easily benchmark their progress. UNE staff review individual student progress monthly and follow up those that appear to be falling behind in their studies to offer encouragement, advice and assistance to keep them on track. Assessment submission dates are adjusted to suit individual needs and commitments, helping them to manage their own time and take responsibility for their own success.

In addition, over the next 12 months, UNE Partnerships will be rolling out two new initiatives to help students remain engaged with their studies. Firstly, we will be introducing a mentor scheme, matching students with industry representatives or academic coaches depending on the needs of the students. Secondly, we will commence sector-level webinars aimed at all students, regardless of how far advanced they are with their studies, to provide students with not only knowledge and skills pertinent to their field, but a chance to engage as part of a learning community. We are also exploring a new student engagement platform, which we hope to roll out in 2019.

The FM industry has been greatly affected by new technology. How do you equip students with the skills necessary to navigate the digital world?                                     

Our courses are competency-based, requiring students to demonstrate and apply their new skills and knowledge in real-world situations. While the diploma does not teach students to use specific software packages or focus on advancements in technology, it does build skills in critical thinking, digital literacy, information collection, data analysis and reporting. Our focus is on the ability to make sense of the data and information to which facilities managers are exposed, and use it to guide decision-making.

Learning in an online environment also helps to develop a range of skills for the digital world, encouraging students to use new technologies for improved information collection analysis and reporting, communications, planning and scheduling, and research and presentation skills. As early adopters of new technology, FMs embrace the change and recognise the benefits.

In 2018, UNE Partnerships committed to providing an annual scholarship for the Diploma of FM for Indigenous Australians. What do you hope to achieve through this scholarship?
FMA launched its Indigenous Engagement Strategy in June 2018. One of the key actions was to work with a range of organisations to put in place some tangible actions that will see greater engagement with the Indigenous community and the FM industry.

Through this scholarship, UNE Partnerships and the FMA can provide access to skill development and help to reduce barriers to education for Indigenous people interested in pursuing a career in facilities management.

To support this initiative, the FMA will be working with a range of large players within the industry to gain access to an employment opportunity for each scholarship recipient – ensuring a pathway from education to employment.

To read the full interview with Suzanne Crew, please refer to Facility Perspectives, Vol 13 No 1.