Flexible Learning

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I never regreted studying a diploma of Community Services work at OTEN. The outcome of my study has been a tremendous eye opening , knowledge expansion and multi skills development which have enabled me to ophold a high professional attribute to effectively and efficiently work in the disability, community and office environment.

Currently, I am proud to be one of the most eviable case manager working with Refugee and Assylum seekers for Settlement Services International and a community support worker for the Catholic care . This study has also enabled me to communicate, build effective rapport, identifying client's need and linked to necessary and available services and assist client to become competent and independent .It gives me the passion to explore and assisit the never ending needs of people . With my knowlege and skill acquired throught this study and the practical implementation of those skills and knowlege have been a motivating factor to further pursue a career in the community services.

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 My decision to study with Oten changed my life in many ways. I’m now more confident in my approach to work and after implementing many successful changes at work I also feel well respected by my peers.

 To understand my journey you first have to picture a mature aged women working in a busy medical practice that had no policies and procedures in place for administration. Documents were unorganised and unprofessionally presented and stored haphazardly. As the receptionist with the most experience in Microsoft Word, I was given the mammoth task of organising our documents into professional order.

 I began typing immediately, but Microsoft Word had a mind of its own and one I needed to master. As my daughter was also studying with Oten, she recommended I do the same. It was to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only did I master Microsoft Word and Excel, the course taught me how to implement those successful changes to improve my work environment for the good of the entire company.

 I would recommend studying with Oten to anyone. I enjoyed the experience so much I’m now on my way to completing my Diploma in Accounting.

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In 2001 I completed a chef’s apprenticeship and continued to work in the field for the next 11 years. I spent 15 years cooking and found myself working endless hours over holidays and weekends. Most of my shifts were spent looking forward to the end of the work week.

In 2013 I enrolled in a Diploma in Youth Work with OTEN. I was confident I could communicate well with young people and support them as I had with the apprentices I mentored in the past. My only worry was that I hadn’t been in any formal education for a long time and was unsure I could manage the course work.

With the help from the course material and the teaching department I was able to complete the assignments and receive my Diploma in Youth Work with distinction in late 2013.

Since then I have obtained a role as a program worker helping young people at risk of homelessness. I can see the real difference I am making in the lives of the young people I work with and am really enjoying my new career.

My name is Daniel Lawlor and this is how my OTEN course changed my life.

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I WORK HOW AND WHERE I WANT TO …. and BAS STATEMENTS ARE A BREEZE.

IMPRESSIVE is how I would describe my work life and bookkeeping skills since completing a Certificate IV in Accounting at Oten.  Studying with Oten has given me extensive and up to date knowledge of all things related to bookkeeping, accounting and more.  I now deal confidently with complex tasks and can work out solutions as required.  With my thorough understanding of the accounting process and its application in the real world I can also converse professionally with others in the industry. EXCELLENT is how I would describe my experience with Oten.  The course content was extensive, detailed and interesting.  The work was provided through a variety of methods making it appealing.  The course contained a good balance of theory and practical work, preparing me well for the real workplace. OUTSTANDING is how I would describe the telephone support from Oten.  Oten answer their phones promptly - “Hallelujah!”.  It felt like I phoned Oten a million times, and each time I felt like my call mattered, the teachers were genuinely interested, keen to help and effective. This helped a lot with my studies but more importantly the encouragement and support did wonders towards my motivation, progress and great results. Thanks Oten :) 

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Like most young children at school, I dreamed of being a teacher.   No matter how much I tried to concentrate in class, I would find myself daydreaming about being the one out the front of the class teaching others.   Unfortunately due to family circumstances I had to leave school in year ten to work in an office and it seemed my dream would never eventuate.  By the age of forty-six I had my own business and three beautiful children aged five, twenty-two, and twenty-four.  Even with a house full of children and a business to run, my dream of being a teacher had never fully been extinguished.

So I decided to study through OTEN to become a teacher’s aide.  Studying was so new to me and I thought it would be too daunting, but the support and encouragement OTEN offered was fantastic.  Once I finished the course my OTEN teacher suggested I go on to do my teaching degree.  I now work fulltime as a teacher’s aide and have almost finished my first year of my primary teaching degree fulltime online.  My OTEN experienced provided me with the skills, knowledge and confidence to follow my dream.  It’s never too late!

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OTEN Competition –completed

In June of year 2013, I had a difficult decision, that was whether either missing education in TAFE or keeping my full time employment? Supportively, my teacher told me that I could join OTEN course to complete my course.

The Teaching system was efficient. Lecture notes were easily accessible on student service Website, and then download it from the Learning Material Folder. I did not have to attend class. When there was problem, I request help from OTEN teachers. At a time, I had difficulty of arranging a workplace to complete two of the assignments. Teachers so helpful that they worked together arranged a workplace experience Lab at TAFE for me. I completed my course.

The OTEN course has provided me the knowledge, the required accreditation and better learning skills. The most important was that allowed me keeping my employment. So I could have enough time looking after my family.  In addition, the learning process was free of stress, without anxiety; but rather with lot of passion and warm.

OTEN course helped me integrating my life values for better. Thank you.

Sai Wah WONG

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OTEN How do I say thank you to someone who has turned my dream into a reality? How can I describe in a few words this new found confidence that I have? What picture can I draw to try and explain the knowledge I have acquired?

I started on my journey with OTEN in 2012. I have worked in my field for the last eleven years. I have worked in three different states and contacted many different colleges, tafes, institutions that offer the course which would allow me to gain the certification I require. I kept telling myself that I would complete the course later, that I would save up some money and then start the course, I would wait til I had more “free” time. I was just giving myself excuse after excuse because the underlying fact was that fear stopped me believing that I was capable of achieving this dream of mine. Despite completing my course via correspondence, from the minute I made contact with my OTEN teacher, I felt noticed, regarded, valued. I was given so much support, encouragement and motivation. It was as though I had my very own personal trainer who kept telling how they were there for me. And they were. Every email I sent was answered,phone calls were made to see how I was going or just to say hi. As each week passed, the reading material arrived and assignments were completed. I could immediately find myself realising how important my role in my workplace is. With the material I read I could directly apply principles to my workplace and explain the purpose behind the decision. I could feel my confidence growing, tasks that I had carried out during the last eleven years suddenly made sense and caused me to work smarter and more efficiently. I was able to ask my managers why we did things they way we did and was able to offer suggestions on how to improve our workplace practices. I know that if I had not been reading the material provided by OTEN I would not have had the knowledge or confidence to question my work peers. I completed my course in October 2013. The day I received my certificate I was the happiest girl in the world because I not only felt a great sense of achievement, but I felt as though my value had increased. To me OTEN is not just a tafe. OTEN has empowered me because they have opened my eyes to endless possibilities, challenged me and believed in me. I will be forever grateful.

Priscilla Nair

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I never thought I could study a diploma course before all my children are at school age, I did and I did it online with OTEN.

I never thought I could find a job within two weeks after I started looking, I did and I got the job because of the course I took through OTEN.

I never thought I could start as a real estate sales lady, I did and I concluded my first sale within two months after I started working.

I never thought I could get my first listing so quickly, I did and I did because of the knowledge I learnt through the OTEN course. 

These all happened, thanks to OTEN!

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In 2013 I completed a Diploma of Management via OTEN with the support of my employer.

This was a fantastic course which enabled me to examine a number of work practices, explore other workplace options and develop a greater understanding of the scope and roll of my position at a management level.

Via my Diploma of Management I have been able to develop my skills in library management, whilst extending my work area to now include the supervision of IT Support services in my division.

My Diploma of Management has also given me the platform to now explore further education options through both the TAFE NSW network and University level qualifications.

To cap off a fantastic result for 2013 I was awarded the 2013 Kath Knowles Young Leaders Award which recognised my achievements. The Award is to be presented to a staff member within the NSW public library network, aged under 40 years who is recongised as an aspiring young leaders. My Diploma of Management was used as part of my application for the award.

OTEN was a fantastic option for me to complete this qualification and I can’t wait to complete another one.

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After completing my Graduate Certificate in Communication I was confident to move into a new role. I am now a social media coordinator for a large organisation and I love it! I get to speak to people on a range of different social channels and help them. When I’m not chatting, I’m developing communication and social media strategies, run training workshops, develop best practice guidelines, mentor others and work on major marketing campaigns.

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Sparkle Station - Sydney based mobile jewellery care

It was when I was working for my dads business doing admin that I realised that there was so much that I didn’t understand about running a business. In a small business you can’t always afford to outsource or hire people to do the things you don’t know how to do. I enrolled in CertIV in Small Business Management through OTEN and I soon realised how satisfying it is to get to a point where you understand the little details which you need to take care of when running a business and why these things need to be done properly. The staff were always so supportive and helpful and if I needed an answer immediately I always turned to the Facebook group for help and feedback from other people doing the same course.

Now I’ve started my own business and am LOVING the control I have over all the different aspects of the business and the freedom to spend my days doing what I love and am really passionate about. I couldn’t recommend this course more highly!

- Jo

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MY OTEN EXPERIENCE

Studying with OTEN definitely changed my life for the better. I have worked in the community service sector for many years. It has been very rewarding working to help others. I recently upgraded my qualifications by studying the Diploma of Community Services: Welfare through OTEN. I now teach at a local community college in all of the community service areas, including Disabilities, Leisure & Health, HACC and Community Services and am able to teach up to Diploma level. I also earn more money and work fewer hours than I was previously - yaay. Studying with OTEN enabled me to study at my own pace. This allowed me to balance work and family whilst studying, which was great. I would recommend studying with OTEN to anybody who wants to make a career change or upgrade their currents skills. Thanks OTEN.

Kind regards,

Sharon Futcher

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I am of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, and have always had an interest in learning more about the culture and history of the Aboriginal people. As a homeschooled student in a family of 8 children studying through OTEN has always been the best option as it allows me to be flexible with my study hours and organise them around work and family commitments. I finished school last year and had the opportunity to start a statement of attainment in Aboriginal studies, as my part time job allowed me to study on the side. I absolutely loved the course, and learned so much. I now have a better understanding of Aboriginal history and spirituality and a bigger appreciation for the resilience of this ancient culture. Since completing the statement of attainment I've had the privilege or going into several Aboriginal communities and the things I learned from the course helped me to see situations and people differently than I had on previous trips. I look forward to learning more about Aboriginal culture in the future, through OTEN and hopefully also through trips to Western Australia to meet my extended family there. 

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Before enrolling in the Certificate IV in Youth Work, I had previously been running my own small business. I was giving riding lessons and breeding and training horses but the drought forced me to sell of most of my horses until it was no longer a viable business. Some of my riding students were children that had suffered trauma and abuse, another child had Autism. Each week, when the parents brought them back for their lessons, the parents would tell me how their child was more settled or would sleep better or would engage better with the other children at school. I realised that the horse riding was giving them some form of therapy. I decided I wanted to help Youth using animal assisted therapy.

I enrolled in the Certificate IV in Youth Work and just three months after enrolling my life improved more than I could have hoped. I was unemployed at the time and study was not going to put food on the table. I applied for a position of Residential Care Worker and due to my studying Youth Work and working towards a Community Service qualification was given the position.

I am still working there and have just received a pay rise due to my qualification! This year, just two weeks after completing my course, I gained employment co-facilitating Equine Assisted Therapy programs for Youth. It’s my dream job!! I would not have had this opportunity if I hadn’t studied with OTEN.

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MY NEW LIFE THANKS TO OTEN :-)

My OTEN course and working in Aged Care has changed my life so much, after finishing my course i worked with dementia residents in an aged care facility on the Gold Coast for a year and I found i had the best connection and understanding of the residents especially after studying for a year.

I have now stated working for RSL Homecare ( HACC -which is what i studied) and i was fortunate enough to go to one interview and get the job within a few days.  

Thank you OTEN for getting me out of hospitality after 30 years and making me realise that working in Aged Care is so empowering it is the most rewarding and satisfying job i have ever had, i learnt so much in my year of studying and wouldnt be where i am without the fabulous Aged Care teachers and support at OTEN

LIFE IS GOOD :-) :-) :-)

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After many years of rewarding teaching that came with endless marking, reporting, programming and assessing

There was a restlessness inside of me that needed some serious addressing.

I reflected upon and looked seriously at my reality.

I had to discover a new way to balance work, home, life and family.

A change or break needed to be made.

And through Seek, OTEN came to my aid.

Finally this was a chance to try something very different and new.

So, enrol myself in the Certificate lll Business Admin (Medical) course is what I decided to do.

I enjoyed expanding and developing existing skills and setting my own pace.

Whilst acquiring new learning without the pressure of feeling I was in a race.

From subjects such as IT skills, word processing, medical records, patient privacy and confidentiality

to getting my tongue around some very interesting and challenging medical terminology.

Through various course units I progressed.

However it was the Typing Speed at the very end that really put me to the test!

I’m now very excited and thrilled to embark on this new journey.

And look forward to a future filled with lifelong learning.

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Getting my Cert lll in dental through Oten has helped me change my life for the better in SO many ways, not only has it allowed me to get a job in a rural area where our practice is one of the two surgeries in town making my job super important to me, but studying with Oten has given me the confidence to do things I never thought I could, I have recently booked a ticket to Europe where I will be holidaying and then further pursuing my dental career in a practice in the UK!! I never thought I’d get to the place I am now and I could never have done it without the support from the amazing people from Oten that helped me through my course. I am eternally grateful, Thank you!