https:// 2019-08-06T00:56:31Z 2019-08-06T00:56:31Z acs-delivers-brand-new-learnhowto-micro-learning-platform

Media Release - for Immediate Release 6 August 2019   ACS Distance Education has just launched a brand-new learning platform aimed at businesses, professionals, students and anyone interested in personal development. Called Learn How To, this online subscription-only training site provides hundreds of short courses in a range of disciplines. For just AU$32.95 per month, subscribers have access to ALL courses. They can also view numerous educational videos to support the learning process. Upon completion of the course, you will receive an electronic badge to promote your skills. Courses are designed to enhance skills, fill gaps in knowledge, or get an introduction to an area of interest.   Each course takes between 1 to 4 hours to complete, and high scores on the self-assessment test at the end are awarded with a digital achievement badge. There are a huge range of topics covered. But there are no time limits. Subscribers get to study in their own time, at their own pace. What’s more, course content may be saved as a pdf or printed, so it won’t ever be lost. It takes about 2 minutes to enrol, and subscriptions can be cancelled at any time.    Visit the site here: www.learnhowto.com.au   Watch how Learn How To works here: https://vimeo.com/347217761   Be inspired... we love learning, and with us you can learn how to do all sorts of things.     For more information, or for business package subscriptions, please email us at: hello@learnhowto.com.au

2019-08-05T23:31:10Z sas-named-a-best-workplace-for-innovators-by-fast-company

Cary, NC (Aug 05, 2019) Fast Company has named analytics leader SAS as a Best Workplace for Innovators. A longstanding investment in cultivating a culture of innovation has positioned SAS as a leader in the analytics industry for more than 40 years. Judged on a wide range of criteria such as educational programs, new products brought to market and demonstrated support from leadership, honourees on Fast Company’s Best Workplace for Innovators list provide unique opportunities for employees to think outside the box. The Best Workplaces for Innovators must demonstrate a commitment to innovation from incubation to delivery of tangible results, and SAS’ visionary products and cutting-edge processes set the company apart. “Innovation is at the heart of what we do at SAS. From R&D and IT to sales, marketing and professional services, we’ve created a culture that fosters, values and rewards new approaches to existing challenges,” said SAS CEO Jim Goodnight. “Being recognised by Fast Company for our company-wide commitment to innovation is an affirmation of the creativity and initiative of the talented people who work here.” SAS’ continued dedication to an innovative culture is clear through R&D reinvestment of 26% – roughly twice the rate of the average technology company – which is evident through the ever-growing use of SAS® Analytics to help tackle a wide range of real-world problems. SAS customers and partners are constantly innovating with SAS software, furthering SAS’ mission to turn a world of data into a world of intelligence. Specifically, internal initiatives such as the Big Ideas series – where SAS employees have the opportunity to present thought leadership and creativity in front of their peers – as well as corporate social responsibility programs like GatherIQ™, Curriculum Pathways® and Data for Good – have distinguished SAS as a Best Workplace for Innovators. In addition, SAS’ award-winning workplace culture is recognised not only as an incubator for innovation in product, but as an innovative approach to work/life integration as well. “Other titles catalogue perquisites and benefits. Fast Company seeks to highlight workplaces that attract and retain the best talent by creating environments where employees are empowered to put forth bold ideas, engage in radical experiments, and even fail, in the name of innovation,” said Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. Learn more about SAS’ commitment to innovation. About SAS SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW®.

2019-08-01T00:11:29Z sas-adds-analytics-employment-readiness-muscle-to-ribit

SAS Australia has joined forces with Ribit, an online platform developed within CSIRO’s Data61, to extend its long-standing practice of helping analytics students gain meaningful employment as data scientists.  Ribit is Australia’s leading job and internship matching platform for university and VET students. It seeks to match students and employers for jobs, projects and internships in skills-shortage fields such as engineering, marketing, design, technology and data.  The arrangement between the two organisations supports students across Australia’s higher education institutions who benefit from the facilities of the SAS Global Academic Program. These students will now also enjoy the advantage of being listed on Data61’s Ribit platform, which uses machine learning to match their skills to employers’ needs, leading to employment opportunities.  Ribit Director Liz Jakubowski, said “The partnership between Data61’s Ribit.net and SAS will enable our students to gain in-demand skills in a global high-growth industry, and connects them directly to innovative businesses for paid work. Everyone wins.”  David Bowie, Vice President of SAS Australia and New Zealand said the initiative could not be timelier. “Businesses of every type and size now look to predictive analytics to inform decision making. And with AI and machine learning entering the mainstream, the Ribit and SAS initiative will play a big part in addressing the critical shortage of skills in this area.”  Ribit’s window to SAS also provides students with free access to data analytics training programs which qualify them for globally recognised industry accreditation, enhancing their job prospects. In addition, they join the SAS Connection Program which offers access to data challenges, webinars and more.  Since the initiative went live in February, 1,300 new students at several Australian universities have begun accessing employment opportunities and SAS courses. Across STEM and digital disciplines, Ribit has students from 43 tertiary institutions across Australia.  Citing first-hand experience of using the SAS Ribit platform, Matthew Phillips, who is the Data Manager at the Black Dog Institute, said, “It certainly simplified our student recruitment process. It was easy to use, yet an extremely powerful platform with many features including the ability to search across multiple field types and areas of expertise.” News ends About CSIRO’s Data61: CSIRO’s Data61 is the data and digital specialist arm of Australia’s national science agency. We transform existing industries and creates new ones through the application of science and technology. As an applied R&D partner, Data61’s capabilities range from cybersecurity, robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning, privacy preserving technologies, blockchain, analytics and more. We partner with government, corporates and academia through the D61+ Network to solve national challenges. About Ribit: Ribit is an online platform developed within CSIRO's Data61 that connects students with digital, STEM, research and business skills to innovative companies and startups that need these skills. In Australia, there are more than 1 million tertiary students that potentially have these skills. At Ribit, we’ve set out to make this early career talent pool more visible and accessible through an intuitive digital solution underpinned by a data algorithm.   For more information: chris.chelvan@data61.csiro.au and 0436 672 668   About SAS: SAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW®. For more information: nicholas.quirke@sas.com and 0414 975 391  

2019-07-30T02:24:48Z shoalhaven-stemship-launch-addresses-youth-unemployment

The STEMship students will complete a Certificate II in Aeroskills over a 17-week period with an end goal of  50% apprenticeship and traineeship outcomes, primarily with the Shoalhaven Defence Industry Group. Speaking about the mismatch between current and future job opportunities in the region and the skill sets of the Shoalhaven’s youth, Rob Pollock, Chair RDA Far South Coast, said,  ‘I can’t think of a more relevant or exciting opportunity not just for our participants, but for industry itself to grow its own needs...If you don’t invest in growing your own you're going to be left behind.’’   The STEMship program identifies which industries have shortages, and provides an alternative pathway to employment for secondary school students and young people transitioning out of school, through a combination of on-the-job training and study at Aerospace Training Services. Addressing the students, The Hon Dr Geoff Lee MP, NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, highlighted that there aren’t enough skilled people to keep up with the demand from the Defence Industry and other advanced manufacturing industries,  ‘...the reality is we just don’t have enough skilled people to do those jobs, so you are on the perfect path to actually developing those skills to get a job in the industry, and putting you on that lifelong career path.’ Funded by the NSW Government, the Shoalhaven STEMship program is the result of a collaboration between Regional Development Australia - Far South Coast (RDA FSC), RDA Hunter, Defence NSW, Training Services NSW and the Shoalhaven Defence Industry Group that aims to support job creation in regional NSW by providing a talent pool of work-ready employees for the Defence Industry.  Image: https://www.rdafsc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/STEMship-3.jpg

2019-07-29T22:36:06Z executive-search-firm-fisher-leadership-embraces-change-from-the-outside-in

MEDIA RELEASE JULY 30 2019: Founding Director of Executive Search firm Fisher Leadership, Jo Fisher, launches new Gig Executive business and Strategic Advisory practice, announcing Michelle Loader as Managing Director to lead teams across all three operations.  IMAGE CAPTION: (Fisher Leadership Managing Director Michelle Loader, Chairperson Leon Lau, Founding Director Jo Fisher) Niche Executive Search and Advisory firm Fisher Leadership today announces Founder and Director Jo Fisher is joining forces with HR advisory and leadership specialist Michelle Loader of Advancity to expand the reach and services of the firm.  Joining the well-established Managing Partners Liz Jones and Andrew Norton, is Gabriel Edwards of Engaging People to lead the CogNative advisory practice, and Jason Kuner, client solutions expert, to head up the new Gig Executive business.  The Executive Search business will remain a core competency strengthened by the new CogNative advisory and Gig Executive practices offering wrap-around solutions for executives impacting the future of work. Former Chandler Macleod CEO, Michelle Loader, will assume the role of MD across the three businesses.  Jo Fisher says they are driven to face disruption in the industry head-on, sharpening their focus on bringing more diversity to the decision-making table at Board level. “We were one of the first firms to insist on gender diversity in our selection processes and have since impacted leadership in cultural and linguistic diversity significantly. Today I remain committed to advocating for greater cognitive diversity – or diversity of thought – on boards to actualise social and commercial value amidst accelerated change” she says.  The addition of a new Managing Director signals momentum in the firm’s growth and integration of the Advisory and Gig Executive practices into local and global markets. Michelle Loader notes, “Fisher Leadership is known for being out in front of the field. The way we are reframing leadership and mapping workforce solutions with augmentation, automation and future jobs in mind, is really about two things – one: being astute listeners and two: being great partners delivering strategic executive solutions for the future.”  The ownership group consists of a mix of long-standing specialists collaborating with new talent who bring diversified skills to the Search team. Chairman Leon Lau is a human resources technology pioneer who founded Peoplebank and has long understood the need for a startup mentality within big business. As a shareholder in the firm, Leon brings a global mindset with experience in the Asia Pacific region, Leon says, “I’m delighted with the way the team here sees disruption as opportunity, and shift gears to meet it head-on.”  Gabriel Edwards, a well-known leader within the people strategy space, says the new partnership is born of values alignment and a commitment to making a real difference to the executive journey. “I will certainly continue to provide quality, bespoke support to high profile leaders and teams as I’ve done for 14 years, but now with the power of all stages of the executive value chain operating in sync.”  Liz Jones and Andrew Norton who lead the Health, Independent Schools and Higher Education and Research teams agree, with Liz noting “This business has always been about relationships, and the changes simply enable us to build executive solutions with a more integrated approach.”  The continued focus on exceptional candidate care overlaid with the long-standing commitment to executive diversity will underpin new products and services across Executive Search, Strategic Advisory, Leadership Transition and Gig Executive talent.  Fisher Leadership’s new MD, Michelle Loader says “Jo will continue her specialisation in Board and C-Suite Search and Advisory. With a record number of searches happening right now across four countries, a growing cohort of Gig Executives being placed at speed in progressive workplaces every single day and a suite of new, future-oriented advisory solutions going live with the CogNative business, Jo is as excited as the rest of the team about shaping a better tomorrow.”  For Executive Leadership Solutions, visit www.fisherleadership.com or call 1300 347 437. www.fisherleadership.com For additional images, interviews or media enquiries please contact Nikki May, Head of Creative, on nmay@fisherleadership.com

2019-07-24T14:01:14Z age-does-not-predict-value-but-ageism-predicts-stupidity

Sue Parker, founder of DARE Group has written a hard hitting piece in Smart Company about the truth of ageism and how pervasive it is across all ages.  She discussed the hiring implications with backed research of job fit proof and how and why people slam each others age group. https://www.smartcompany.com.au/people-human-resources/recruitment-hiring/ageism/ Sue Parker wrote today : The notion that age is a realistic predictor of skills, relevance, wisdom and value is bollocks. It is not, nor will ever be, the total determinant of connectivity, smarts and success. There are just so many other components to throw in and mix in the evaluation pot. Indeed brilliance and dullness have no age delineation despite any shaming rhetoric. It is not only the quantity and type of experiences in life that matter and shape us mere humans, but the depth and quality of learning embraced and application. And that is where the rubber can stick or slip off the road in the ageism malarkey. For further information Sue is available for interviews to discuss her article.

2019-07-23T13:27:05Z minuteman-press-franchise-in-croydon-vic-is-leading-the-modern-printing-industry-in-australia

It is with professionalism, good humour and refreshing honesty that Minuteman Press franchise owner Sam Porter engages his work life.   As a CPA for twenty years, he not only worked to further the success of companies in both Australia and England, he had the trust of big-name organisations in the UK such as The Chelsea Football Club in England and The Western Bulldogs in Melbourne. Sam didn’t envision himself as a business owner, but all of that changed when he visited a franchise expo.  “I never even thought about running a printing business until I met George Holzmacher (Vice President) at a franchise expo in Melbourne.”  Being a CPA strengthened his grasp of the “business side of business”, so it was encouraging when met with the possibility of having an ally like Minuteman Press International in the ways George described that day.  “The reason I chose to buy a Minuteman Press franchise, in the end, was that we weren’t tied to any particular supplier and were free to make our own choices, but still benefit from the brand name when dealing with those suppliers.”  Sam was impressed enough to leave the workforce behind and begin his new life as his own boss and he did that through buying a brand-new Minuteman Press franchise in Croydon.  He has not looked back and the community he serves is pleased.  “We just celebrated our 4th anniversary and we have no limits when it comes to what we will do to get the job done for our customers.  With our major customers, to meet tight deadlines, I will choose to bring work home and work in an office area we have set up to help with these jobs.”  The keyword is “choose” as it is the freedom to choose the direction of his business with support that gives him advantages that made Sam decide to buy his digital print, design and marketing centre in Croydon in the first place. He has a designer, Laura Carpinteri, who has been with him for almost two years and his wife, Kerryn, who lends a hand in the bindery area when things get really busy. All of them help surpass expectations with the dedication to every project.  “My dad was a successful businessman and he taught me a very important lesson once: "The customer is always right, and when they aren't, they still are." We pride ourselves on our level of service to stand out from other printers in our area.  We greatly appreciate the feedback from customers that we regularly receive saying that they can't believe they get their printing back so promptly.” “I love the look of satisfied customers when they receive their printed material and they say it is so much better than what their last printer provided.” – Sam Porter Service to his fellow professionals extends beyond his bottom line and into matters of the heart.  “We choose 2-3 charities a year to help with donations or free printing and we help out family and friends where we can.  Recently my wife's best friend lost her dad and it was with great pleasure that we were able to help them out by printing the funeral books at no charge. If being able to design and print those booklets for them was somehow a comfort during such a difficult time, I am happy we were able to help them out.”  It is a position he would not trade for a high-paying job as a CPA, though he says it was an adjustment learning to employ and manage staff in the beginning.  Fortunately, all that was new to him he did not encounter alone as he had support from his local and corporate representatives.  “Minuteman Press International’s brand has been fantastic and I learnt a lot of my knowledge from both Pete Taglino and Dave Scadin at the New York Training School.  Also, I thankfully am able to pick the brain of my Field Representative, Errol Luchian, when we were starting the store from scratch and I had no previous printing experience.  These three men were fantastic in giving me the knowledge and training to get my store started.” The core of any strong franchise is the fortitude of the system upon which it is built and Minuteman Press International not only maintains greater than four decades of proven success for entrepreneurs, they also maintain the lead when it comes to innovations in print technology.  Representatives from World Headquarters make certain to share this knowledge with all their franchise owners through regular regional meetings and conventions.  “I also benefit greatly from the annual visits from CEO Bob Titus, Executive Vice President and Director of Training Mike Jutt and Vice Presidents Nick Titus and Joe Durand. They give us new ideas and refresh our thoughts on how to build our business.  My wife and I are also very excited about attending our first Minuteman World Expo later in this month (in Las Vegas) and can't wait to learn more about the printing world and what awaits us.” De Bortoli Wines is one of the number one wine producers in Australia and they appreciate the fine partnership they maintain with Minuteman Press in Croydon “I met them by knocking on their door and dropping off some marketing material,” Sam explains.  They began producing striking results and this sparked new orders.  We continued to turn around their printing materials promptly and have had them as a customer for about 3.5 years now.  We print menus for restaurants, in-store promotions, competition materials, booklets, order pads and basically anything else they ask me to print.” Angelique Whittingham, VIC/TAS Sales Coordinator knows her industry demands the highest standards be met in all areas.  It is for this reason she values her relationship with Minuteman Press in Croydon. In her words, “The products we receive from Sam are always of a very high standard, being in the wine industry we need quality printed material, which are of a high standard, they need to be durable because of the environment they are exposed to.  As we deal with both on premise and off-premise businesses, we have varying requirements for each industry.  On-premise businesses (pubs, restaurants & cafes) require menus, posters, wine lists, drink cards, table stand inserts and table tent cards.  Off-premise businesses (supermarkets & bottle shops) require posters, entry pads, corflutes, wobblers and shelf talkers.” Angelique adds a few words of appreciation for Sam’s personalised service.  “Sam is a great communicator, if there are any issues with files, i.e. incorrect artwork size he lets me know, so he cross checks all emails with artwork.  He also helps me with printing jobs which are not standard requests, so he is a great resource.” Sam enjoys the freedom franchise ownership provides as well as the community engagement that comes along with being a marketing services provider and the community is responding with loyalty.  As his client Angelique concludes, “We have worked with Minuteman Press for a few years now and look forward to continuing the great working relationship.” For more information on Minuteman Press in Croydon, visit their website: https://croydon.minutemanpress.com.au About Minuteman Press International Minuteman Press International is the number one rated business marketing and printing franchise that offers world class training and unparalleled ongoing local support. Started in 1973 by Roy Titus and his son Bob, Minuteman Press began franchising in 1975 and has grown to nearly 1,000 business service franchise locations worldwide including the U.S., Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Minuteman Press is ranked #1 in category by Entrepreneur 28 times and 16 years in a row, including 2019. Independent franchisee satisfaction firm Franchise Business Review has also named Minuteman Press International to its 2019 Top Franchises, 2018 Top Franchise Leaders, Top Franchises for Women, and Top Franchises for Veterans lists thanks to positive reviews from our owners. At Minuteman Press, We Are The Modern Printing Industry™ providing high quality products and services that meet the needs of today's business professionals and go way beyond ink on paper. Today, our franchises offer innovative branding solutions and produce custom designs, promotional products, branded apparel, direct mail marketing, large format printing (banners and posters), signs and graphics, and much more. Prior experience is not necessary to own and operate a successful Minuteman Press franchise. To learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and speak with one of our experienced franchise representatives at no obligation, call 0390 690 309. Continue your franchise research, watch exclusive owner videos and access Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com.au

2019-07-03T02:22:51Z bendigo-writers-festival-2019-program-1

Bendigo Writers Festival has unveiled the full three-day program for August 9 to 11, with a galaxy of stars and a supernova of sessions set to light up the end of winter. “We’ve dusted off the mirror balls, for a bit of retro party-time,” Capital Venues and Events manager David Lloyd says. “With a new venue to add to our constellation, the Festival Precinct will now be even more accessible and welcoming, so audiences will enjoy hearing all the absolutely brilliant writers on this year’s program.” The Festival launch was held at Bendigo Bowls Club, which will host sessions throughout the day, and then become the Festival Club on Friday and Saturday nights. Festival director Rosemary Sorensen announced the international writers on the program, as well as some of the 150 Australian speakers heading to Bendigo in August. Festival guest Greg Fleet spoke about the writing life, as a comedian, memoirist and novelist. Feature events in Ulumbarra Theatre at the Festival this year include Friday night’s World of Food with Food Safari presenter, Maeve O’Meara. On Saturday night, world-renowned astrobiologist Paul Davies tackles the biggest question of them all - What Is Life? And for a dazzling finale, the internationally acclaimed surgeon Munjed Al Muderis will present the Closing Address on Sunday at 4.30pm, talking about how hope and courage can change lives. “Gastronomy is big on this year’s program,” Ms Sorensen said. “We are keen supporters of the City of Greater Bendigo’s bid to become a UNESCO City of Gastronomy, so we have food writer Jill Dupleix, sustainable farmer Charles Massy and food-and-mood expert Felice Jacka, on the program. “We’re welcoming British philosopher AC Grayling for discussions about democracy, criminal psychologist Julia Shaw, to talk about evil, and from New York, Min Jin Lee, to talk about Korea.” Also on the program: Clementine Ford on Boys Will Be Boys Louise Milligan on Cardinal John Marsden on Parenting Alan Kohler on Money and Ethics Benjamin Law on Growing Up Gay Ranjana Srivastava on A Better Death Speakers include Peter Doherty, Chloe Hooper, Kerry O’Brien, Ginger Gorman, Kate Forsyth, Jessica Rowe, Don Walker, Greg Fleet, Jane Caro and Don Watson. The Text Marks the Spot free schools program takes place on Friday, and a new series of Entrée Events on Friday morning give audiences a chance to get out and about in Bendigo. “We’re delighted to be collaborating with the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion, for an event with the “bad Buddhist”, Meshel Laurie,” Ms Sorensen said. “And in the heart of Bendigo, at the beautiful Soldiers Memorial Institute Military Museum on Pall Mall, there’s a first-time event about the women poets of Central Victoria writing during the First World War. “There’s a special launch too, of a new book about Bendigo, called Sludge, to be launched by John Brumby, Chancellor of La Trobe University.” Bendigo Writers Festival is presented by the City of Greater Bendigo in partnership with La Trobe University and supported by Bendigo Tourism. https://www.bendigowritersfestival.com.au/

2019-07-02T01:41:42Z hybrid-workforces-could-be-the-answer-to-australia-s-job-market-concerns

Tuesday 2 July, Sydney, Australia. Digitalisation and automation are fundamentally changing the way people work; and workforces that blend technology and talent could be the answer to Australia’s job market concerns says a new report by Verint, CX technology experts. The Verint report, CX State of Play in Australia, carried out in partnership with Opinium Research LLC, found that the uptake of technology in the workforce is on the rise, with 66 per cent of Australian workers willing to try new technology to be more effective. The report comes at a time when the Australian job market continues to face pressure with a softening economy replacing the current underemployment situation with spare capacity into one that sees rising unemployment. Data recently released by ANZ Job Ad Series shows the number of job advertisements had plunged by 8.4 per cent in May, indicating continued weaker employment growth ahead. According to Verint’s Vice President, Australia and New Zealand, Michael Stelzer, an immediate opportunity for Australia’s struggling economy lies in the hybrid workforce which is a mix of the right-fit technology and talent, which in turn will create economic value through new jobs. He says, “Our research explores the fundamental shifts taking place in technological change in workplaces. This is accompanied by toughening economic conditions such as underemployment and talent shortages which in turn is creating urgency for businesses to protect their lifeline - their customers. “Business leaders must think differently about how they service their customers, and what technologies and talent is required to deliver products and services more effectively in the new world. Those who prioritise customer experience and invest in a workforce that has the right mix of processes, people and technologies (AI, chatbots, self-service) that service their customers accordingly will truly succeed. The hybrid workforce will see new skills and jobs created to work in with, and around new technologies and this will drive future job growth.” The report also found that there is a more positive outlook among workers when it comes to automation freeing up people to do more interesting and fulfilling work. Of the survey respondents, 53 per cent agreed that technology is making work more flexible, and 60 per cent said technology provides more information, knowledge and support to work more effectively. “Businesses who engage in dialogue with their people about the use of technology now while ensuring their employees feel valued for their contributions will ultimately succeed. Progressive businesses will start redefining their workforce requirements and in doing so create new, value-add roles that will benefit the future state of Australia’s economy,” concluded Michael. ~ ENDS About Verint Systems Inc. Verint® (Nasdaq: VRNT) is a global leader in Actionable Intelligence® solutions with a focus on customer engagement optimisation, security intelligence, and fraud, risk and compliance. Today, over 10,000 organisations in more than 180 countries—including over 85 percent of the Fortune 100—count on intelligence from Verint solutions to make more informed, effective and timely decisions. Learn more about how we’re creating A Smarter World with Actionable Intelligence® at www.verint.com.

2019-06-25T23:07:49Z study-finds-australians-are-concerned-for-their-mental-health-at-work

New data released by data analytics and online visibility management platform SEMrush suggests Australians are concerned for their mental wellbeing at work or they’re trying to make ends meet by looking for a second job as a cleaner or truck driver – further supporting the rise in May’s underemployment figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The words ‘bullying’, ‘harassment’, ‘diversity’ and ‘discrimination’ were among the most used keywords for online searches associated with “at work” search terms made by Australians between May 2018 to May 2019. “The high-ranking search for ‘diversity at work’ is a positive sign, which could reflect the desire of Australians looking to work within a work culture that offers variety, however, our findings suggest that Australians are more concerned with their mental health or navigating unpleasant experiences in their workplace culture,” said Olga Andrienko, global marketing director, SEMrush. In the State of Workplace Mental Health in Australia report, only 52% of employees said they believe their workplace is mentally healthy compared to 76% for physical safety. The report also stated it is estimated that untreated mental health conditions cost Australian workplaces approximately $4.7 billion in absenteeism, $6.1 billion in poor productivity at work and $146 million in compensation claims. This sentiment is further supported by additional SEMrush findings, when comparing May 2019 with May 2017, which revealed online searches for ‘gaslighting at work’ recorded an alarming 30,100% increase. Other search increases during this same period included mental health (5,600%), drug testing (4,900%) and conflict (2,000%).  The online work search study also found that between April 2018-April 2019 the most popular types of job searches were for cleaning, truck driving and social work. The data suggests that more people are looking for part-time roles as second jobs or which offer flexible work options around study or family commitments. Searches for nursing, flight attendants and library jobs were also popular, followed by accounting, nanny, graphic designer and dental assistant. In terms of companies of interest, the SEMrush study hints students or people looking for part time hours influenced searches as retailers and fast food outlets dominated the list. Despite “work from home” ranking well ahead as the top searched Australian place of work, Coles, hostel work, Google work and Woolworths made the top five searches. This was followed by McDonalds, Kmart and KFC. Searches for employment overseas found Canada to be the most researched destination Googled by Australian residents. This was followed by work opportunities in Australia, Japan, UK, New Zealand and the United States. On a final note, when studying the top searches related to the search terms ‘working with’, it seems many prefer to work with children as this category was by far the most popular search. This was followed by ‘working with diverse people’ and ‘working with idiots at work’. To find out more visit SEMrush.com. ### About SEMrush SEMrush is an online visibility management and content marketing SaaS platform that ensures businesses get measurable results from online marketing. Trusted by more than 3,000,000 marketing professionals, SEMrush offers insights and solutions for companies in any industry to build, manage, and measure campaigns across all marketing channels. With 30 tools for search, content, social media and market research in the platform, data for more than 140 countries, seamless integration with Google and task management platforms, SEMrush is now a must-have solution for all companies who are serious about online. Search methodology: SEMrush estimate search volume using our proprietary algorithm based on processing of anonymized clickstream data provided by third-party data providers. More precisely, we built the model that allows us to estimate search volumes and trends based on real user activity in search engines. We use this data to calculate search volumes on global, national, and even local levels. 

2019-06-17T02:57:13Z the-goethe-institut-s-girls-day-returns-with-superstars-of-stem

MELBOURNE, Australia, June 12, 2019 - The Goethe-Institut in Australia is pleased to announce the return of the STEM career orientation event Girls’ Day on June 19th 2019. Australia-wide, over 300 female high-school students will visit companies and universities to find out more about professions in fields such as science, technology, engineering and research. Sonja Pluess, STEM Project Coordinator at the Goethe-Institut, is excited that Australia has once again joined Germany and over 20 other countries worldwide who have organised Girls’ Day programs in 2019. “The response this year has been fantastic. It’s enabled us to organise an extended program that now includes agricultural science, biology, astronomy and veterinary science. We are also very pleased to have three 2019 Superstars of STEM as hosts - Dr Sonja Dominik from CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Dr Deborah Bower from the University of New England and Dr Jennie Mallela from ANU Research School of Biology” she said. Eva Baker, the Goethe-Institut Deputy Director and Head of Language, is hoping the day will inspire more Australian young girls to pursue a career in STEM. “Since Girls’ Day started in Germany in 2000, there has been strong growth in the employment of women in scientific and technical professions. For many German companies, Girls’ Day has evolved as an important part of their recruitment strategy. The Goethe-Institut will continue to support Girls’ Day as part of our commitment to promoting STEM and CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) in Australia” she said. Our 2019 Girls’ Day hosting partners: • CSIRO Agriculture and Food (Armidale NSW)• University of New England (Armidale NSW)• ANU Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics (Canberra)• ANU Research School of Biology (Canberra)• ANU Research School of Earth Sciences (Canberra)• CSIRO Manufacturing (Melbourne) • Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (Melbourne) • Monash University - Material Science and Engineering (Melbourne)• Gruen Eco Design (Melbourne)• The Centre for Advanced Imaging - University of Queensland (Brisbane)• University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science (Sydney). Interviews or media opportunities with our Girls’ Day hosts can be arranged on request. More information To find out more information, visit our Girls’ Day online portal at goethe.de/australia/girlsday  Watch our Girls' Day Promo video Dr Sonja Dominik’s Superstars of STEM profile Dr Deborah Bower’s Superstars of STEM profile Dr Jennie Mallela’s Superstars of STEM profile Contact: Sonja PluessProject Co-ordinatorGoethe-Institut Australiasonja.pluess@goethe.dePhone: 03 9864 8920                     goethe.de/australiafacebook.com/goetheinstitut.australieninstagram.com/gi_australien/twitter.com/GI_Australien About the Goethe-InstitutThe Goethe-Institut is the cultural liaison between Germany and Australia. We are a not-for-profit, independent cultural organisation with a global reach. Our mandate is to promote the study of the German language abroad, and to encourage and facilitate international cultural exchange. The Goethe-Institut has 159 branches in 98 countries. Our branch in Melbourne was founded in 1972, followed by the Sydney branch in 1974. We work with partners and networks across Australia.

2019-06-12T02:36:35Z step-directly-into-your-target-audience-at-a-trade-show

Place your brand in the very middle of hundreds of members of your target audience at once – literally! Trade shows are a brilliant promotional strategy to acquire new prospects whilst in a competitive environment. Trade shows are generally industry-based, where consumers interested in beauty and skincare can attend a beauty convention, or passionate photographers can visit a photography trade show. Since only specific customer segments attend, you can sell and promote directly to customers interested in your industry and area of expertise, whilst avoiding uninterested by-passers you would come across during general shopping centre promotional activities. Attendees of trade shows attend due to their keen interest in the industry and are therefore likely to take to your brand offerings. Additional benefits of participating in a trade show include the following: - Create brand awareness.  - Enhance existing customer relationships by providing a physical touch point between the brand and customer, if the brand is currently only available online. - Widen customer database and expand distribution through acquisition opportunities. Encouraging membership sign-ups of attendees allows gathering of personal customer data. - Generate leads and prospects. - Form new B2B relationships and opportunities for future partnering. - Trade show hosts are briefed on your brand to ensure sufficient knowledge of your products/services, so they can project your brand’s energy and vision within their interactions with customers throughout the day. Outsourcing trade show staff allows your own employees to remain focused on core business activities in your office, for improved productivity. - May include product demonstrations which attract attention, directly show benefits and features of the product, or even encourage attendees to touch or try it out. For example, a VR company at a gaming trade show encouraging attendees to try a game. Some factors that your team should consider when contemplating getting involved with a trade show include: - Time. Unlike many promotional activities (such as flyer distribution) that generally last only a few hours, committing to a trade show means committing at least one day – if not two or three – to the event. A longer running trade show, although tiring, means longer exposure time to generate and build meaningful and impactful customer relationships. On the day of the event, travelling, setting up and participating can be time-consuming, but pre-planning, organising and designing promotional content before the event, and measurement of results after the event take additional time but are worth the effort. - Cost. Trade show events can be costly to participate in, as well as the promotional and planning activities beforehand and potentially measurement afterwards. - Competition. The nature of the industry-based event is competitive, with a high chance of significant competitors also attending. - Measurement of results can be difficult, as much of the data is qualitative and subject to interpretation. However, quantitative data such as numbers of goodie-bags given out, and number of sign-ups collected are quantitative and easily measured. - Ensure marketing objectives, goals, strategy, event plan/process, event promotion, time constraints and speaking scripts are all met. For trade show host inquiries call AMS Promotions on 1300 368 969 or email info@amspromotions.com.au

2019-06-06T02:02:43Z trying-before-buying-with-product-demonstrators

It’s simple. Customers who try are more likely to buy. Product demonstrators and product samples are a great way to build an immediate relationship with customers and enhance brand awareness amongst a wide audience. Essentially, this method gives potential customers an experience with your brand or product (whether high or low-involvement) – such as watching a demonstration of a new blender making smoothies at a health food convention, sitting in a Tesla in a shopping centre, or trying out a new brand of chocolate in a supermarket. This encourages purchase or simply puts the brand or product in the consumer’s mind in the first place. It has been found that 41% of shoppers who view a demonstration complete their experience with a purchase – low-involvement products in supermarkets almost immediately, with the taster feeling compelled to give back to the demonstrator/sampler for their service or simply desiring more of the product after the ability to try it whilst out-and-about.   Consumers are savvy and don’t enjoy spending money on unknown products without knowing the value they provide, so allowing them to try before they buy directly shows the benefits and builds a trusting relationship between your brand and the consumer. Having this direct interaction and involving the audience and their five senses not only deepens the potential relationship, but also allows your brand to gain immediate feedback involving target audience desires, competitors and first impressions which can be used for future improvements. Potential considerations in using a product demonstrator may include: ·       -  Identifying the unique characteristic and choosing which of the five senses to engage. For example, a demonstration of perfume must include smell; a fluffy toy must include touch, and a delicious chocolate must include taste. ·       -  Time and budget. Distributing free samples means making some products free. However, it ultimately pays off. Time and budget are also affected by hiring, training and educating staff. ·      -   Educating the demonstrator. To most effectively translate a tester into a purchase, the demonstrator or sampler must be friendly and knowledgeable about your brand in order to answer potential questions and reflect the brand’s values. For demonstrator inquiries call AMS Promotions on 1300 368 969 or email info@amspromotions.com.au

2019-06-03T15:02:04Z minuteman-press-franchise-in-footscray-brings-fun-and-expertise-to-strong-partnerships-with-clients-like-the-western-bulldogs

FOOTSCRAY, VIC – Fiona McDonnell is everything you would hope to have in a marketing services provider.  She collected an impressive and diverse professional career that lends itself to finding excitement, drawing it out in people and directing it into success.  As she and her husband Ed own the Minuteman Press franchise in Footscray, this means every one of their clients can count upon digital print, design and marketing from a most respected brand in the world.  They are only gaining more respect and having a grand time while they do it, fourteen years into their franchise ownership.  Prior to buying their business, Fiona gathered experience in a range of industries. She says, “Ed, my husband and business partner, says even after 21 years together he still has trouble piecing my career together. I've done so many fun things (often having 3 jobs at once). I've been a promotional model, worked as an Assistant Fashion Buyer, helped to manage and run a very popular Irish pub, marketed and sold everything from cosmetics to car alarms and aromatherapy. I also worked for GE, Lendlease and had two or three business partnerships.” She and Ed met when Fiona was a partner in a sales training and marketing business.   Even then, they were helping people sort out the best ways to communicate.  Fiona explains, “The company trained such clients as BHP, the largest Australian mining company to manage tele sales (training scientists to be less technical and listen to their own stories to make sure they translate to a non-technical audience).” Fiona did not intend to become an entrepreneur, but Ed approached her with exactly that in mind.  She says, “I had just returned to my first full time Account Management role after having our son, Scott. I was working hiring plants and maintenance services on plants into 5 Star Hotels and Corporate Offices when Ed got the idea that a Minuteman Press centre would be our future.” For Fiona, business ownership was not going to be a full-time endeavor, until after she attended training at Minuteman Press International and became particularly enthusiastic.  “I was supposed to be part -time but got so excited by the time we attended training on Long Island, New York.”  She has a personal history with print and working in her uncle’s print business as a child.  “I was hand-collating carbon duplicate sheets. I thought that it would be the last industry I would ever work in and yet I love it. The industry offers a lot more creativity than you can imagine looking in from the outside.” As Minuteman Press franchisees, Ed and Fiona also receive ongoing local support from Minuteman Press. Andy Barratt, Minuteman Press International Regional Vice President for Melbourne, says, “Fiona and Ed make an impressive team and their hard work over the years while following the Minuteman Press franchise system has really helped them build their business and do right by their clients.” “The opportunity to spend time overseas and in Australia with peers from the Minuteman Press franchise family of owners has been far more rewarding than we could have imagined 14 years ago. I was able to attend all the big events in our son’s school life and even go on interstate camps. There is so much diversity in my career that no two days are the same - it is never boring.” – Fiona McDonnell, Minuteman Press Franchisee A service culture is really a big part of what they do and how they welcome people into long-term partnerships with measurable growth for businesses of all sizes.  “Our whole team jumps to ensure the phones are answered within 3 rings and with a smile on their faces. We keep the Minuteman Press phone credo at every phone station and ask a lot of questions to ensure we understand what people need from us before they leave the call. It has also been vital to us that while ‘the customer is always right’ we educate the customer so that expectations are managed - this is particularly important to ensure clients get value from graphic design services,” she says. Fiona gives insight into the formidable business skills earned by her husband and attributes their centre’s success to him appropriately.  "Ed revolutionised the chocolate business in Australia when he arrived as the General Manager for Russell Stover Candies.” Ed became a tremendous asset to the companies for which he worked before he bought his franchise with Fiona. “Obviously, his additional experience with Johnson and Johnson Consumer products and Pepsi made him a very competitive marketer.” Adrian is the Manager at Minuteman Press in Footscray and he has been with Fiona and Ed for 10 years.  She adds a note about employee longevity and the outright fun attached to the projects they complete each day: “Most of our team has been with us over 7 years and, like us, they enjoy the diversity of a day at Minuteman Press, where you may be printing anything from branded toothbrushes to tea canisters along with more typical jobs of business cards, magazines and publishing books.” It is as if those who come to trust Fiona, Ed and their staff are drawn first to their enthusiasm for building business together, but they stay because it is clear very quickly that Minuteman Press is a true ally, especially under pressure.  Fiona shares, “We had a client call one day to say that the pizza he ordered for the lunch took longer to arrive than our business card order - a good relationship with the couriers certainly helps to establish a reputation in the community that we are so fast - you'll get windburn if you stand in our way. We had a client going overseas the other day and I was literally dropping the job on his doorstep as he pulled his cases out the front door - he thought there was no chance the manuals would be done in time. I got the biggest hug and a fab google review!” As it is their nature to anticipate the next smart move, Fiona and Ed got into promotional products early in their business ownership, buying a client list from another printer as well as some equipment including a wide format press.  We Are The Modern Printing Industry™ is a statement they made early and one they prove with each passing year through results.  She states, “The ability to do pull up banners on the same day has saved many of our clients headed for a trade show or presentation from going empty handed. There is a lot of satisfaction when clients light up about being able to do all their corporate or trade clothing with us and at the same time provide some unique branded gifts to their clients. We have done everything from rulers and pens to marquees and media walls.” As if to firmly punctuate the great range available to their clients, she continues, “Mouse matts and pens are an everyday item around here and we love tailoring ideas to a market or launch especially for some of our time-poor clients.” In business, people love the shortcut of talking to someone who is an expert in their field and willing to show them ways to move the business forward.  Fiona expands on this, “We put the title of “solution provider” on all our Business cards for a few years to remind us that is our prime reason to do what we do. There are fast track ways to grow a business and we have done it successfully across so many industries with our clients and our own business. Marketing is not a mysterious artform; it is a proven formula. We believe if we are looking after our customers, the profit is there and so far, we have been correct on that!” The Australian Rules Football Team Partners with their local Minuteman Press in Footscray for winning results on and off the field. Sometimes two passions collide as it did for Ed when his Australian Rules Football Team, The Western Bulldogs, won the premiership in 2016 after 54 years! As Fiona says, “We are in the local community and have sponsored the "Doggies" (as they are affectionately known) long before they were winning. They have often relied on us to pull a rabbit out of a hat and get printing, pull up banners, lectern signs etc. done in double fast time frames.” Ed's faith paid off and for many years The Bulldogs have been a trusted client.  When they won the premiership flag our A2 “Woof Woof” Posters were on every seat in the stadium,” Fiona says with pride. The “Woof Woof” they printed adorned every window of every business and home in the western suburbs. She adds, “As the coach relayed his instructions to the players on TV our foam core mounted signage (for another major sponsor) was beamed into millions of homes across the country.”   At last, for another job well done, The Bulldogs displayed class in their appreciation for Minuteman press.  According to Fiona, “As a thank you for all our help and support in that winning season we proudly hosted the Premiership Trophy in our centre, allowing us and our team to be photographed at our leisure as part of the “Doggies” Championship team; and that (as the advert we printed for them says) was priceless.” Australians embrace Minuteman Press and Fiona attests to the loyalty her brand has earned over the years.  “If a company moves into our geographical location and has been using Minuteman Press they tend to favor sticking with the brand they know. I think we also have a larger online presence as we have been doing SEO/SEM not just for a long time, but effectively for a long time.  The longer we have been doing this the more brand recognition is occurring in our marketplace. Let's face it. There is something of a foot in the door when people know the brand ahead of engaging with you.”  About Minuteman Press International Minuteman Press International is the number one rated business marketing and printing franchise that offers world class training and unparalleled ongoing local support. Started in 1973 by Roy Titus and his son Bob, Minuteman Press began franchising in 1975 and has grown to nearly 1,000 business service franchise locations worldwide including the U.S., Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Minuteman Press is ranked #1 in category by Entrepreneur 28 times and 16 years in a row, including 2019. Independent franchisee satisfaction firm Franchise Business Review has also named Minuteman Press International to its 2019 Top Franchises, 2018 Top Franchise Leaders, Top Franchises for Women, and Top Franchises for Veterans lists thanks to positive reviews from our owners. At Minuteman Press, We Are The Modern Printing Industry™ providing high quality products and services that meet the needs of today's business professionals and go way beyond ink on paper. Today, our franchises offer innovative branding solutions and produce custom designs, promotional products, branded apparel, direct mail marketing, large format printing (banners and posters), signs and graphics, and much more. Prior experience is not necessary to own and operate a successful Minuteman Press franchise. To learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities and speak with one of our experienced franchise representatives at no obligation, call 0390 690 309. Continue your franchise research, watch exclusive owner videos and access Minuteman Press franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com.au

2019-06-03T12:35:02Z solera-autodata-acquires-automate-training

MAIDENHEAD, UK and SYDNEY, Australia / 3rd June, 2019 – Autodata Publishing Group Limited (“Autodata”), a Solera Holdings, Inc. (“Solera”) group company and a global leader in automotive technical information, today confirmed the acquisition of AutoMate Training Pty. Ltd. (“AutoMate”), the automotive industry’s foremost provider of online technical training and professional development platforms. Founded and based in Sydney, Australia, AutoMate has rapidly expanded from a fledgling start-up to become a globally competitive player, offering automotive eLearning to thousands of automotive professionals and workshops in more than 60 countries. AutoMate’s unique, online training programs combine cutting-edge 3D visualisation with comprehensive real-vehicle analysis - all developed by a highly-experienced team of automotive experts and specialists. AutoMate and Autodata are both trusted and valued information service providers to more than eighty five thousand independent and enterprise automotive repair shops across the world, as well as corporate clients in the automotive service, maintenance and repair (“SMR”) industry. Autodata itself is recognised as the go-to automotive data solution for workshops with many countries seeing eight in ten workshops choosing Autodata to meet their SMR and automotive diagnostics needs. Jonathan Sampson, Managing Director and founder of AutoMate said: “Joining the Solera family is a logical and exciting next step on our strategic journey as a company. This union will see AutoMate’s renowned training programs made available in new global markets and will ensure increased business growth through further product development. AutoMate’s eLearning expertise, combined with Autodata’s highly advanced diagnostic and repair data, promises to deliver new and existing customers a compelling suite of products for the automotive mechanic.” Rod Williams, Managing Director of Autodata said: “AutoMate’s innovative solutions and strong management team provide immediate value with Solera. Together we provide immense value to Solera’s 400,000+ SMR users with AutoMate, enabling us to further capitalise on the opportunity to service both our existing users and beyond with AutoMate’s solutions.” -END- About Solera Solera was founded with the mission to digitalise and empower mobility transactions across the critical 54 and 250 lifecycle touchpoints of a vehicle, delivering true transparency and knowledge to all stakeholders. Today, Solera’s leading digital technologies manage and protect life’s most important assets: our cars, trucks, homes and digital identities. The company processes more than 300 million digital transactions annually for approximately 235,000 partners and customers in over 90 countries. For more information, please visit www.solera.com. About Autodata  Established in 1972, Autodata is a trusted world leader in providing technical information to the automotive aftermarket. Autodata develops products for use in automotive workshops for the repair and servicing of cars and motorbikes, as well as corporate solutions for companies requiring bespoke platforms or integration with Autodata’s technical information. Through long-standing relationships, all data is licensed directly from 142 manufacturers, covering 34,000 models worldwide. The new Autodata web application features 90,000 diagrams and illustrations, covering over 600,000 step by step procedures. Autodata is part of the Solera group. For more information about Autodata and its latest developments, please visit www.autodata-group.com About AutoMate Founded in 2014, AutoMate has made a name for itself as the industry’s leading provider of online technical training platforms for the automotive sector. AutoMate’s suite of digital training products are designed to support technicians throughout their entire automotive career, giving them easy, on-demand access to high-tech video training, covering fundamental and emerging automotive systems. AutoMate develops these knowledge solutions for trainee and professional technicians in over 60 countries, as well as corporate solutions for companies requiring bespoke training solutions. For more information, please visit www.automatetraining.com Cautions About Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about: the benefits of the acquisition of AutoMate (the “Acquisition”), including but not limited to the benefits and value of products and services to Solera’s, Autodata’s and AutoMate’s customers, either alone or in conjunction with the products and services of other Solera group companies. These statements are based on Solera’s current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to many risks, uncertainties and unknown future events that could cause actual results to differ materially. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this press release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in transactions of this nature, and Solera’s, Autodata’s and AutoMate’s respective businesses, including, without limitation: the failure to realize the expected benefits of the Acquisition; risks associated with and possible negative consequences of acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and similar transactions; successfully integrating AutoMate’s solutions with or into Autodata’s or other Solera group offerings, including but not limited to, continued adoption of AutoMate’s Autodata’s and the Solera group’s products and services; effects of competition on product and service pricing and AutoMate’s, Autodata’s and the Solera group’s business; Solera’s ability to obtain additional financing as necessary to support its business or operations; rapid technology changes in Solera’s industry; and effects of security breaches on Solera’s business and reputation. Solera is under no obligation to (and specifically disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.