Best wishes for the holiday season
All the very best to everyone for our holiday season here in Australia; enjoy your holidays if you celebrate Christmas and New Year, and to all our clients, colleagues and friends, we wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous year in 2018.
It has been a pleasure working with all of our clients and colleagues during 2017. Some highlights have been catching up with international friends and colleagues at the IMCA seminars and the European Diving Technology Committee meeting in Europe, assisting with ADAS Train the Trainer training in Australia and New Zealand, working with the Dive Supervisor Training Simulator, and finishing up with running the face-to-face component of the Dive Project Management course in Byron Bay, near our hometown, where we enjoyed meeting new people with an array of interesting experience, and renewing old friendships with our guest speakers.
We will be taking a little time off between Christmas and New Year, with our office closed from 22nd Dec through to 2nd January. We will also be unavailable from 4th to 17th February taking a much-needed break on a cruise ship, so we won't be contactable by e-mail or phone during much of that time. We will check e-mails occasionally, but if it is urgent, please send a text message as well to 0439842237 - although there may still be a few days delay. If it is urgent and related to our work with the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme, please contact the ADAS office instead - contact details at their website www.adas.org.au.
Once again, best wishes to all for a happy and healthy New Year.
ADAS Dive Project Management Course
Only two weeks to go! But it's not too late to join us and add to your skills.
ADAS Dive Project Management Course - Secure your place now with only a $100 deposit.
You can go to our facebook page to register your interest, or see more options below. https://www.facebook.com/activelearningpartners/
ADAS’ highly regarded Dive Project Management course is run by Active Learning Partners on behalf of ADAS, the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme.
Build your dive project management skills in the beautiful holiday destination of Byron Bay at a 5-day or 10-day course starting Monday 27th November.
Week 1 (Nov 27th to Dec 1st): Projects and estimates
o ADATEN517A Prepare estimates, quotes, and tenders*
o BSBPMG511 Manage project scope
o BSBPMG512 Manage project time
o BSBPMG514 Manage project cost
Week 2 (Dec 4th to Dec 8th): Business skills units (plus introduction to management and contracts)
o TAATAS503B Manage contracted work
o BSBCMM401 Make a presentation
o BSBCUS501 Manage quality customer service
o BSBRSK501 Manage risk
o BSBPMG521 Manage project integration
Distance learning covers remaining 3 or 7 units for single or double diploma option.
There are attendance only options, or enrol in the partial or full diploma course and be assessed for a nationally recognised qualification or statement of attainment (National code 10181NAT, awarded by ADAS - RTO 88104).
Places limited to 20 people
To be eligible to undertake this course, candidates must:
– have at least two years diving experience in the commercial diving industry, OR
– be a Dive Supervisor, OR
– be currently employed in a project related role with a diving organisation.
Apply now to secure your spot by e-mailing your CV to Bronwen Campbell on bronwen@adas.org.au or calling on 0439842237
Read more online at https://adas.org.au/adas-dive-project-management-diploma/ or create a free account at ADAS Online and lodge your expression of interest at http://dpm2017.adas-online.org
Congratulations to Huddersfield University on achieving IChemE accreditation
Professor Grant Campbell in the Chemical Engineering Lab at Huddersfield University
We received a personal guided tour of the Huddersfield University Chemical Engineering teaching lab while visiting my brother Professor Grant Campbell in late September, on our recent visit to the UK. I was thrilled to hear recently that Huddersfield University has achieved international accreditation for their Chemical Engineering degree program through the Institution of Chemical Engineers. Congratulations to all involved. Here is a link to the announcement https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/icheme-accreditation-huddersfield-chemical-grant-campbell/
I also have the good fortune to have many opportunities to discuss education methods with Grant, which has led to some great innovations and different approaches. Grant won the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Morton Medal for Excellence in Chemical Engineering Education, and has published some very interesting papers on education, including "Encouraging engineers to read: A book-based final year assessment" and "Setting up new chemical engineering degree programmes: Exercises in design and retrofit within constraints" as well as contributing to various books. I find Grant's ideas and discussions inspirational and try to ensure that my students in the diving industry, and particularly in the Dive Project Management course also benefit from his ideas.
Thanks Grant for the continued inspiration, and good luck with the future of the Chemical Engineering program at Huddersfield University.
Advanced Emergency Protocol Training (ADEPT)
Working with people from different industries is a great way to gain new insights and ideas for how to do things better.
Partly as a result of my simulator background, and partly through personal networks, I was invited last weekend to the inaugural Advanced Emergency Performance Training (ADEPT) aimed at enhancing non-technical skills for critical care doctors and nurses.
As many of you know, Active Learning Partners were the project managers and instructional designers for the ADAS Dive Supervisor Training Simulator, where we worked closely with flight simulator engineers and consulted with medical simulation specialists in the design of the simulator. I was invited as an observer, to provide feedback after the training, and to be available for the facilitators or participants to ask questions about how we do things in this field in the commercial diving industry.
This ADEPT training was run at the University Centre for Rural Health in Lismore, NSW, and organised by the editor and author of the Emergency Protocols Handbook, and leaders of the Trial of Emergency Medicine Protocols in Simulation Training, Dr. Charlotte Hall and Dr. Dean Robertson. (see http://emergencyprotocols.org.au/about/)
The facilitation team did an excellent job using case studies, simulation, roleplays and teamwork exercises to develop practical skills with some clear techniques and tools to add to the personal toolbox of the participants. There was significant value derived from the cross-functional nature of the facilitation team, which included people with backgrounds as pilots, doctors and nurses.
More information on this training can be found at http://emergencyprotocols.org.au/adept/
Thanks again to the team for inviting me as an observer and inspiring me to further enhance our non-technical skills training in the commercial diving industry.
IMCA Diving seminar, London, September 2017
Our recent visit to the IMCA Diving Seminar in London proved to be an invaluable learning and networking opportunity. Once again, re-engaging with past contacts, meeting new people and hearing new ideas has re-ignited our enthusiasm to try to contribute to improving safety, efficiency, and effectiveness in the commercial diving industry.
There is a host of valuable information on the IMCA website at https://www.imca-int.com/ While some of it is for members only, there is a lot available to anyone in the industry, such as the Making Waves publication, safety alerts and so on. Don't forget that a large part of your professional development is staying informed, so make the most of these resources.
Dive Supervisor training in Sydney
We continue to support the ADAS Dive Supervisor Training Simulator program, and next week we head off to Sydney to help with the Dive Supervisor course run by Professional Diver Training Academy (http://www.profdivers.com/professional-divers-training-academy/)
Remember that the simulator is also available for undertaking recognised panel time (work experience), so if you are a trainee offshore supervisor who needs a bit more panel time, contact us, ADAS or Professional Diving Services to arrange your session.
Invitation to Organisational Wellbeing Workshop in Brisbane 11-12 April, 2016
My very good friend Dr Natasha Lazareski is running a workshop in Brisbane. She has offered a discount to any of my connections who may be interested in attending. Please let me know if you are interested, or contact support@psyflex.com.au for information or to register.
This session is a ‘must have’ for any organisation that wishes to enhance employee engagement, improve workplace wellbeing, and reduce absenteeism and workplace injuries.
Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to learn the best practice approach to developing a holistic workplace wellbeing strategy, building employee resilience and an engaged workforce.
Developed by Dr Russ Harris and Dr Natasha Lazareski and delivered in a relaxed, fun and interactive manner by Dr Lazareski, this workshop provides participants with a greater understanding of psycho-social risks in the workplace, psychological resilience and how it affects engagement and organisational culture.
100% of previous participants rated this workshop as “very engaging”.
With a plethora of real-life case studies and scenarios, this workshop builds a very practical understanding that you can take back to your workplace, 80% of participants rated these workshops as “very helpful”.
Participant feedback:
“This was excellent. Loved the model, it is simple and makes sense.”
— Pippa, Senior Manager NSW
“I found it very valuable to learn approaches that will allow me to step back before taking action”
— Stephen, Senior Manager VIC
“I really liked the values focus of the ‘Choice Point’. Excellent Session”
— Sharon, Manager VIC
“So valuable! Great insight in psychosocial risks and impact on organisational culture.”
— William, Senior HSW Manager, Melbourne.
“I really enjoyed this session. Great depth of knowledge and very engaging.”
— Jo, HR Manager, New Zealand
Workshop details:
Brisbane: April 11th & 12th 2016
To view the workshop brochure click here.
For more information and to register, click here, or contact: support@psyflex.com.au
Teaching in China
Here I am in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, a few hours out of Shanghai. Enjoying the springtime, and watching the blossoms and the greening of the willows along the canal on my ride in to work at the Zhejiang University of Water Resources and Electric Power.
I'm teaching Marketing Management on behalf of the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. A great experience, lovely students, a beautifully landscaped university, fantastic canteen and a lot of fun learning how to read and say a few words in Chinese.
The main learning with teaching in another country and culture - be flexible, continuously update your approach to find out what works, and have faith that the students will rise to the occasion. Treat them as your customer, find out what works best for them, and try to inspire them to learn. Take advantage of their smartphones - it is a great way to communicate! I've set up a Moodle site so that they can message me, find the materials and even respond to surveys in class in real-time. Learn to speak clearly, slowly and use international English (lose the idioms and colloquialisms), and most of all, be patient.
Last but not least, get out and see the countryside, interact with the people and enjoy the food.
Dive Supervisor Training in Sydney
I enjoyed working with the simulator once again in Sydney, assisting with the dive supervisor training course being run by the Professional Diver Training Academy from the new premises in Sydney.
The simulator was previously based in their Melbourne office, and was recently moved to Sydney to support their ongoing training programs. For more information about PDTA, visit their website at http://www.profdivers.com/professional-divers-training-academy/
Successful Re-accreditation of ADAS Qualifications
We were thrilled and relieved to hear that all the qualifications for ADAS have been approved and added to the scope of delivery. After a very lengthy project spanning 18 months and involving several very large documents submitted to the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority), this news is welcome indeed. For more detail on the qualifications themselves, visit the ADAS website at www.adas.org.au.
The complexity and breadth of the offerings from ADAS in the hyperbaric operations field gave rise to the challenge of developing and updating nearly 100 enterprise units of competency and reviewing and incorporating many nationally endorsed units from a range of training packages. These contribute to qualifications in diverse areas including commercial diving and supervisor; remotely operated vehicle pilots and technicians; supervisors and simulator operators; hyperbaric tunnelling workers and lock operators; project managers and diving managers.
Active Learning Partners was responsible for coordinating industry consultation both nationally and internationally, undertaking job analysis, reviewing, writing and rewriting units of competency, redesigning the qualification structure to incorporate specialisations with a common core and preparing all of the materials for the application process and the extension to scope project.
Having been responsible for this process from the beginning in the year 2000 and through every renewal since then, we have seen the massively increased complexity and cost of compliance over the last 20 years in the vocational education and training area. While there is no doubt that this has enhanced the quality and consistency, there comes a point where too many training dollars are diverted into compliance instead of into the student and learner experience. Here's hoping that things will settle down in this sector, and we can streamline the compliance requirements and focus on our core business of providing a quality student experience.