Speaker: Pam Martin
I really enjoyed my visit to AAPNZ Rotorua and would like to thank the members for their warm welcome.
I trained as a PA in the UK on one of the many Pitman/RSA courses when computers were just starting to appear. Since then I have learned my skills on the job without any formal training. I had some responsible jobs and certainly coped day to day but I was always aware that I might be doing things the long way.
When I was working for Waitemata DHB one of my jobs was to type the strategic plan. 200 pages created from a large number of submissions from all over the system. I hadn’t learned about automatic formatting and so I did it the hard way which took a lot of time. But at the end it looked good and I was just making the final check when there on page 47 was a rogue bullet point. It was 10 times larger than any other one in the document. I tried to change it to match but every time I tried it blew the formatting on the rest of the document. The undo button got a lot of use that day. Things were getting critical as it had to go to the Ministry of Health the next morning.
So the rest of the office got involved and it turned into a group activity. Unfortunately they knew even less so we were getting nowhere fast. Then a woman who was attending a meeting at the office heard of our plight and in one minute flat corrected the problem.
That was one of the incidents that got me wondering how many other people were in the same boat. They could survive day to day but didn’t know what they didn’t know so had no way of working out what training they needed.
I began to realise that our productivity is leaking out through the holes in our computer skills.
Everyone assumes that because we sit in front of a computer, can type fast and are able to run the office or manage an executive we don’t need computer training. In my experience most people have taught themselves to use a computer including most administrators.
Yet we are the ones that could actually gain the most if we were offered meaningful computer training. After all these days a computer plays an important part in any administration role.
But I couldn’t get anyone to listen.
So in 2009 I wrote a book called Beneath the Knowledge Wave which is full of the stories of what can happen if you don’t understand how to use a computer effectively. (There are a couple of copies available in the Rotorua branch)
My passion now is to motivate New Zealand to start taking responsibility for our computer skills. We want to encourage administrators, workers and businesses to complete an internationally recognised core computer certification called the IC3 or Internet and Computer Core Certificate.
Designed as a global standard for core computer skills this will ensure that we have the key skills we all need no matter what job we do. The certification will set a clear benchmark for our workforce and build confidence. A course like this can save around 20 – 30 minutes per day depending on your current skill level. That is 120 hours plus a year in time wasted doing things the long way or trying to work out how to do something.
Training can be flexible and with online courseware it can fit around your work. Completing a certification means that you can prove your skill level and ensure that you keep up to date. There is even a code that will provide digital confirmation of what you have learned if you are applying for a new job.
Beyond the IC3 there are other Microsoft Specialist and Master certifications at intermediate and advanced levels. We need to grow our skills to keep up with the ever changing digital world and we need to complete certification to prove that we actually understand what we have learnt.
Our Kiwi Computer Challenge aims to get one million New Zealanders to pass the IC3 by 2015. We need something positive to shake us all out of our rut. If New Zealand wants to become more productive and prosperous we all have to help. We can’t wait for someone else to bail us out.
For more information see
or contact Pam on 0800 224 622
Footnote: Trish Dunn is going to become our learning and testing centre in Rotorua so watch out for more details soon.
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Calling all administrators and their managers!
Waiariki Institute of Technology’s
School of Business & Tourism offer
The Diploma in Business Administration – Level 5 online
The Diploma in Business Administration has been specifically designed for all administrative professionals – from receptionist through to office manager and every administration-type position in between.
It is completely taught and learnt online (via the internet) and it is also workplace based. There are no structured classes to attend. This means that you are able to study using your own work as the basis for your assessment work and in a time that suits the organisation and yourself. Our courses are designed with you in mind and the learning is flexible enough to encompass what you do now plus it gives you huge scope into higher learning opportunities.
You require a minimum of eight courses to complete the diploma which can be achieved in two years - studying four courses each year (two each semester) or take longer if you prefer to study one course at a time.
Courses are available for enrolment in February and July (two semesters a year) – most courses are restricted to one semester delivery only.
Each course is timetabled for a 15 week period but they can be finished earlier if you wish to do so.
Tell your boss about the wonderful opportunity to gain a meaningful qualification while carrying on your day-to-day work. We work with you so that you gain a qualification so you can achieve that piece of paper which means so much in today’s workplace.
For enquiries please phone:
Joanne Duncan, Head of Department for Management and Business Administration
or
Vivienne Kermode, Senior Tutor, DipBA-L5. 07 346 8672 DD
These courses available February only (20th February 2012)
BADM5000 = Management Administration roles & meetings procedures (15 credits)
BADM5003 = Professional development and strategies (15 credits)
MGMT5208 = Fundamentals of Project Management (15 credits)
BADM6004 = Develop, coordinate & manage administration services (15 credits)
BADM6005 = Customer service management (15 credits)
These courses available July only (16th July 2012)
BADM5001= Managing people and conflict resolution (15 credits)
BADM5008 = Payroll Power (15 credits)
BADM4000 = Administration for management (15 credits)
ONLY CHOOSE ONE OF BADM.4000 or BADM.5000 do not do both.
BADM5004 = Management Administration Services (15 credits)
BADM5005 = Research, preparation & presentation of business information (15 credits)
BADM5006 = Staff processes (15 credits)
BADM6003 = Business Event/Project Planning (15 credits)
To discuss options contact Waiariki Institute of Technology School of Business & Tourism School Administrator or the Senior Tutor for the Diploma in Business Administration – Level 5 – Vivienne Kermode, Rotorua phone 07 346 8672 or email Vivienne.Kermode@waiariki.ac.nz
