http:// 2013-05-14T01:03:00Z 2013-05-14T01:03:00Z nearly-half-of-australia-s-finance-professionals-hunting-for-new-job-survey

Media Release Nearly half of Australia’s finance industry hunting for a new employer - survey Australia, 14/05/2013 - Almost most half (46%) of Australia’s finance professionals intend to move to a new employer in 2013 according to a recent survey conducted by eFinancialCareers the leading global career site network for professionals working in the investment banking, asset management and securities industries. The eFinancialCareers Employment Survey* found the intended movement of Australian finance professionals resulted from a continued lack of career progression in their current firm (54%), perceived higher pay at other employers (38%) and frustration with a lack of recognition for their accomplishments (33%). These factors motivating employees to leave their current firm were also cited as the main reasons in the 2012 eFinancialCareers Employment Survey. The desire to change employers amongst Australian finance workers (46%) compared favourably to finance centres Singapore (64%) and Hong Kong (74%) respectively for 2013. “The slowdown in hiring activity has led to less people movement between financial services companies. For finance professionals this means there has been less opportunity to take advantage of internal openings created by staff turnover, and the large scale layoffs experienced at the end of last year are also likely to have stalled the potential for some individuals to progress within their organisations. While many companies are mindful of the risk associated with losing top talent, outward pressures can’t always be overcome. In this situation we tend to see more candidates looking externally for a chance to advance their careers despite the challenging hiring environment,” said George McFerran, Managing Director APAC at eFinancialCareers. Not just about the moneyWhen asked what factors, apart from compensation, would be critical in their decision to move to a new employer, a supportive culture and good working environment came top, followed by a defined career progression. The survey also found that two thirds of Australia-based finance professionals (65%) were keen to keep their flexible working arrangements if they were to move to a new employer. Ends * The eFinancialCareers 2013 Employment Survey was conducted in April 2013. The survey polled a total of 512 employed bankers and finance professionals in Hong Kong, 572 in Australia, and 1,262 in Singapore. The survey explored current issues and trends in employee retention in key finance hubs, in the region’s finance sector. About eFinancialCareers: eFinancialCareers, a Dice Holdings, Inc. service, is the leading global career site network for professionals working in the investment banking, asset management and securities industries. The website provides financial services professionals with job opportunities, job market news and analysis, salary surveys and career advice. Recruiters and employers can post jobs targeting specific sectors within the financial services industry, both buy-side and sell-side, and can search the resume database for highly qualified and specialized professionals. eFinancialCareers has a network of co-branded career sites with industry-leading trade publications and offers local websites in 19 markets and five languages primarily across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and financial centers of the Middle East. Please visit www.eFinancialCareers.com.au for more information. For media enquiries and more information, contact Cape Public Relations Pty Ltd:Ph +61 2 8218 2190 Emeere Roberts: emeere@capepublicrelations.com M: 0432 746 564

2013-04-08T05:02:00Z australian-decline-in-finance-jobs

Australian decline in finance jobs opportunities eFinancialCareers Quarterly Finance Jobs Barometer Media Release SYDNEY, 08 April 2013 - Australia’s financial services job opportunities declined 34% in the first quarter of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012. It was the largest decline experienced across the leading global financial centres according to the quarterly Jobs Barometer from eFinancialCareers, the leading career site for professionals working in investment banking, asset management and the securities industries.Australia was not alone with significant declines in finance opportunities also prevalent across the region with Singapore and Hong Kong registering decreases of 13% and 24% respectively. The UK also experienced a significant reduction (-27%) for the period. eFinancialCareers Managing Director Asia-Pacific, George McFerran, said: “the decline of job opportunities in Australian financial services is reflective of a shift in organisation priorities, there is currently a definite focus on retrenchment. We are also perhaps starting to see the results of the offshoring programmes that many banks have been utilising.However, despite the overall decline the new environment of regulation and capital adequacy requirements are driving strong growth in the areas of compliance and legal, risk management and retail banking.”APAC Top performers - Despite an overall decline for the period recruiting in key areas is occurring. The year-on-year job posting figures (Q1 2013 – Q1 2012) show growth across APAC in:• Compliance/Legal (+54%) – banks have been steadily hiring (and are likely to continue) for compliance positions since the onset of the Global Financial Compliance. New compliance roles have been created on the back of new regulatory requirements including Basel III. “It is anticipated this will remain a solid employment area as it is an essential function, with a need to replace departing staff,” said Mr McFerran.• Risk management (+29%) – as banks expand their Asian presence managing operational, credit and market risk will remain a crucial process, increasing demand for risk talent.• Retail banking (+25%) – unlike investment banking in the region which has been hit by falling deal-flows and fee income, the comparative stability of revenue in retail banking will keep recruitment healthy. This is partially driven by the shifting focus of Australian domestic banks to develop new products and increasingly use their branch network as a sales channel. APAC Bottom Performers - Derivatives (-58%), Trading (-53%) and Equities (-43%) - continued market volatility and budgetary pressures imposed by cost -conscious investment banks are combining to subdue front-office recruiting in Asia, especially in equities, trading, and derivatives. Positions in these fields are typically well paid and banks need to submit a cast-iron business case to head office to get the extra headcount expense approved. Firms prefer to make do with current resources and are keeping trading teams at current levels unless there is a prolonged global economic recovery. 2013 Outlook - “While 2013 is unlikely to be a bumper year for recruitment in Australian financial services, a gentle and sustainable recovery in job opportunities compared with last year is expected,” said Mr McFerran.“We anticipate the job market will be more buoyant in insurance, and retail, corporate and transaction banking, where revenue will be more stable and banks will continue to expand to meet client needs. In investment banks deal flows in M&A and capital markets will need to consistently improve to justify more hiring in the second half of this year.”***ENDS*** The eFinancialCareers Quarterly Job Barometer tracks APAC positions advertised on eFinancialCareers in sectors where there is a minimum level of 150 advertised jobs a month for three consecutive months. Sectors qualifying for the APAC Job Barometer for the three months ended 31 March 2013 were Risk Management, Compliance / Legal, Retail Banking, Information Technology, Accounting & Finance, Private Banking / Wealth Management, Operations, Quantitative Analytics, Capital Markets, Corporate Banking, Credit, Investment Banking / M & A, Commodities, Insurance, Information Services, Asset Management, Consultancy, Equities, Sales & Marketing, FX & Money Markets, Trading, Debt / Fixed Income, Derivatives.About eFinancialCareers eFinancialCareers, a Dice Holdings, Inc. service, is the leading global career site network for professionals working in the investment banking, asset management and securities industries. The website provides financial services professionals with job opportunities, job market news and analysis, salary surveys and career advice. Recruiters and employers can post jobs targeting specific sectors within the financial services industry, both buy-side and sell-side, and can search the resume database for highly qualified and specialized professionals. eFinancialCareers has a network of co-branded career sites with industry-leading trade publications and offers local websites in 19 markets and five languages primarily across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and financial centres of the Middle East. Please visit www.eFinancialCareers.com.au for more information.For further information please contact: Cape Public Relations +61 2 8218 2190 Luke Roberts luke@capepublicrelations.com M: 0422 855 930 Sara Crow sara@capepublicrelations.com M: 0413 682 377

2013-02-13T06:53:29Z how-to-protect-yourself-from-your-mobile-phone

Mostly, people think about protecting mobile devices from kids, dirt, dust, water, hard work and fun play. But there is good reason to think about protecting users from their mobile phones and tablets.Not that anyone expects that our mobile best buddies are going to turn on us. However it is an unavoidable fact that the benefits of mobile telephony and internet everywhere come with some risks, and one is the risk of electromagnetic radiation, or EMR.Your mobile phone or tablet has an in-built antenna that enables it to communicate with mobile networks. These antennas emit radio frequency signals – a potentially harmful microwave frequency radiation that can be absorbed by the body.·         In 2011, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study that shows that just 50 minutes of mobile phone use affects brain activity in the area of brain closest to the phone.·         In May 2011, scientific evidence indicating adverse health effects of mobile phone radiation prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify mobile phone radiation as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”, in the same category as lead and engine exhaust.·         Recent studies have also shown that the current mobile phone certification process may substantially underestimate radiation absorption for most mobile phone users, especially children and smaller adults.Mobile phone radiation is most intense in areas right next to the antenna, and it is this intense radiation that poses the greatest risk to users. The further you are away from your phone, the intensity of mobile phone radiation and your risk to exposure decreases.In fact, mobile phone radiation is >100 times less intense at a distance of 10 cm away from the phone antenna compared to 1 cm. So as long as your children and other people stay at least a hand span away from your mobile device when in use, the radiation intensity they are exposed to is very low and should not raise any known health concerns.Powered Life offers seven tips for users of mobile devices to reduce their exposure to electro magnetic radiation:1.     Wait until a call has connected before placing the phone next to your ear, as the EMR emission is highest while the call is connecting.2.     Use text or SMS communication wherever possible.3.     Keep mobile phone calls brief – this will save you money and exposure to EMR.4.     Try to avoid using a mobile phone against your head where the signal is weak or you are moving as the mobile phone is emitting higher radiation to gain or maintain contact with the network.5.     Using the mobile device away from the body as much as possible. If you are a heavy user of the phone, consider using a handset, either bluetooth or wired, which means that the radiation emitting phone is placed further away from your head.6.     Switch ears while you are talking on the phone, reducing the length of exposure to one side of your head at a time.7.     Using a protective case such as those by Pong, with patented technology to deflect the EMR away from the user. The technology in Pong has been tested in US Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-certified labs and proven to reduce your exposure to mobile phone radiation by up to 95% below the FCC limit, while optimising your mobile device’s signal strength. Other market “anti-radiation” cell phone products actually weaken the device’s signal making the device work harder and use more power as it struggles to communicate with the mobile network. This can increase the radiation exposure to the user, as well as shorten the battery life. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warnings against the use of such products. Pong cases redirect and redistribute radiation, as opposed to reducing it. This is the key to their patented technology and the best way to effectively protect you from unnecessary radiation exposure.ENDSABOUT POWERED LIFEPowered Life www.poweredlife.com.au helps people maximise the benefits of mobile technology for work, learning and play. We offer the very best brands in protective tough cases, portable and solar power for mobile phones, tablets, cameras, MP3s, portable games and more. Perfect for trades, engineering and construction, outdoor sports and camping, use by children and especially people with special needs. 100% genuine brands with full warranty, 100% Australian company. Live a powered life!CONTACTMedia enquiries: Pia Argiratos, 1300 769 374, 0466 44 44 14, pia.argiratos@poweredlife.com.au

2013-02-04T01:46:32Z grab-a-chance-to-visit-uk-and-usa-with-letz-live-gap-year-placement

Have you ever dreamed of visiting UK and USA but don’t know how and where to start? Have you considered visiting these countries in the future for a working holiday, learn English or be a volunteer for a community service? Whether you are after for a short term visit or a long stay, these countries are ideal for working holidays, learning and volunteering abroad. With Gap Year Placement, you will be given assistance with your document processing needs, work placement, accommodation, support while overseas and more. Letz Live has been providing Gap Year Assistance for several years and has a proven track record of giving quality services and effective placement to students who want to experience Gap Year overseas. You can be assured of quality placement with their wide network of personal contacts overseas. You can also have the option to visit other countries other than UK and USA like the Canada, China, France, India and Thailand. It is truly amazing that people who experienced Gap Year through Letz Live has never had a single regret with their decision for a Gap Year Placement. They have learned so much about the language, culture and the lifestyle of the host country other than working and volunteering. Indeed, it was the experience that fulfilled their dreams and has changed their life. Nick Hare, the Director of Letz Live has once inspired with Gap Year experience that made him build this organization so to provide other people a chance to visit the world. Recruitment Coordinators are available to assist you with your needs and inquiries, Simon Goodburn for Australia and New Zealand and Kevin Crets for Canada and USA. Grab the opportunity to visit UK and USA with Letz Live Gap Year Placement. A life changing experience that will truly fulfil your dreams. For more information call 07 5527 1822 or email info@letzlive.org. You can also visit their main office at Level 8, Southport Central, Tower 3, 9 Lawson Street, Southport, Queensland 4215. Start realising your dream, it’s your first step to reach out the world, contact Letz Live now!

2012-12-11T21:30:00Z untitled-release-218

MELBOURNE – 12 December 2012 – New AVG research from the UK and the US reveals the extent to which recruiters are using social media to vet applicants and how young job seekers who display irresponsible behaviours are reducing their chances of gaining an interview. AVG’s latest research shows that the Internet, and social networks in particular, has changed the way HR professionals approach the recruitment process. Online content posted about or by a candidate has become the modern day equivalent of a first interview. The survey of 230 HR Professionals in the UK and US, as part of AVG Technologies’ most recent Digital Diaries study, found that most search unprotected social media profiles to assess candidate suitability. Digital Baggage, the sixth instalment of AVG Technologies’ Digital Diaries study, features responses from 4,400 18-25 year olds in 11 countries (including Australia) to AVG’s questions as to how they manage their social network profiles. The recruiters, who are using the gamut of social media platforms to vet candidates, verified that too many young job seekers are still not acting responsibly online. The majority of 18-25 year olds themselves revealed in the survey that they had never reviewed their online profile, even though it could potentially have an impact on their career prospects. Associate Professor Peter Holland* from Monash University in Melbourne, said: “This timely research should be a wakeup call to all prospective employees, particularly younger candidates who have grown up with social networking - working in a digital age brings a new dimension to the need to be careful what you say and do in a public space.” More than 90 percent of US human resources managers consider the posting of nude photos online as a reason not to interview candidates. Other reasons include: evidence of obnoxious behaviour (91 percent); a negative or derogatory comment about a previous employer (nearly 95 percent) and extremist views about topics such as race (93 percent). In contrast, over two-thirds of US and UK HR Professionals had actually been positively influenced by the online presence of a job applicant, with nearly three-quarters relying on LinkedIn to conduct their online searches, even though only one in three UK recruiters fully trusts the information candidates post about themselves. Michael McKinnon, Security Advisor at AVG Technologies AU, said: “In a competitive job market, there are major advantages for savvy candidates to differentiate themselves with a clean online brand. By proactively managing their online profile and taking control, they will help create an image of a responsible potential employee.” AVG’s 3 Top Tips for creating a clean online brand: 1. Privacy Create a clear distinction between your private and work life. Take the time to set every level of privacy in each social networking site you sign up to. Nearly a third (31 percent) of working Australian 18-25 year olds are ‘Facebook friends’ with their boss. AVG’s research also finds that 62 percent of Australian young adults who are ‘friends’ with their colleagues do not restrict the content co-workers are able to access. Regular reviews of social networking friend lists is a must. If you have drifted away from someone, then ‘unfriend’ them. It’s a silent operation, they aren’t notified, and you are able to maintain control over who your ‘friends’ are and what is known about you. 2. Clean out career damaging content From the study, 54 percent of respondents admitted they had never audited their online profiles or cleaned-up potentially career damaging content. As your online profile extends across LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Instagram and Flickr – and more as time goes on – careless attitudes expressed and photos posted when you were 18 could have repercussions when viewed by a recruitment agency when you are 25. 3. Passwords and security Show a responsible attitude to security - you don’t want to be the source of a malware attack on work colleagues or recruiters. Protect your devices and information by running the latest applications and operating systems; plus always on, automatically updating security software on every networked device. Change every default setting to a strong individual password, and switch on every security option embedded in your smart devices. -Ends- *Associate Professor Peter Holland is the co-author of The Electronic Workplace Survey: Analysis of the First National Survey on Employee Attitudes to Electronic Monitoring and Surveillance in the Australian Workplace. About AVG Digital Diaries The first stage of AVG’s Digital Diaries campaign, Digital Birth, focused on children from birth to age two. The study, released in October 2010, found that on average, infants acquire a digital identity by the age of six months old. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of children have had their pre-birth scans uploaded to the Internet by their parent – establishing a digital footprint even before birth. The second stage, Digital Skills, was released in January 2011 and showed that for two to five year olds, ‘tech’ skills are increasingly replacing ‘life’ skills. In fact, many toddlers could use a mouse and play a computer game, but could not ride a bike, swim or tie their shoelaces. Digital Playground, released in June 2011, found nearly half of six to nine year olds talk to friends online and use social networks. This was followed with Digital Maturity in November 2011, which revealed how 11 year olds had developed adult skills in technology. Digital Coming of Age, the fifth instalment of AVG’s Digital Diaries study was released in April 2012, which interviewed parents of 14-17 year olds, found that nearly half of parents keep tabs on teens via Facebook, latest AVG Technologies’ research reveals. Research for all stages of the Digital Diaries series was conducted by Research Now on behalf of AVG Technologies. More information visit: www.avgdigitaldiaries.com About AVG — www.avg.com.au AVG Technologies’ mission is to simplify, optimise and secure the Internet experience, providing peace of mind to a connected world. AVG’s powerful yet easy-to-use software and online services put users in control of their Internet experience. By choosing AVG’s software and services, users become part of a trusted global community that benefits from inherent network effects, mutual protection and support. AVG has grown its user base to 143 million active users as of 30 September, 2012 and offers a product portfolio that targets the consumer and small business markets and includes Internet security, PC performance optimisation, online backup, mobile security and identity protection. AVG Media Contacts: Michael McKinnon AVG 03 9581 0845 mmckinnon@avg.com.au Shuna Boyd BoydPR 02 9418 8100 shuna@boydpr.com.au AVG Technologies – Investor Relations AnneMarie McCauley AnneMarie.McCauley@avg.com Media resources, including logos, box shots, screen shots etc., are available online at: http://www.avg.com.au/media/ and mediacenter.avg.com/. AVG has a comprehensive range of security tips on its web site at http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG see http://www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz. Join the AVG Technologies’ Community for information, video content and pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/officialavg/sets/ Keep in touch with AVG · For breaking news, follow AVG on Twitter at twitter.com/avgaunz · Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/avgaunz · For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG blog at resources.avg.com.au

2012-12-10T00:01:32Z australian-visas-for-you-and-your-family

Do you plan of moving out of your country and living in Australia? Do you think of working in Australia and living in there permanently? Are you looking for the best advice and assistance for the life-changing move you will ever make? Fret no more. This article will help you discover the best and most credible registered migration agent that will help you in your life-changing decision. Before living in another country, you need to get visas so that you can freely move in and out of that country. If you are already decided that you want to live and work in Australia, you will need Australian visas for work and eventually permanent residence. One registered migration agent that can help you acquire working visas for Australia is Mygration Pty Ltd. It will assist you and your family whenever you decide to live and work permanently in Australia. It will help you organize the necessary requirements needed to get Australian permanent residence. It also helps out in providing Australian visas for each member of your family. Mygration Pty Ltd is therefore your trusted partner in fulfilling your life-changing decision. With the help of Mygration Pty Ltd, you can avoid the stresses brought about by organizing and getting working visas for Australia and Australian permanent residence. Mygration Pty Ltdcan also help you in getting the best houses and relocation for you and your family. They can give you advice in the best schools for your kids. People in Mygration Pty Ltd can also help you in getting the best place and work for you and your family. So if you are decided in getting Australian visas and living permanently in Australia, you can drop by the website of Mygration Pty Ltd at www.mygration.com.au. Also, you can call them at +61 4 3215 2097 if you want to know more about their other services.

2012-10-23T21:12:00Z untitled-release-185

Nearly a third (31 percent) of working Australian 18-25 year olds are ‘Facebook friends’ with their boss, AVG Technologies’ latest Digital Diaries study reveals. The study also found that the majority of respondents (54 percent) admitted they had never audited their online profile or cleaned-up potentially career damaging content. Digital Baggage, the sixth instalment of AVG’s Digital Diaries study, features responses from 4,400 18-25 year olds in 11 countries to AVG’s questions as to how they manage their social network profiles. AVG’s research also finds that 62 percent of Australian young adults who are ‘Facebook friends’ with their colleagues do not restrict the content co-workers are able to access. Yet, nearly half (47 percent) did wish they could remove inappropriate photos of themselves online. The survey highlights how this age group is likely to share personal content in an open forum that includes work colleagues, which could have long-term impact on their future career prospects. Specifically, 13 percent of Australian respondents did admit to posting abusive content online about their boss or company after a bad day at work. Italy’s young employees were the most likely to vent their anger (18 percent), compared to their French and New Zealand equivalents (10 percent), who were least likely to express their emotions digitally. Michael McKinnon, AVG Technologies AU Security Advisor, said: “AVG’s latest research clearly shows young people today have a comfort with using online social networks that is leading to blurring between their professional and private lives. It seems obvious that posting abusive content about a boss or workplace is not very sensible, but it’s important to understand that not only could it damage a person’s existing career, it could also negatively impact on future opportunities too. Our research findings indicate that today’s 18- 25 year old ‘digital natives’ need to be more aware of their ‘online brand’ as something employers and recruiters are increasingly investigating.” Other key findings include: · No social networks allowed: in Australia and the USA, 58 percent of survey recipients admitted to accessing social networks that were banned at work from mobile phones. This was also the case in a number of other countries: the UK and Italy (57 percent); Japan (49 percent); Germany, France and Spain (all 46 percent). · Unrestricted profiles for co-workers: 38 percent of Australian workers do not restrict their Facebook profile for work colleagues,but this is actually a lower percentage whencompared to their counterparts in the US (59 percent); Italy (58 percent); Spain (54 percent); Germany (51 percent); France (50 percent); Canada (45 percent), while New Zealand and the UK (33 per cent); Czech Republic (30 per cent); and Japan (27 per cent) are lower still. · Sub-editingsocial profiles: young people in Australia and Britain (47 percent) are more likely to have audited their online profiles than their equivalents in Spain (20 percent); France (40 percent); Germany and US (42 percent); Japan (43 percent); Canada (46 percent) with New Zealand slightly higher (48 percent). · Unsuitable pictures: the Spanish (80 percent) are most likely to have inappropriate images posted online, compared with young people in the Czech Republic (32 percent); Italy (29 percent); Australia and Germany (28 percent); Canada (27 percent); New Zealand (26 percent); UK (25 percent); and US (21 percent). · Interview techniques:one in twelve (9 percent) Australian young adults had been in an interview where things they posted online were mentioned,compared with Italy (15 percent); USA (13 percent); Spain (10 percent); Canada, Germany and France (7 percent); Japan and UK (6 percent); Czech Republic and New Zealand (5 percent) -Ends- About AVG Digital Diaries The first stage of AVG’s Digital Diaries campaign, Digital Birth, focused on children from birth to age two. The study, released in October 2010, found that on average, infants acquire a digital identity by the age of six months old. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) of children have had their pre-birth scans uploaded to the Internet by their parent – establishing a digital footprint even before birth. The second stage, Digital Skills, was released in January 2011 and showed that for two to five year olds, ‘tech’ skills are increasingly replacing ‘life’ skills. In fact, many toddlers could use a mouse and play a computer game, but could not ride a bike, swim or tie their shoelaces. Digital Playground, released in June 2011, found nearly half of six to nine year olds talk to friends online and use social networks. This was followed with Digital Maturity in November 2011, which revealed how 11 year olds had developed adult skills in technology. Digital Coming of Age, the fifth instalment of AVG’s Digital Diaries study was released in April 2012, which interviewed parents of 14-17 year olds, found that nearly half of parents keep tabs on teens via Facebook, latest AVG Technologies’ research reveals. Research for all stages of the Digital Diaries series was conducted by Research Now on behalf of AVG Technologies. More information visit: www.avgdigitaldiaries.com About AVG — www.avg.com.au AVG Technologies’ mission is to simplify, optimise and secure the Internet experience, providing peace of mind to a connected world. AVG’s powerful yet easy-to-use software and online services put users in control of their Internet experience. By choosing AVG’s software and services, users become part of a trusted global community that benefits from inherent network effects, mutual protection and support. AVG has grown its user base to 128 million active users as of June 30, 2012 and offers a product portfolio that targets the consumer and small business markets and includes Internet security, PC performance optimisation, online backup, mobile security and identity protection. AVG Media Contacts: Michael McKinnon AVG 03 9581 0845 mmckinnon@avg.com.au Shuna Boyd BoydPR 02 9418 8100 shuna@boydpr.com.au AVG Technologies – Investor Relations AnneMarie McCauley AnneMarie.McCauley@avg.com Media resources, including logos, box shots, screen shots etc., are available online at: http://www.avg.com.au/media/ and mediacenter.avg.com/. AVG has a comprehensive range of security tips on its web site at http://www.avg.com.au/resources/security-tips/. For video tips from AVG see http://www.youtube.com/user/avgaunz. Join the AVG Technologies’ Community for information, video content and pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/officialavg/sets/ Keep in touch with AVG · For breaking news, follow AVG on Twitter at twitter.com/avgaunz · Join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/avgaunz · For security trends, analysis, follow the AVG blog at resources.avg.com.au

2012-10-03T05:05:25Z aussie-entrepreneur-rubs-shoulders-with-world-s-most-influential-thinkers

Naomi Simson, Australian entrepreneur and founder of the $50 million online experience retailer redballoon.com.au, is keeping popular company with the likes of US president Barack Obama, Virgin’s Richard Branson and acclaimed author and physician Deepak Chopra as part of a new professional “Influencer” project launched overnight1.Simson is one of only two Australians selected by professional networking site LinkedIn as part of their latest campaign designed to share unique knowledge and professional insights from some of the world’s top business leaders. (The other is Matt Barrie, founder of freelancer.com).The pair are among 150 of the world’s most influential thought leaders to be targeted by the professional networking site, which has a global membership of 175 million, or eight times the population of Australia.On the program, Simson said she was both flattered and enthusiastic about the opportunity and was blown away that her story had captured the imagination of a big corporation. “I always believed I could build a successful business based on having fun. So it’s humbling to know the story behind RedBalloon’s extraordinary growth and success will now reach many more people, Ms Simson said.“I started RedBalloon in the front room of my home in 2001, using little more than a few thousand dollars and a second-hand computer, with my canine companion Dexter as my sounding-board.“Eleven years later we’re on track to becoming a $100 million business, and have delivered more than 1.5 million memorable experiences to Australians and New Zealanders.“We’ve helped people celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, mother’s days, father’s days and Christmas. I’ve heard personal stories from proposals, to dying wishes to sweet sixteens. This business has given me a fleeting glimpse into the lives of our customers, and I am so thankful to be a part of their big life moments.  “Through this opportunity I hope to be able to share my knowledge on the importance of gratitude, generosity and integrity within the business world, and show that organisations can have fun, look after their employees and customers, and be successful at the same time.“I’m so thrilled to be able to build on and continue this conversation with a whole new audience.”Simson’s first submission, “Is happiness at work a ‘dirty’ word?” looks at how businesses can promote an environment of fun, gratitude and celebration, to promote increased productivity.The list of contributors includes universally-recognised leaders and industry-specific movers and shakers, including Tony Robbins, US Governor Mitt Romney and UK PM David Cameron.Check out Naomi’s article, subscribe to her blog - naomisimson.com - listed in the top 15 of Australia’s Best Business Blogs - or join Five Thanks a Day to learn about the power of gratitude.1 The program was launched at 11pm Tuesday October 2 (local time). - Ends –For more information or to arrange an interview with Naomi, please contactLauren Ashton, PR & Communication Specialist RedBalloon – 02 8755 0034 / 0404 136 765 / lauren@redballoon.com.au High res images available: http://www.redballoon.com.au/mediacentre/naomi-simson-founder About RedBalloonRedBalloon has been giving people the chance to fulfil their dreams for 11 years in Australia and New Zealand, and has supplied more than 1.5 million memorable experiences in this time. With over 3000 unique gift ideas and experience gift vouchers like race car driving, hot air ballooning, horse riding on the beach, tiger moth flights to massages, romantic dinners and getaways, RedBalloon has the perfect present for any occasion. RedBalloon experience vouchers, gift certificates and gift boxes can be purchased online or in selected retail outlets.  About Naomi Simson Imagine running a business based on fun – that’s what Naomi decided to try when she left a very serious corporate career in marketing to set up RedBalloon in 2001. Naomi received the 2008 National Telstra Business Women's Awards for Innovation and in 2011 she won the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Industry category. Naomi writes a blog - naomisimson.com - which is listed in the top 15 of Australia’s Best Business Blogs. Her first book “I want what she’s having” was reviewed as an “essential business read” by The Australian and is now available as a free download for subscribers of her blog. Naomi has also launched the Five Thanks A Day gratitude project, soon to be released in book format.

2012-08-31T09:27:48Z a-better-opportunity-to-spend-your-gap-year-in-canada

Gold Coast, Australia - Gap Year is the most exciting moment for every students who are planning to travel abroad. However, there are some things that need to be considered before deciding to do so. Travel insurance is one of the most important thing to consider on your list. It is also important to investigate about the different rules and regulations of the country and being prepared to engage into new culture and environment. Before going for your gap year, learn the laws of the countries you plan to visit. To investigate prior to your travel is also necessary especially if you are looking for a prospect temporary job, a place to live in or do some sort of voluntary works. Letz Live's Volunteer Abroad Canada offers an intensive opportunities for you to spend your gap year in Canada as well as learn to understand their way of life. Working Holidays Canada on the other hand, will give you the chance to engage in Canada's job market, learn the culture in the workplace and give you the privilege of acquiring new knowledge and skills at work. It is also important that you have a secure and fun gap year by getting yourself insured. Letz Live also provides you assistance on how to get travel insurance in your most convenient budget. Being insured will eliminate your worries of getting injured or losing some luggages for instance. Ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all your activities during your gap year in Canada. Whether it is for a volunteer abroad or working holidays during your gap year, getting insured will be beneficial to you.The best thing of having a gap year is also learning other country's language. For non-English speaker students, this is the best opportunity for you to learn and develop your reading, listening and speaking skills. English being a universal language will help you to interact among people of different races and countries of origin. Letz Live also offers gap year opportunities to other countries including China, Argentina, Thailand, Korea and more. ContactLetz Live'sGap Year Canada for more information how to avail these opportunities and start to step up for your dreams. You might also get interested in reading this article Gap Year for additional information.

2012-08-08T04:50:00Z 99designs-announces-acquisition-of-european-design-marketplace-12designerd-release

Loomia Launches First Facebook Application That Lets Friends Make and Receive Recommendations on Media and News Websites PRESS RELEASE 99designs Announces Acquisition of European Design Marketplace 12designer SAN FRANCISCO, MELBOURNE AND BERLIN– August 8, 2012 – 99designs, the largest online graphic design marketplace in the world, today announced it has acquired Berlin-based, Grupo Intercom financed company 12designer, the leading creative design marketplace in Germany and the second largest in Europe after 99designs. The acquisition is 99designs’ first and signals the company’s ongoing focus on international expansion via localization following its $35 million Series A investment led by Accel Partners last year. Germany is 99design’s number one non-English language market, its fifth largest overall and one of its fastest growing. Despite minimal marketing in Germany and other European countries, European small businesses and startups have accounted for approximately 15 percent of the 155,000 graphic design contests held on 99designs’ English-language site to date. The 12designer acquisition will allow 99designs to better meet the needs of European customers by providing support in their own languages and time zones. “We’re very excited to welcome 12designer Founder and CEO Eva Missling and her talented team into the 99designs family. We believe their deep regional marketplace expertise and multi-lingual capabilities will prove instrumental in accelerating our delivery of truly localized world-class design services to European businesses and designers,” said 99designs CEO Patrick Llewellyn. “This acquisition enables us to build significantly on our existing momentum and resources in Europe and gives us an ideally situated base in Berlin. As the tech startup and design hub of Europe, there is no better place from which to implement our aggressive regional growth plans.” In conjunction with the announcement, 99designs has named Missling the company’s new General Manager of Europe. She will be tasked with optimizing localization of 99designs services for European markets, accelerating growth in Germany and across Europe, and building a 99designs team in Berlin. She will also continue to oversee 12designer, which boasts a community of more than 20,000 designers interacting with customers in German, French, Spanish, Italian and English. 12designer will continue to operate as a stand-alone site in the near term. “The 12designer team is eager to join 99designs and further our shared vision of connecting businesses seeking affordable, high-quality design services with skilled designers,” said Missling. “The combination of 99designs’ global reach and resources, 12designers’ regional experience, and the enormous multilingual talent pool here in Berlin will be a win for Europe’s small business owners and designers alike.” Financial terms of the deal are not being publicly disclosed. About 99designs99designs is the world's largest online graphic design marketplace, connecting businesses looking for design work with more than 175,000 graphic designers from 192 countries around the world. Businesses can source graphic design work quickly and affordably by launching design contests to the community, working 1-on-1 with individual designers, or purchasing design templates from 99designs' readymade store. The company was co-founded by serial entrepreneurs Mark Harbottle and Matt Mickiewicz (SitePoint, Flippa), and is backed by Accel Partners and angel investors Michael Dearing (eBay, Harrison Metal), Dave Goldberg (Survey Monkey), Stewart Butterfield (Flickr, Tiny Speck) and Anthony Casalena (Squarespace). To learn more about 99designs, including where the company is hiring, visit www.99designs.com. About 12designer12designer, the largest German marketplace for crowdsourced creative design services, enables businesses to source custom logo design, print design, website design, slogans, naming services, and other creative work from a community of more than 20,000 professional creatives throughout Europe. Berlin-based 12designer was founded by Eva Missling together with Grupo Intercom and offers services in German, Spanish, French, Italian and English. Media contact (Australia and NZ)Caroline Shawyer, The PR Group+61 (0) 401 496 334caroline@prgroup.com.au

2012-07-05T06:59:00Z software-ag-launches-cebit-2013-idea-contest-for-universities

Sydney, July 5, 2012 - Software AG's University Relations department has announced its global CeBIT 2013 idea contest for university students. The company has invited faculty and students from universities anywhere to submit creative proposals for a showcase project at CeBIT 2013. The project should highlight Software AG's business process optimisation technology in a hands-on way. Ten thousand euros is available to implement the winning project. The complex software that Software AG develops and sells worldwide helps companies optimise business processes. For the most part, the advanced technology remains hidden behind the user interface and is therefore not explicitly anchored in the minds of potential customers. Students and professors from around the world are being called on to illustrate this complex issue from the business-to-business realm using a compelling model in order to concretely demonstrate the benefits that companies can gain from Software AG's portfolio. The winning model will be built for demonstration at the Software AG booth at CeBIT 2013 in Germany and presented to the CeBIT audience by the students. The showcase at the last CeBIT—model from the construction industry—was very popular with visitors. It showed how intelligent software helped transport building components and materials to the right place at exactly the right time for immediate construction. The fictional developer eliminated building delays through the real time control mechanisms presented via a dashboard. This year's contest is now open, and interested parties can enter in writing to university@softwareag.com by July 31, 2012. The concept must be submitted by October 17. Winners will be notified on November 1 and will receive funding of €10,000 (approx. A$12,000) to implement the showcase project so it can be presented at CeBIT 2013, to be held March 5–9, 2013 in Hanover, Germany. For all other information, conditions and application forms, please go to the idea contest website. ### About Software AG Software AG is the global leader in Business Process Excellence. Our 40 years of innovation include the invention of the first high-performance transactional database, Adabas; the first business process analysis platform, ARIS; and the first B2B server and SOA-based integration platform, webMethods. We offer our customers end-to-end business process management (BPM) solutions delivering low Total-Cost-of-Ownership and high ease of use. Our industry-leading brands, ARIS, webMethods, Adabas, Natural, CentraSite and IDS Scheer Consulting, represent a unique portfolio encompassing: process strategy, design, integration and control; SOA-based integration and data management; process-driven SAP implementation; and strategic process consulting and services. Software AG had revenues of €1.1 billion in 2011 and has more than 5,500 employees serving about 10,000 enterprise and public institution customers across 70 countries. Our comprehensive software and services solutions allow companies to continuously achieve their business results faster. The company is headquartered in Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (TecDAX, ISIN DE 0003304002 / SOW). Software AG - Get There Faster

2012-06-25T00:32:08Z recognition-from-managers-key-to-retaining-employees

Tuesday 12 June 2012: More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of employees would consider leaving their organisation if they weren’t recognised for their contribution, and one in four are already actively seeking a new job or intend to in the next three months, according to employee engagement specialists RedBalloon for Corporate.And its managers receiving the bulk of the criticism, with 44 per cent rated “very poor”, “poor” or just “satisfactory” at delivering praise; three quarters of employees are starved of recognition, receiving it only monthly, quarterly or once a year; and 11 per cent receiving no praise at all.These insights come from the 2012 RedBalloon Reward and Recognition Survey, which studied more than 4,000 businesses across Australia and New Zealand to gauge the current trends, attitudes and behaviours around employee reward and recognition programs.These are worrying findings given a 25-year-long Gallup study – based on interviews with 12 million workers at 7,000 large companies – also found that the relationship with a manager largely determines the length of an employee’s stay.[i]According to RedBalloon for Corporate General Manager Matt Geraghty “Retention is one of the biggest issues facing businesses right now and with the cost to replace someone estimated at 150 per cent of their salary, simple maths demonstrates the return on investment of a successful reward and recognition program.”“In tough economic times, it’s your people that will get you through, and if businesses invest in and show their employees appreciation now, they’ll stay for the long term.“Similarly, it’s unrealistic for employees to expect significant raises in the current economic climate – but a well thought-out and effective reward and recognition program can help keep your employees feeling valued and motivated for a fraction of the cost of increased pay packets.“Businesses need to encourage and empower managers to unleash the power of praise, and managers must invest the time to get to know their people and what inspires and drives them – how else can they expect to build trust and retain employees over the long term?The report also shows that rewards alone will not give you happier employees. Almost half (46 per cent) of respondents would opt for recognition over a reward when being thanked; 50 per cent want recognition and something physical, such as an experience, a gift voucher or time off from the office; and only 4 per cent of employees would be happy with a reward alone.The role of managers in this process is key, with 51 per cent of respondents seeking acknowledgment from their direct manager, 35 per cent from peers and colleagues, and only 14 per cent from the CEO.And recognition is most important to Generation Y, with 86 per cent prepared to leave an organisation due to lack of recognition, compared to 77 per cent of Generation X and 63 per cent of Baby Boomers.“Organisations cannot afford to put lip service to this – any acknowledgement needs to be authentic, personal and relevant to a specific activity. Saying thanks and ‘you’re a good bloke’ is not enough. People need to know what they did specifically that contributed to a business result,” Mr Geraghty said.“The study highlighted that 42 per cent of businesses do not have a reward and recognition program in place, which does not bode well for those who are considering leaving for lack of thanks.“But just as worrying are the 57 per cent of companies providing a substandard reward and recognition experience, as employees are five times more likely to leave their organisation if their business provides a poor program.“We are calling this the ‘recognition retention multiplier’, and it represents is a big opportunity for businesses to pull up their socks.”Top things employees want to see improved in their business right now20% pay, benefits and conditions15% work-life balance12% rewards and recognition12% systems and processes9% communication9% career progression8% training and development7% culture5% leadership/senior management4% my bossThe most popular rewards1. 42% Experiences - sharing with family/friends (25%) or Personal (17%)2. 31% Cash/Visa Card3. 11% Time off work- ENDS-For more information, or to arrange an interview or image, please contact:Lauren Ashton, Communications Specialist - P: 02 8755 0034 M: 0404 136 765 E: lauren@redballoon.com.auDownload the report: http://corp.redballoon.com.au/rewardandrecognitionreportAbout RedBalloonRedBalloon For Corporate provides exciting reward and recognition solutions, corporate gifts and sales incentives to ensure businesses keep their employees and customers motivated, rewarded and engaged. With a unique resource of over 2,500 amazing experiences in Australia and New Zealand RedBalloon specialises in creating attachments between employees and their employer. RedBalloon has also been awarded for its innovative employee engagement practices, named in the Best Places to Work by BRW Magazine three times, including a top ten ranking in 2009. Hewitt Associates have also awarded RedBalloon with an engagement score of over 90 per cent three years in a row. The average engagement score in Australian businesses is 55 per cent.[i] Kaye, B & Jordan-Evans, S. (2005) Love ‘Em or Lose Em. Berrett Koehler.

2012-05-07T15:02:04Z community-organisations-join-fight-against-homophobia

Sydney, May 8 - Several Gay and Lesbian supporting community organisations are marking this May 17th as International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) with a new campaign, targeted at engaging members of the community to become allies to battle homophobia and transphobia. The new campaign, which asks members of the public to make a ‘pledge’ to speak out against prejudice, discrimination, intolerance and hate aims to provide hope for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and Questioning (LGBTIQQ) young people. “When I heard about the Be My Ally campaign, I immediately knew I had to move quickly to get in touch with the organisers (IDAHO-NSW),” said Rami Mandow, Chairman of The Community Brave Foundation – a new Foundation which aims at reducing online bullying, homophobia, transphobia and youth suicide. “We wanted to partner with IDAHO to deliver a community message, but we didn’t want to be restricted to our small circles.” “So we sent a few emails out amongst our networks and asked a bunch of community organisations to join us,” said Mandow. “Before we knew it, everyone loved the idea and was right on board. We’ve got the teams from It Gets Better Australia, Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, Twenty10, Guide to Gay, Star Observer and the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Business Association all partaking in this brilliant community message. It’s so simple, yet so effective.” The Be My Ally Idea is the brainchild of Stuart Garske, after having worked three years with the community for IDAHO. The aim of the project is to continue on the conversation about homophobia and transphobia beyond the May 17day of recognition for IDAHO and ensure that communities, schools and workplaces become more tolerant and accepting. “Like many of our fellow community organisations, we have a strong message when it comes to homophobia and transphobia. And that message is that it will not be tolerated anywhere in society,” said Mandow. “That’s why we want to become allies with so many people in our communities to ensure that we are there to help provide resources, tools, information and direction if young people are being subjected to homophobia or transphobia.” “As all of us Community Organisations launch the campaign, I expect to see a whole lot more come on board. Even with the few teasers that we have released through Community Brave, we’ve had four organisations let us know they are interested,” said Mandow. “Based on this, we are hoping that this will trigger a chain reaction of recognition events around the nation to get people to address homophobia and transphobia when it occurs. Self-policing if it can be called this, both online and offline.” IDAHO NSW is a community based initiative made up of individuals, services and organisations dedicated to addressing homophobia, transphobia, intersexphobia, as well as supporting equal rights for LGBTIQQ people. Founded by Stuart Garske in 2012. The Community Brave Foundation is a community volunteer program which has aims to reduce online bullying, homophobia, transphobia and youth suicide using social media as a tool to communicate with young people providing resources, information and referrals. Established in 2012, Community Brave has released several videos featuring members of the public at Mardi Gras and are about to release a series of videos featuring Australian celebrities. For further information about the IDAHO campaign, or to schedule and interview with Rami Mandow or Stuart Garske, please call Rami on +61 416 853 250 or email admin@thecommunitybravefoundation.org

2012-02-15T04:20:00Z 99designs-launches-uk-site-targets-uk-designers-and-businesses-as-key-step-in-global-expansion-1

World’s largest crowdsourced graphic design marketplace launches in UK Provides opportunity for UK’s 65,000 freelance graphic designers to earn money and source new client work from entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses and charities Company expects to pay out a record 15.8 million in cash awards to designers in 2012 SAN FRANCISCO, MELBOURNE and LONDON – February 15, 2012 –99designs, the largest online marketplace for crowdsourced graphic design services, announced today it has launched into the UK at 99designs.co.uk and begun hiring staff locally as part of its strategic international growth plan. The company was founded in Melbourne in 2008 and began building out its San Francisco headquarters in 2010 — the UK will be the company’s launchpad for its European expansion. “The UK has been a significant market for 99designs from the very beginning in terms of the design talent and customer base we’ve attracted there,” said CEO Patrick Llewellyn. “We’re looking forward to building a strong presence on the ground to help UK designers build their businesses, enable companies of all scope and size to source affordable high-quality graphic design work, and enhance and expand our services on all fronts.” The UK is among 99designs’ fastest-growing major markets — the company has increased its monthly UK design contests 120% year over year, and expects accelerated growth as it ramps marketing and local outreach activities. 99designs has held more than 120,000 design contests on its site to date in categories ranging from logo, stationery and t-shirt design to website and mobile app design, and expects to surpass 200,000 design contests by year-end. Some of 99designs’ top graphic designers reside in the UK, including Michael Kirby of Newcastle in the northeast of England. Kirby has made more than 19,000 in the last six months through a combination of designer payouts secured on 99designs plus ongoing client work sourced through the marketplace. 99designs has distributed more than 18.9m to designers worldwide since its inception and projects it will pay out 15.8m in 2012 alone. “99designs offers the perfect solution for talented designers living in the north of England or less commercial areas to find work on a global stage without having to relocate, allowing them to grow and develop their business with little risk or overhead,” said Kirby, who was prompted to join 99designs after his design business took a hit in the recession. “I now have a huge amount of content and glowing testimonials from clients to populate the new business website I’m launching.” UK businesses that have used 99designs for their graphic design needs include technology startups like Cambridge-based Hubflow, an enterprise mobile learning platform; brick and mortar retail outlets including London caf and patisserie Le Petit Village; and charities such as KiDs of Bolton, founded by Bolton Wanderers captain Kevin Davies and his wife, Emma Davies. About 99designs 99designs, the largest online marketplace for crowdsourced graphic design services, enables businesses to source custom logo design, web design, t-shirt design, print design and other graphic design work quickly and affordably by launching design projects to a global community of more than 140,000 designers in 192 countries. In addition to its design contests, 99designs provides a 1-to-1 invoicing system that enables designers and customers to work together efficiently, and offers a ready-made logo store stocked with more than 13,000 high-quality logos available for customization and sale right off the shelf. The company was co-founded by serial entrepreneurs Mark Harbottle and Matt Mickiewicz (SitePoint, Flippa), and is backed by Accel Partners and angel investors Michael Dearing (eBay, Harrison Metal), Dave Goldberg (Survey Monkey), Stewart Butterfield (Flickr, Tiny Speck) and Anthony Casalena (Squarespace). To learn more about 99designs, including where the company is hiring, visit www.99designs.co.uk. Media contact (Worldwide): Lauren Gard 510-246-1366 lauren.gard@99designs.com Media contact (UK): Marc Ambasna-Jones +44 (0) 1225 481734 marc@marcompr.net Media contact (Australia): Caroline Shawyer +61 (0) 401 496 334 caroline@prgroup.com.au

2012-01-30T21:58:10Z quantified-self-brain-resource-webinar-this-friday-3rd-february-2012-by-dr-evian-gordon

Quantified Self Brain Resource Webinar this Friday 3rd February 2012 By Dr Evian Gordon – Chairman & CEO Brain Resource 31 January 2012 The next Brain Resource Webinar, ‘Quantified Self’ will be held this Friday 3rd February at 1300 ADST Australian time. Hosted by Dr. Evian Gordon, Chairman and CEO of Brain Resource, this 10 minute Webinar is about measuring and tracking the impact of your new brain habits. It firstly highlights using the 10 Webinars to shift yourself from "Know to Doing". In Doing by Training your new habits, 1 small step at a time - you see your brain become more effective at adapting to everything. As you "Align" and better interconnect your Thinking-Emotion-Feeling-Self Regulation capacities, the impact of your new outcomes, interactions and goals will become evident. ThisWebinar is part of a weekly series about how youcan: Know yourbrain and Train yournew brain habits. To join the webinar at the following times, please follow the link below. 2 February 18:00 Hours PST – USA / 2 February 21:00 Hours EST - USA 3 February 13:00 Hours ADST – AUS https://brainresource.adobeconnect.com/_a935094174/brainmap To view aired Webinars on Stress Reduction,Positivity, Memory, Focus, Emotion, Feelings, Zone, Relationships and Brain Wellness or for details on upcoming Webinarsvisit http://www.BrainResource.com/Webinars About Brain Resource Brain Resource (OTC: BRRZY, ASX: BRC) translates new findings about the brain into engaging products for consumers, employers and clinicians to improve cognition and brain function. With offices in Sydney and San Francisco, and agents in Europe and Israel, the company is underpinned by an international consortium of scientists and clinicians that bring together all aspects about the brain that are usually assessed independently. For more information, please visit www.brainresource.com www.brainresource.com - The 1 site that integrates brain solutions, backed by science Media Contact Julian Brophy +61 408 276 749