ET Australia Magazine Issue #4 January 2020

ET Australia’s annual student &
community magazine
#4 2020
MAGAZINE
Past
Student
Success
Frances Trains
With ET Australia
Training College
and Pushes
Through Adversity
to Become a
Qualified Aged
Care Worker
Creating
Training
Opportunities
for Business
Get To Know our BDM –
Dana Mahia
What is
Learning
Enrichment?
And How Does
ET Australia
Secondary
College Provide
Students With
Tailored Learning
Opportunities?
Anxiety:
A David and
Goliath Battle
for Students
How Our Training
College Supports
Students Throughout
Their Learning
Summa-Lee Gains
Employment Whilst
Studying for Her
Business Qualification

Welcome to 2020
ET Australia provides students
with the skills to be successful
in employment and/or further
studies. Our adult training
college and independent
high school models provide
professional, supportive
and nurturing learning
environments.
Tony Mylan, CEO, ET Australia.
ET Australia’s adult training
college has expanded its scope
of registration by adding
disability qualifications to
our suite of programs. Our
reputation with industry has
continued to flourish. We have
once again expanded our
industry partnerships and this
has led to an increase in the
number of direct employment
outcomes our adult students
have gained.
In 2019 ET Australia Secondary
College (ETASC) reached its
notional maximum number of
enrolments. 2020 will be a year
of building on the cumulative
success we have shared with our
students. We look forward to
2021 when we will be able to
outline more exciting plans to
help more young people with
their studies and employment.
We have just completed a
major IT upgrade at our Wyong
campus and in Gosford for both
the training college and the
school. ETASC now has an IT
centre with 3D printers, a 3D
scanner and new computers that
provide the perfect platform to
teach digital technologies as per
the Australian Curriculum.
Our focus on building business
partnerships on the Central
Coast gives our students unique
employment opportunities.
Please come and experience
why our students are achieving
so highly.
ET Australia always welcomes
your feedback.
Please drop us a line at
email@etaustralia.com.
Contents
ET Australia is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO ID 90084)
delivering Nationally Recognised Training qualifications.
P3
P4
P6
P8
ET Australia Creates a Framework to
Support the National Reconciliation
Movement
Get to Know Our Business
Development Manager: Dana Mahia
Frances Trains With ET Australia
Training College and Pushes Through
Adversity to Become a Qualified
Aged Care Worker
Anxiety: A David and Goliath Battle
for Students
P10 Don’t Let Age Be a Barrier to
Changing Careers
P13 Upcoming 2020
Training Programs
P14 ET Australia Training College Class
of 2019 Graduation
P16 What is Learning Enrichment?
P18 The Lowdown on ET Australia
Secondary College’s Gifted and
Talented Program
P20 ETASC 2019 Excursions
P22 Are You a Current Year 10 ETASC
Parent?
P23 Enrolling Now for 2021
12
ET Australia Training
College Business Graduate
Summa-Lee Buchanan.
ET Australia
Board of Directors
Paul Tonkin
Deputy
Chairman
& Public Officer
Partner & Lawyer –
Tonkin Drysdale
Partners
Kath Hamilton
Treasurer
Partner &
Accountant –
Lavery Hamilton
Graham McGuinness OAM
Chairman
Managing Director
and Consultant –
Delgarah Pty Ltd
Michael North
Director
Tim Cornish
Director
Alan Williams
Director
Director
and Chief
Technology
Officer –
One Blink
2

ET Australia Creates a
Framework to Support
the National Reconciliation
Movement
In September 2019 ET Australia
announced that Reconciliation
Australia formally endorsed its
Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan
(RAP) for 2019 - 2020.
Reconciliation Australia is an
independent, not-for-profit
organisation whose vision is for
a just, equitable and reconciled
Australia. Their purpose is to
inspire and enable all Australians to
contribute to the reconciliation of the
nation.
A RAP is an annual document
which provides a framework for
organisations to support the
national reconciliation movement.
ET Australia’s first annual RAP
document, named the Reflect RAP,
clearly sets out the steps ET Australia
is going to take to prepare for
reconciliation initiatives within the
organisation in successive RAPs.
Committing to a Reflect RAP allows
ET Australia to spend time scoping
and developing relationships with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
stakeholders, deciding on a vision
for reconciliation and exploring
ET Australia’s sphere of influence,
before committing to specific actions
or initiatives. This process will help
to produce future RAPs that are
meaningful, mutually beneficial and
sustainable.
ET Australia is proud to be a part of
the RAP community of over 1,000
corporate, government, and notfor-profit
organisations across the
nation that have formally committed
to reconciliation through the RAP
program since its inception in 2006.
ET Australia has committed to raising
awareness, building relationships,
showing respect and providing
opportunities for Aboriginal and/
or Torres Strait Islander people. The
ET Australia team are excited to see
what can be achieved in the next 12
months and are looking forward to
making a positive and meaningful
impact in this space.
The Reflect RAP is now available
for you to view on our website
www.etaustralia.com
Reconciliation Australia
is an independent, notfor-profit
organisation
whose vision is for a
just, equitable and
reconciled Australia.
3

Get to Know Our
Business Development
Manager: Dana Mahia
Creating Beneficial Training Opportunities
for Central Coast Businesses
Moving to the Coast at a young age,
younger than she can remember,
Dana is definitely a product of the
Coast, just without the title of ‘being
born on the Coast’. “I completed my
schooling on the Coast. When I was
19 I met my now husband and moved
away to the country for just under a
year and brought him back with me.
That was nine years ago now and we
haven’t looked back since” Dana said.
“I tend to call myself a well-travelled
Coastie, because now I live on the
northern part of the Coast, and travel
to different parts every day”.
Dana is the perfect example of
what the Vocational Education
and Training industry can do for
those who don’t 100% know what
they want to do straight out of
high school. “I was brought up to
understand the value of work, and
coming straight out of high school I
knew I had the drive to succeed and
be independent, but I wasn’t really
sure what I wanted to do”. Her drive
to succeed and be independent led
Dana to complete a Certificate III
in Hairdressing apprenticeship after
completing Year 11.
In 2015, after a number of years
of hairdressing, she slowly started
developing a passion for helping
people, which led her to complete
a Diploma of Counselling whilst
on maternity leave. “When I was
hairdressing I was speaking to clients
everyday and listening to their issues.
I would occasionally offer advice where
I felt it was appropriate. I would get
customers coming back saying “hey I
did what you said and it worked”. This
made me feel amazing, knowing that
I helped someone solve their issue”.
Following this passion and idea of
helping others, Dana moved into work
as a course advisor at a private training
college. The role focused on guiding
students down a career pathway and
helping them to achieve their career
Dana presenting one of the many information
sessions for ET Australia Training College students.
goals. “I really enjoyed my time as a
course advisor, essentially you began
working with a student who was a lot
like me. They needed career direction
and advice. After taking the time to
understand what they were looking
for in a job, I would then develop a
career plan for the student inclusive of
the course they needed to study to get
the outcome they were after”.
After her maternity leave contract
finished early in 2016, Dana found
an opportunity with The ORS Group,
as an Employment Consultant. The
4

It felt like it was
the next step in my
career, to shift into
helping those who
were doing it tough.
Dana, representing ET Australia Training
College at Gorokan High School.
ORS Group were a trusted provider of
employment programs for the disabled
and those facing hardship. During
her time with ORS she completed a
Certificate IV in Employment Services,
“it felt like it was the next step in my
career, to shift into helping those who
were doing it tough” she said. In 2017
Dana was awarded The ORS Group’s
Employment Consultant of the year
for NSW and around the same time,
was promoted to Senior Employment
Consultant.
Dana’s passion to want to help people
succeed and be independent helped
to land her the role of Business
Development Manager with ET
Australia Training College. “When I
first interviewed Dana, she had this
really bubbly, positive attitude, but
what resonated with me the most
was the way Dana spoke about
helping people”, ET Australia Training
College Manager Cath Roden said.
“If you think outside the square for a
moment and put aside experience and
expertise, and focus on an employee’s
personality and drive when hiring,
this is exactly what Dana had, a really
positive personality with a drive to
succeed. This, combined with extensive
knowledge of the VET industry, made
Dana an ideal person for the role”.
It’s this positive, welcoming personality
of Dana’s that has made her become
an important cog in the ET Australia
Training College machine.
Dana’s primary responsibility in her
role is to be the glue between ET
Australia Training College, the local
business community and job service
providers. “I meet with business
owners to educate them on the
benefits of hiring Trainees including
the financial incentives on offer from
government agencies. I help employers
hire entry level staff through ET
Australia Training College’s recruitment
process and I liaise with job providers,
to keep them up to date on our in
class training program timetable and
traineeship vacancies so they can refer
clients” she said.
5
“Right now, I’m really fortunate that
I am in the position where I have the
opportunity to support students and
businesses by providing them with
training solutions for future success which
they may not have otherwise considered”.
In 2020, Dana is focused on creating
more traineeship opportunities with
businesses on the Coast, building
awareness about ET Australia Training
College and reinforcing the positive
outcomes businesses can achieve
through training and through hiring an
ET Australia Training College student.
Dana, celebrating at the 2019
Central Coast Training Awards
with ET Australia colleagues
Brittney (left) and Michelle.

Frances Trains With
ET Australia Training
College and Pushes
Through Adversity to
Become a Qualified
Aged Care Worker
Past Student Success
At the start of 2019, Frances, a mother
of four and grandmother of three,
was working in the community sector
as a cleaner. Whilst she loved her
job, she wanted to better herself and
secure employment opportunities for
the future. That’s when she stumbled
across an advertisement on Facebook
for a CHC33015 Certificate III in
Individual Support (Ageing) Program
with ET Australia Training College.
Mary, Frances’
aged care Trainer.
To Frances, it looked like a great
opportunity to gain a qualification
that would enhance her skills at her
current job, and give her opportunities
long term, and keep her on the
Central Coast, where she has called
home since 1992.
“I love it here, I have no intention of
ever moving”.
At 17, Frances became a mother
6
and unfortunately lived through
additional traumatic experiences which
contributed to her isolation in Western
NSW. At 19, she had her second child
and remained in the Narrabri area until
she decided to make the brave move,
with her two kids to the Central Coast.
She was scared, she didn’t know a
single soul, but as soon as she got
to the Coast she knew it was the
right choice. Her determination and
her ability to push through adversity
gave her the motivation to keep on
‘plugging away’ and she was able
to get a job as a gardener at a local
public school.
During the 1994 bushfires, which
affected a large part of NSW, Frances
suffered a bout of heatstroke. She
went to the doctor only to discover
she actually had Fibromyalgia (a
condition that causes widespread
pain and tenderness in the body) and
arthritis in her back.

“I was told I would be in a wheelchair
by the age of 45”.
Frances wasn’t about to let this stop
her after everything she had been
through to get where she was.
“Bugger that I said – No way!”
Now, Frances is almost ten years past
the predicted “wheelchair years” and
absolutely loving life.
With her new found lease on life,
Frances started looking to the future
but didn’t necessarily want to leave
her current job.
“When I started reading about the
course, it just seemed to be the right
fit for me at the time”.
Frances attended an aged care
information session at ET Australia
Training College in Gosford to find
out more about the program. She
was terrified, because she had not
completed any study since high
school and her previous attempts to
update her skills had not worked out
for her. Because of this, she wanted
to enrol with a Registered Training
Organisation she knew would be able
to support her in the classroom. She
needed to know that she could say “I
need help”, and actually get it.
With her previous medical history,
Frances was worried that she wouldn’t
be able to meet the physical demands
of the aged care industry, but after
talking to staff, she realised that the
work would be no more physical than
her current cleaning role, which she
handled capably.
After the information session, Frances
said everything just fell into place.
“The smaller class sizes appealed to
me because I knew the trainer would
be able to give me the support I
needed”.
“If I didn’t have the support from
my trainer, I would have pulled
out ten times over. I wouldn’t have
made it. It’s not just the work,
its circumstances that took place
throughout the course that set me off
track. But Mary (one of ET Australia
Training College’s Aged Care Trainers)
doesn’t let you walk away easily”.
After the first block of practical work
placement in a facility, Frances came
back to class with a fresh perspective
and a solid determination to complete
the program.
“During work placement, I was able
to make connections with residents
who knew the same people I grew up
with in my home town. I met a lady
who would have been cotton chipping
the same time as me! Aged care is
my passion, it has set me up for the
future”.
When asked why people considering
doing this qualification, should choose
ET Australia Training College, Frances
said “I’ve had friends who have
studied with other providers that offer
really short aged care courses, and I
can see that they aren’t at the level I
am at with my knowledge and skills.
With ET Australia Training College,
you aren’t getting a watered down or
condensed version of the qualification.
It’s not a walk in the park because you
are getting taught the proper way to
do things, and that means that you
know what you’re doing when you’re
done. You are job ready”.
Frances went on to say that her newly
gained skills have made her better at
her job. Her boss from Clean N Care
has even commended her for the
changes she has made.
“What I took in most was the
empowerment and personal care
given to the client. I learned that I can
do more than what I thought. I’ve
always known I have a lot to give but
this course magnified that. I know I
can do something now that I have
never done before, even if I don’t feel
confident at first”.
“This course has given me
empowerment. Now I’ve got a real
qualification and it’s given me the
confidence to study even more
through work, I know I can do it now
because I’ve done this”.
Frances proved to be an exceptional
student, by completing all thirteen
competencies and the required work
placement hours, without any course
extensions needed.
7
Frances, happy with her decision to
become an aged care worker .
I was told I would be in
a wheelchair by the age
of 45.
Aged and Disabled Care
Industry Overview*
$1,265
Weekly Pay
Very strong
Future Growth
Lower unemloyment
Future Growth
175,800 workers
Future Growth
Lower skill
Future Growth
33% Full-time
Full-Time Share
43 hours
Average full-time
47 years
Average age
80% female
Gender Share
*References: https://joboutlook.gov.au/
Occupation?search=Career&code=4231

Anxiety: A David
and Goliath Battle
for Students
By Lauren Ede, one of ET Australia
Training College’s Training Officers.
“Anxiety is the most common mental
health condition in Australia. On
average, one in four people (one in
three women and one in five men) will
experience anxiety at some stage in
their life” 1 .
At ET Australia Training College, we
have, in the past, enrolled students
who have been diagnosed with an
actual ‘Anxiety Disorder’. But what we
have found more common amongst
people enquiring about courses, are
feelings of anxiousness.
This differs from an anxiety disorder,
as the anxious person often has the
ability to control their ‘worry’ through
certain management techniques. For
people with an anxiety disorder, this
feeling doesn’t go away.
It’s OK to be anxious
when studying
There are many reasons people
consider returning to study. Whether
it is for financial reasons in order
to return to work, upskilling for a
promotion or for self-development,
the decision to take on an extra
activity in your life can become very
stressful. Stress can make us jump
straight to that ‘worst case scenario’
and the cycle of anxiousness begins.
As a Training Officer for ET Australia
Training College, I estimate that
about 80% of students who inquire
about courses have experienced some
form of anxiety relating to returning
to study. In many cases, their
anxiousness subsides after attending
one of our course information
sessions, which provides all the
specific details of the course. It’s also
a chance to meet the Trainer and staff
they will be working with during the
course, and an opportunity to see
other potential students who are in
the same boat as them.
“I can’t do this”, “I get anxious
meeting new people”, “What if I
don’t remember how to study!?” are
all examples of the negative self-talk
students have experienced when
thinking of starting a course.
If this sounds like your inner voice, the
Beyond Blue Website 2 provides a list
of strategies people can use to try and
manage their anxiety 3 .
Small acts of bravery
“The way through anxiety is by
learning that what you fear isn’t likely
to happen – and if it does, you’ll be
able to cope with it” 3 .
At ET Australia Training College, we
encourage people to take that act of
8
bravery and come in to see us. We will
be able to give you all the information
needed to make an informed decision
about whether or not returning to
study is the right option for you at
the time.
As a small Registered Training
Organisation, we have the benefit
of being able to cater our training
to support each student individually.
We keep class sizes small and offer
additional support to students to
assist them to navigate their way
through the training, both in and out
of class.
We also encourage a supportive
and respectful atmosphere amongst

students and have strict policies
relating to bullying and equal
opportunity for all. Students become
at ease from very early on in their
training courses and form friendships
that continue long after they have
received their qualification.
Our supportive
environment will change
your approach to
learning
From my experience as a Training
Officer, I have witnessed the way a
flexible training style and supportive
learning environment has changed the
lives of our students. With each day of
the course, the anxiousness subsides
and their confidence in their own
abilities builds.
I have also been able to witness the
crippling effect of self-sabotage when
students don’t have the strategies or
support to combat negative self-talk
or anxiousness.
Behaviour is said to be self-sabotaging
when it creates problems in our life and
interferes with long-standing goals. 4
Overcoming anxiousness
about learning –
Amanda’s example
Amanda*, a former CHC33015
Certificate III in Individual Support
(Ageing) student, struggled with
motivation. Constant absences and
procrastination during the latter half
of her aged care course sent her on
a destructive path that could
potentially derail her chances of
completing the qualification.
Through open discussion and the offer
of genuine, non-judgemental support
from ET Australia Training College
staff, we were able to ascertain
the reasons behind Amanda’s
absences. She determined that her
own negative self-talk had made
her subconsciously self-sabotage. In
addition, the anxiousness regarding
changes to her life and responsibilities
upon completion meant Amanda was
literally afraid to succeed.
As a result of these discussions,
we were able to create a catch-up
plan for her missed practical hours.
Through constant encouragement
from ET Australia Training College
staff to combat that negative self-talk,
she completed her aged care course.
Amanda is now working in the aged
care industry and is extremely proud
of herself. An outcome that may not
have occurred if we had not given her
the support she needed.
We hope that more educational
institutions foster the idea of
individualising training, and taking
mental health more seriously.
If you are considering returning to
study, and anxiety is the giant in your
‘David and Goliath Battle’, be the
David.
References:
1 www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety
2 www.beyondblue.org.au
3 www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/anxiety/
treatments-for-anxiety/anxiety-managementstrategies
4 https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/basics/
self-sabotage
*Student name changed to protect privacy.
You’re not alone when studying at
ET Australia Training College.
9

Don’t Let Age
Be a Barrier to
Changing Careers
7 Tips for Finding
Employment Over 50
Age Discrimination, whilst illegal, is still
apparent as an obstacle across certain
industries for many older Australians
seeking employment, or returning to
the workforce today.
At ET Australia Training College, we
have found that employers appreciate
the stability and experience of hiring a
mature aged employee and the benefits
it can bring to their organisation.
Through feedback gained from
the employers of our graduating
students, older employees are very
dedicated and loyal to their employer.
Older Australian’s have the benefit
of life experience and can bring a
level of maturity to the role that a
younger person may not have had the
opportunity to gain.
Enquiries from potential students at
ET Australia Training College, aged
over 50, have highlighted that their
main concern when it comes to
undertaking study, is the employment
prospects for them upon completion.
Many have commented they feel they
are ‘past their prime’ in the eyes of
employers and feel they would be
overlooked for younger applicants
simply due to their age.
At ET Australia Training College,
students in the over 50s age bracket
have enjoyed great success both during
and after completing our courses.
Such is the case with Joanne, who
commenced a CHC33015 Certificate III
in Individual Support (Ageing) program
while in her early 60s. Joanne came out
of retirement to re-enter the workforce
and complete this course. After
completion, she successfully gained
employment with a local aged
care facility and in her new role has
been able to maintain a great work/life
balance.
Some of ET Australia Training College’s aged care students gaining
practical tips from their trainer Michelle (far left).
Audrey, an ET Australia Training College
CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual
Support (Ageing) graduate, also
commenced the course in her early 60s.
Whilst her main focus was employment,
her personal circumstances greatly
benefited from the skills she acquired
during the program. Audrey successfully
completed the program and was spoilt
for choice when she was offered
multiple positions upon receipt of
her certificate. She ultimately
10

chose a position with a large Australian
company delivering home care services,
aged care and retirement living on the
Central Coast.
7 Tips for Finding Employment Over 50
In the last 2 years, just under 19% of
the students who gained employment
after completing full qualifications
across Business, Aged Care and Early
Childhood Education qualifications with
ET Australia Training College (excluding
traineeship programs), were aged 50
and over.
When interviewing potential students
for our courses, we find that older
students often haven’t considered the
transferable skills they have acquired
during previous employment or
through life experience in general.
More often than not, older students
have a clearer idea of their intentions
for studying and the impact this
will have on their lives, meaning
are more likely to keep themselves
motivated during the course, are able
to prioritize tasks, have excellent time
management and can successfully
navigate challenges that often occur
when learning a new skill.
ET Australia Training College also
offers further support in addition to
the quality training from our industry
experienced Trainers and Assessors.
We have recognised the need to
support students with resumés, cover
letters, interview techniques and work
placement in order to gain industryrelevant
experience. ET Australia
Training College has access to employer
networks with employers who regularly
call to ask us for job-ready students to
fill their employment vacancies.
So whilst we all agree that it can be
difficult to find employment when
considered a ‘mature age’ person,
it is also equally true, that more and
more employers are looking for the
reliability and experience which mature
age workers can bring, as the quicker
an employee becomes productive, the
quicker the business can operate more
successfully.
Update your skills
Recent qualifications will show that
you have updated your knowledge
of an industry, or show that you
have gained recent skills in a new
industry.
Make your resume ‘ageless’
Adding your age or birth date to
your resume gives an employer
the opportunity to pass over your
application due to your age.
Cover letters
Yes. You must write a cover letter
for every application as it allows
you to expand on your experience.
Although this can be taxing on your
time and patience, it’s what will
make the difference between your
application and someone who is
only relying on their resume.
Personal presentation
This one is timeless. First
impressions last, so make sure you
are putting your best foot forward
when you get the opportunity to
meet an employer face to face.
Know your skills and abilities
Many people don’t realise they
have a variety of skills gained
11
through their previous
employment, or through their life
experience. Work with what you
have and treat them as assets.
Some examples may be; time
management, interpersonal skills,
teamwork, personal motivation and
initiative etc.
Familiarise yourself with
current technology that may be
involved in the industry
If you haven’t got the skills needed
to do the basics in the industry you
are looking for work in, educate
yourself. There are many courses
available in basic computer training
and ET Australia Training College
offers one-on-one training also.
See the ET Australia website for
further details.
Be persistent
Don’t give up if you get a few
knockbacks. An employer may
receive hundreds of applications
for one advertised position, and
there simply isn’t time to respond
to them all. If you find you are
constantly receiving rejection emails,
look over your cover letters and
resumé with someone and fine
tune them.
Some of our aged care students enjoying
problem solving in a group setting.

Summa-Lee Gains
Employment While
Studying for Her
Business Qualification
Past Student Success
Noticing a skills gap in her current
experience, Summa-Lee sought out
the opportunity to close the gap with
professional development, in the form
of a BSB30115 Certificate III in Business
from ET Australia Training College.
“I was currently employed, but
really wanted to focus on gaining
administration type skills, and via
Google I found ET Australia Training
College were offering a nationally
recognised business course that
finished in June 2019 at their Wyong
campus which was a great fit for me
location wise” Summa-Lee said about
her decision to train with ET Australia
Training College.
When asked to recall some parts of
the course she really found beneficial,
Summa-Lee said “I really enjoyed the
ability to focus on and fine tune my
general business skills especially around
email writing, and the opportunity
to practice resolving customer
complaints in a work setting was a
great way to learn. I found it terrific
that the Certificate III in Business course
taught the fundamentals of using the
Microsoft office software suite and
how all the suite applications work
together in a business environment.
On a personal level, organisational
skills was a big takeaway from the
course. Just learning little tips and tricks
that I have now implemented in my
personal life and at work, for example
using Microsoft Outlook at home
and at work to organise my tasks,
appointments and to do lists.”
During the course, a number of jobs
were offered to students, with Summa-
Lee putting her hand up to go for an
interview with Coastwide Eye Surgery,
located in the Platinum Building at
Erina. After reviewing candidates, they
employed Summa-Lee on a casual
basis in April of 2019, while she was
still completing her business course.
This turned into permanent part time
employment in September 2019.
Summa-Lee is now employed as a receptionist at
Coastwide Eye Surgery, Erina, NSW.
I really enjoyed the
ability to focus on and
fine tune my general
business skills.
12

Upcoming 2020
Training Programs
Enquire now to apply for any of the 2020 programs below:
Program Code
and Name
Next Classroom
Start Date
End
Date
Classroom
Days
Time
Location
Additional
Delivery Modes
Individual Support (Ageing)
CHC33015 Certificate III
in Individual Support 10 February 9 June Mon, Tue, Wed
CHC33015 Certificate III
in Individual Support 18 March 17 September Wed, Thurs
CHC33015 Certificate III
in Individual Support 1 April 29 July Wed, Thurs, Fri
CHC33015 Certificate III
in Individual Support 22 June 14 October Mon, Tue, Wed
CHC33015 Certificate III
in Individual Support 12 August 11 December Wed, Thurs, Fri
CHC33015 Certificate III
in Individual Support 13 October 29 April 2021 Tue, Wed
CHC43015 Certificate IV
in Ageing Support
Individual Support (Disability)
9:00am to
2:30pm
9:00am to
2:30pm
9:00am to
2:30pm
9:00am to
2:30pm
9:00am to
2:30pm
9:00am to
2:30pm
Woodport
Aged Care
Young Parents
Hub, Wyong
ET Australia,
Gosford
ET Australia,
Gosford
ET Australia,
Gosford
Young Parents
Hub, Wyong
Start this course today. Call ET Australia on 4323 1233 or email training@etaustralia.com
Traineeship/
Self Paced
Traineeship/
Self Paced
Traineeship/
Self Paced
Traineeship/
Self Paced
Traineeship/
Self Paced
Traineeship/
Self Paced
Traineeship/
Self Paced
CHC33015 – Certificate III in
Individual Support (Disability)
Business
Start this course today. Call ET Australia on 4323 1233 or email training@etaustralia.com
Traineeship/
Self Paced
BSB10115 Certificate I
in Business
BSB20115 Certificate II
in Business
Start these courses today. Call ET Australia on 4323 1233 or email training@etaustralia.com
BSB30115 Certificate III
in Business 17 February 1 June Mon, Tues, Wed
BSB30115 Certificate III
in Business 15 June 1 December Mon, Tues
BSB30415 Certificate III
in Business Administration
BSB40415 Certificate IV
in Business Administration
Leadership and Management
9:00am to
2:30pm
9:00am to
2:30pm
Young Parents
Hub, Wyong
Young Parents
Hub, Wyong
Start these courses today. Call ET Australia on 4323 1233 or email training@etaustralia.com
Self Paced
Traineeship/
Self Paced
Traineeship/
Self Paced
Traineeship/
Self Paced
Traineeship /
Self paced
BSB42015 Certificate IV
in Leadership and Management
Early Childhood
Start this course today. Call ET Australia on 4323 1233 or email training@etaustralia.com
Traineeship /
Self paced
CHC30113 Certificate III in Early
Childhood Education and Care 2 March 14 December Monday
CHC50113 Diploma of
Early Childhood Education and Care
CHCPRT001
Child Protection Training
9:00am to
2:30pm
Young Parents
Hub, Wyong
Start these courses today. Call ET Australia on 4323 1233 or email training@etaustralia.com
Traineeship /
Self paced
Traineeship /
Self paced
Traineeship /
Self Paced
Subsidised training places available (subsidised by the NSW Government), eligibility criteria applies.
*Actual end date may vary depending on completion of required mandated work placement hours. Units of competency from within
each of these qualifications are available individually or can be grouped to meet a specific need.
Call ET Australia today on 4323 1233
or email us at training@etaustralia.com to apply.

ET Australia
Secondary
College Class of
2019 Graduation
Year 10 Students Celebrate Their
Achievements Among Friends and Family.
ET Australia Secondary College
Year 10 students celebrated their
achievements at the annual College
Year 10 graduation ceremony held
on Friday the 13th of December 2019
in the Show Room of The Mingara
Recreation Club.
Students, parents, teachers and
distinguished guests celebrated students
completing Year 10 and achieving their
Record of School Achievement (RoSA)
with a three course dinner, speeches by
teachers and students, and dancing late
into the night.
Students were presented with their
College graduate certificates and high
achievers were recognised for their
achievements throughout the year with
individual and subject awards.
Year 10 ETASC students
celebrating their
achievements with
family and loved ones.
Congratulations to all Year 10 2019 graduates and
special thanks to those who volunteered at the
school throughout 2019.
14

Gavi Duncan, from the Darkinjung
Local Aboriginal Land Council,
formally and warmly welcomed
us to country.
Congratulations to our
ET Australia Secondary College
2019 award winners:
Award Winners
First place in Geography - Taren LeBreton
First place in History - William MacKillop
First place in Science - Natalie Denniss
First place in Mathematics – Sebastian Keir
First place in PDHPE - Mikayla Murray (not present)
First place in English - Mikayla Murray (not present)
Luke Wilson
Congratulations to Luke Wilson on being awarded
the Principal’s Award which recognises high standards
of overall achievement, attitude, academic progress
and involvement in the school community.
15

What is
Learning
Enrichment?
And How Does ET Australia Secondary College (ETASC)
Provide Students With Tailored Learning Opportunities?
The Learning Enrichment (LE) team
at ETASC deliver additional learning
opportunities to students who might
fall through the cracks in large school
settings. Learning Enrichment’s
objective is to support all students to
develop independence and responsibility
for their own learning. To achieve this,
ETASC Learning Enrichment teachers
provide an encouraging and caring
learning environment, targeting specific
literacy and numeracy proficiencies and
teaching students the skills they need to
succeed.
Learning Enrichment at ETASC is datadriven.
At the beginning of the school
Alyshia (right), helping students learn with the
Quicksmart Literacy program.
undertake a series of standardised
year or upon enrolment, students
tests. These standardised tests provide
diagnostic data which, along with
teacher observations and referrals, help
determine the learning needs of each
individual. Learning Enrichment teachers
use a collaborative approach so that
students themselves and their parents/
carers are involved in planning students’
short and long-term learning goals.
To ensure that all students receive the
assistance they need to thrive, ETASC
employs a Multi-Tiered System of
Support. This is a three-tier hierarchical
model that enables Learning
Enrichment teachers to systematically
meet the learning needs progress
frequently to determine if the
interventions in place are working for
that student.
“Tier 1 of this model is support within
the classroom; this typically suits
about 80% of students. In Tier 1, the
class is taught using strategies that
research has shown to be effective.
All students are assessed frequently to
determine who is and isn’t responding
to this approach. Here, students may
receive targeted teacher or teacher
assistant support and may be placed
into smaller groups. If Tier 1 is not
meeting the needs of a student, they
will receive additional support in Tier 2.
Approximately 15% to 20% of students
benefit from this level of intervention.
Tier 2 can involve small group learning
programs and or consolidation of
course content. Students who have
difficulties progressing in the previous
instructional tiers receive intensive,
individualised instruction in Tier 3”,
Alyshia said, one of the ETASC Learning
Enrichment teachers on staff.
ETASC’s five Learning Enrichment
teachers work with the students in a
number of ways; in the classroom team
teaching, in small groups, afterschool
tutoring and working with individuals.
Learning Enrichment offers strategies,
resources and evidence-based programs
to support all students to access the
16

Melanie ( left), guiding students
through a Macqlit learning session.
QuickSmart Numeracy
helped with algebra
because I’m now better
with multiplication and
division.
Chris, Year 10
curriculum. The primary focus of
Learning Enrichment is to improve
the students’ literacy and numeracy
proficiencies. The programs used at
ETASC to support literacy include
Macquarie University’s MacqLit reading
intervention program and the University
of New England’s QuickSmart Literacy
program. The University of New
England’s QuickSmart Numeracy
program is used to support students’
understanding and recall of basic
number facts, numeracy language and
problem-solving skills.
One student who has benefited
immensely from Learning Enrichment is
Chris, who started at ETASC in Year 7,
2017. Chris completed the QuickSmart
Literacy program in Year 7 and the
QuickSmart Numeracy program in
Year 8. Throughout Year 9 he chose
to attend ETASC’s free Mathematics
after school tutoring to consolidate
his understanding of new concepts.
“Before QuickSmart Literacy I had
trouble with spelling and sequencing
my ideas, now I can gather ideas and
put them on paper independently.
QuickSmart Numeracy helped with
algebra because I’m now better with
multiplication and division.,” said Chris.
Hayley, another student who started
at ETASC in Year 7 in 2017, was
also identified by the LE team as
needing some extra help with her
basic numeracy skills. Hayley began
QuickSmart Numeracy in Year 7 and
completed the program half-way
through Year 9. Hayley is now more
self-reliant in class and only attends
after school Mathematics tutoring
when she is having difficulties with new
content. “At my old school, I did not
feel like I could keep up with the Maths
work. Maths was really tough because
I didn’t have enough support. Coming
to ETASC and completing QuickSmart
helped me gain confidence in my
Maths ability and improved my basic
skills,” she said.
“It’s not a case of fail first and
then intervene; we take a proactive
approach. ETASC students, like Chris
17
and Hayley, are identified early through
diagnostic testing, classroom teacher
referrals and Learning Enrichment class
observations. The LE team then
collaborate with other teachers, the
student, their parents/carers to develop
an individual learning plan,” said Alyshia.
To ensure all students can achieve at
ETASC this year, all new Year 7 students
will undergo additional testing called
YARC (York Assessment for Reading
Comprehension), which provides the
LE team a thorough understanding
of a student’s word recognition and
comprehension skills. This year the LE
team have three full time and two part
time staff who enhance the already
positive outcomes the team is achieving
with ETASC students.
Sophie (left), supporting an ETASC
student in Mathematics class.

The Lowdown on
ET Australia Secondary
College’s Gifted and
Talented Program
What is it and What do Students at ET Australia
Secondary College (ETASC) get out of it?
Did you know gifted and talented
children make up about 10% of the
student population in Australia?* Did
you also know that in 2019, ETASC
exceeded this national benchmark
with just under 20% of its student
population identified as gifted and
talented?
“When we first started ETASC, we
always had the idea of creating and
implementing a gifted and talented
program (GAT) for students on the
Coast who wanted to focus on
expanding their academic talents
without distractions” Lachlan Scott, ET
Australia Secondary College Assistant
Principal said. “What’s great to see
is some students are now coming to
ETASC to take up the opportunity to
expand their academic ability via our
program”.
Gifted and talented students have
specific learning needs that may
require positive adjustments to the
pace, level and content of the New
South Wales Education Standards
Authority (NESA) high school
curriculum. Generally, gifted and
talented students demonstrate the
following characteristics:
• The capacity to learn at faster rates.
• The capacity to find and solve
problems.
• The capacity to make connections
and manipulate abstract ideas.
For ETASC gifted and talented
students, their curriculum is adjusted
to include:
• Differentiation: modifying the
pace, level and content of teaching,
learning and assessment activities.
• Acceleration: promoting students to a
level of study beyond their age group.
• Curriculum Compacting: assessing
a student’s current level of learning
and addressing aspects of the
curriculum they have not yet
mastered.
*References: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-22/how-to-tell-if-you-have-a-gifted-child-explainer/10393244
Elissa (bottom left), providing guidance and
support to the Mathematics Ability Group.
18

Gifted and Talented
Program Background
ETASC’s gifted and talented program
started in February 2018. Identified
students are given a one hour session
per week to focus on their individual
learning need with gifted and talented
teachers, Jaclyn and Elissa. “We
limit GAT sessions to one per week
complimenting core, in class learning”
said Elissa.
Jaclyn has a Masters Degree in
Special Education, has attained her
Bachelors of Fine Art and Secondary
Education and has a Certificate of
Gifted Education. While Elissa has a
double Degree in Secondary Teaching
and Science, and has recently taught
overseas learning how other countries
nurture their gifted and talented
students.
Student Outcomes
With the introduction of the GAT
program at ETASC, students can push
themselves further academically by
entering academic competitions,
which allows them to compete against
other gifted and talented students
across the country.
Elissa (top) instructing students in the
Year 8 Mathematics Ability group.
Elissa (right) helping Darcy with
her Engineering challenge.
Darcy – Year 8
Darcy sees Elissa once per week in
the Mathematics Ability Group. This
group extends upon the core course
content Darcy is currently learning in
Mathematics class by applying her
core learning to real life scenarios.
Being a part of the Mathematics
Ability Group provides Darcy
Montana (middle), working with
Elissa (top) on her novella.
Montana – Year 9
Montana is a part of the Creative
Writing Group and works with
Elissa once per week. Like Darcy,
Montana is also presented with
the opportunity to gain an
understanding of the core course
content taught in Year 10 English
the opportunity to gain an
understanding of the core course
content taught in Year 9 and 10
Mathematics classes. This extends
and tests Darcy’s Mathematical
abilities in a safe and supportive
environment with Elissa.
In 2019, Darcy competed in an
Engineering Design Challenge
and the Australian Mathematics
Competition.
When asked about what she
enjoys the most from the gifted
and talented program, Darcy said
“Even though I’m only in Year 8,
I really like how I’m allowed to
start looking at Year 9 and 10
class work. It kind of feels like it
won’t be such a shock when I start
looking at Year 9 and 10 Maths
problems in the next few years”.
class in a safe and supportive
environment.
In 2019, Montana focused on
developing an eight thousand word
novella to be submitted into the
2020 Somerset Storyfest writing
competition. Montana was also
invited to present her creative writing
work at the Central Coast Council
Seniors Festival in 2019 and submitted
creative pieces into the Write 4
Fun – Poetry, Short Story and Arts
Competition for Australian Schools.
“Being able to enter competitions
and see how my creative writing
stacks up against other students
across the country gives me an
understanding of the level I need to
get to, to be the best” Montana said.
What New Opportunities
Are There for Students
This Year
“We want to expand the opportunities
our students have to enter
competitions as we believe this
gives them an insight into the
academic benchmarks they need to
be at, to be considered among the
top students in the country for their
identified talent” Elissa said.
“This year, students will have the
opportunity to enter Youth 4 Youth, a
Central Coast Council leadership and
skills development program. Students
will also enter the UN Youth Australia
debating competition. We are
expanding our focus and supporting
students to enter monthly and annual
photographic competitions put on by
Australian Photography” she said.
19

ETASC 2019 Excursions
Central Coast field surveys
In Term 3, ET Australia Secondary College
Year 9 and 10 students visited various
locations on the Central Coast as part
of the study of Geography and Science
subjects. This excursion provided all
students the opportunity to use the skills
taught in class to collect data samples
and conduct fieldwork.
Students travelled by bus to Gosford
Waterfront, Erina Creek, Terrigal Lagoon
Luna Park
In Term 3, Year 9 and 10 students
visited Luna Park in Sydney where they
were given the opportunity to ‘Learn
as They Ride’. Luna Park provided
an ideal environment for practising
mathematical skills and doing
mathematical calculations.
Students completed a variety of tasks
related to the Maths curriculum,
assisting students to develop a deeper
understanding of the concepts taught
in the classroom and see mathematics
as part of everyday life.
Topics covered on the day included
Financial Mathematics, Algebra,
Rates and Ratios, Measurement,
Trigonometry and Statistics.
and Wamberal Beach to conduct water
quality testing.
Students also focused on completing
a field survey of Wamberal Beach,
examining the beach ecosystem, effects
of erosion caused by previous storms,
coastal processes and management
strategies to restore and protect
beach ecology.
20
Mountain
biking
In Term 2, 3 and 4, ET Australia
Secondary College Year 9 and 10
students were invited to participate
in a Mountain Bike Skills course.
Students were trained in the safe
use of mountain bikes and had the
opportunity to practice riding on
service trails, fire trails, and single
tracks on Kincumba Mountain to
become proficient in the handling
of bikes on different types of
terrain.
In addition to riding, students
were taught to respect the bush
environment, native fauna and
other road/park users.

Zoosnooz
In Term 4, ET Australia Secondary
College Year 9 and 10 students
enjoyed attending the Zoosnooz
overnight stay at Taronga Zoo, Sydney.
Students had exclusive access to the
zoo after the general public had left.
They participated in workshops related
to sustainability, examined ecosystems,
and examined the key characteristics
of a variety of unique flora and fauna.
Students also completed a high ropes
course after their workshops and
explored the zoo exhibits in groups.
Sydney Living
Museum
In Term 3, ET Australia Secondary College Year 7 students visited the Sydney
Living Museum where they were given the opportunity to conduct a historical
investigation into the impact of the British colonisation of Australia by
examining historical sources and perspectives.
Students practised historical archaeology, analysed a range of archival sources,
handled artefacts from the archaeological collection at the museum and used
them to answer a series of inquiry questions from their History class.
21

Are You a
Current Year 10
ETASC Parent?
Mark Your Calendar to Attend Your Child’s
Pathway Plan Meeting in Term 3 and Term 4.
Pathway plans are an essential
ingredient for student success in any
modern high school environment.
At ET Australia Secondary College we
place a huge emphasis on ensuring
your child has the best opportunity
to graduate Year 10 with a defined
education and/or career path when
they leave ETASC.
We do this through our student
pathway planning process. If a student
started at ETASC in Year 7 and
completed Year 10, they would have
had three pathway planning sessions
with career staff including the:
• Principal and CEO of ET Australia.
• ET Australia Secondary College
Student Development Coordinator.
These sessions support students to
think about and convey what they
would like to do once they have
finished Year 10.
Parents of students in Year 10 will have
the opportunity to attend their child’s
final pathway plan meeting, held in
Term 3 and 4.
All ETASC staff members mentioned
above will be in attendance to review
the goals set out by the student in
their pathway plan process and ask
questions about what extra services
or support your child needs to achieve
these goals in their final year of
schooling at ETASC.
Year 10 is a pivotal year in a child’s
education and it’s important that you,
the parent, are included in this
22
process to understand the direction
your child is going in after they have
finished Year 10.
We look forward to meeting you at
your child’s pathway plan meeting
to discuss what else we can do to
support your child achieve their future
education and career goals.

Enrolling Now for
2021 and Beyond
ET Australia Secondary College is an independent Year
7 to 10 high school which equips students with the literacy
and numeracy skills to be successful in employment and/or
future study by delivering the mainstream curriculum in a
safe and supportive learning environment.
Now is the time to book your tour of the school for your
child to attend ET Australia Secondary College in 2021.
With over 94% of graduates engaging in further studies or a career,
you can be confident ET Australia Secondary College will equip your child
with the skills to be successful in ongoing studies and employment.
Book your tour at:
etaustralia.com/secondary-college
Click on ‘Enrol Today’.
The excursions,
the tutoring,
everything is
included in the
school fee.
Parents of Chris, Year 10

ET Australia Magazine is produced by ET Australia
in collaboration with Mars Design.
A special thanks to all those who contributed to this issue of ET Australia Magazine, especially
Coastwide Surgery for allowing ET Australia to photograph Summa-Lee during office hours.
ET Australia is comprised of an adult Training College (RTO ID 90084) and Independent Year 7 to 10 Secondary College.
The primary focus of ET Australia is to provide students with the skills to be successful in employment and/or further study.
Contact Mars Design:
enquiries@marsdesign.com.au
@ www.marsdesign.com.au
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(02) 4323 1233 @ email@etaustralia.com
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