Situation Magazine - Issue 20, May 2016

The Magazine of the SIT2LRN Distance Students MAY 2016 Issue 20

• Bachelor of

Professional Communication • Master of

Applied Management Master of

Information Technology • Meet the Programme Managers • 2014 Graduates Outcomes

About SIT The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) is one of 18 government polytechnics and institutes of technology offering tertiary education throughout New Zealand.

SIT programmes are accredited and approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority up to postgraduate level.

SIT has a proud history of vocational education and training. For over 40 years we have been providing students with quality education across a range of subject areas and at a variety of levels including postgraduate study. This variety enables you to enter your training at the level that suits you and to progress as you are ready. Many of our programmes link to higher level qualifications at SIT and other institutions in New Zealand and throughout the world.

We are constantly developing these relationships to ensure that our graduates have maximum mobility.

The Zero Fee Scheme Our Zero Fee Scheme means we pay your tuition fees, so all you have to pay for are the direct material costs for your course. This applies for all of our degree programmes and most of our diplomas and certificates, including distance learning programmes. Many of our graduates are able to start their careers debt-free! This is not an exaggeration – on any given degree, our students save between $10,000 and $19,000 on tuition fees.

Locations Our main campus is in Invercargill, and we have smaller campuses in Christchurch, Queenstown and Gore.

SIT2LRN Contact Details Freepost SIT2LRN : Private Bag 90114 133 Tay Street Invercargill 9840 Free Call : 0800 SIT2LRN (within NZ) Telephone : 03 211 2699 ext 3320 Free Facsimile : 03 211 2698 Email : info@sit.ac.nz Website : www.sit.ac.nz Free Text : 2LRN (2576)

Welcome to SITUATION There’s a famous quote of Benjamin Franklin’s that goes something like ‘if you want something done, ask a busy person to do it’.

Considering he found time in his 84 years to be an author, printer, political theorist, politician, freemason, postmaster, scientist, inventor, civic activist, statesman, diplomat and become a Founding Father of the United States, you’d think he probably knew something about being busy.

There’s a common theme among the SIT2LRN students profiled in the pages of this magazine. They’re all busy people. They’ve all got things like fulltime jobs, partners, children, community groups, sports, cultural groups and hobbies what we like to call “normal life” - to juggle along with their studies.

Yet they’re passionate about furthering their education by learning new skills or gaining knowledge. They know the qualifications they gain through SIT2LRN will open doors and create opportunities for a better life for them and their families.

It just means they have to make some sacrifices or find a way to juggle things to make their dreams become reality.

But they also know it is short-term pain for long-term gain.

Farmer and mother-of-two Rowena McDiarmid has plenty to juggle. She works with her husband on their Central Otago farm, has two young schoolboys to look after, is involved in several community and industry groups … and is studying towards a Diploma in Professional Coaching. And in a few months, once they’ve got through what could be a tough winter, around 10,000 lambs will be born on their farm.

Then there’s Francie Turner. She’s trying to fit in her study for a Certificate in Business Coaching around her rowing training because she has a big regatta this year. You may have heard of it … it’s called the Olympic Games. She’ll be the one facing the other way in the women’s eight. Good luck Francie!

And what about Doug Hall? He’s learning all about occupational health and safety while holding down a fulltime job at the Tiwai Point aluminum smelter near Invercargill. Talk about juggling!

And speaking of health and safety, check out our profile on course facilitator Dr John Wallaart.

Juran Adam is also balancing her job and family life with study, while also living in one of the most remote parts of Australia – but what an opportunity she has.

These students know what hard work will bring but just to reinforce that we also talk to former students who are starting to see the benefits of their study.

Cheryl Muirson graduated with a Diploma in Digital Photography last year and is already winning awards.

Certificate in Landscape Design graduate Donald Hume is now living in Melbourne, working in the landscaping sector. His dream of owning his own business is on its way to fruition – he just has to avoid the spiders and snakes to get there!

It’s clear that all of these people are busy but they’ve all found time to fit in SIT2LRN study as well.

You might think you’re busy – but are you really? How can SIT2LRN help you to achieve your goals?

* Do you know someone who we should profile? Do you know someone doing impressive things with their qualifications, or a student managing to juggle “normal life” with their study? We’d love to hear from you.

Email: vicki.popham@sit.ac.nz or mark.hotton@sit.ac.nz

CONTENTS

Production Manager: Teri McClelland

Cover picture:

Editor: Mark Hotton

Photo by Cheryl Muirson

Contributors: Claire Allison, Nathan Burdon, Jane Marrah Co-ordinator: Vicki Popham Art Editor: Elana Bai

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16 Francie Turner

SIT2LRN Programme Profile

Facilitator Profiles

17 Aliesha Duffin

Bachelor of Professional Communication

-Bachelor of Professional Communication facilitator

06 Graduations 2015 Photo Montage

08 On-site Programme Master of Applied Management and Master of Information Technology

10 Diana Desmond 11 John Wallaart -Occupational Health and Safety

-Certificate in Business Coaching -Graduate Diploma in Communication (Public Relations)

18 Rowena McDiarmid -Diploma in Professional Coaching

20 Sue Morton -Diploma in Digital Photograpy

13 Student Profiles 13 Donald Hume -Certificate in Landscape Design Graduate

14 Juran Adams

24 Industry; who employ SIT2LRN students Doug Hall

-Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Student

25 2014 Graduates Outcomes

21 Jim Ennion -National Diploma in Project Management

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22Cheryl Muirson

Meet the Programme Managers

-Diploma in Digital Photography

-Diploma in Digital Photography and Diploma in Digital Film

Lucille Hatley Chris Montgomery Steve Woller

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SIT2LRN PROGRAMME PROFILE

BACHELOR OF

PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION Equipping students with the skills they need to be an effective communicator, researcher, writer and leader is the aim of SIT2LRN's Bachelor of Professional Communication degree.

The degree course, and its associated graduate diplomas and certificates, were first rolled out at SIT2LRN in 2015, and are designed to provide students with transferable skills that could help in any career, from media organisations to government and private enterprise.

Coursework covers a range of topics including media culture, news broadcasting, communication strategies, crisis and emergency management, and brand management.

Senior programme manager Lucille Hatley said Communication (Local Government), the Graduate Certificate in Communication (Local Government), the Graduate Certificate in Communication (Public Relations) were all developed in consultation with the industry.

The need for a degree course arose out of discussions at local government conferences about seven or eight years ago.

As course facilitator Penny Bloomberg – a former community relations manager for Nelson

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City Council – explained, local government communications professionals had talked several times at annual conferences about the lack of industry-relevant degrees.

Penny said those in the industry saw a need for a degree course that had more of a political nuance, with more hands-on tertiary support for communications people.

She was on the original working party tasked with finding a tertiary provider to develop the degree. Several institutions were approached, but Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) was chosen with its Zero Fees scheme one drawcard, and its experience with remote learning through SIT2LRN another.

The Bachelor of Professional Communication is a three-year Level 5-7 degree that aims to provide students with the principles of communication, to incorporate appropriate cultural practice in professional communication contexts, and to apply ethical, legal and business principles and mediarelated government policies into the practice of media communications.

SIT2LRN PROGRAMME PROFILE

Coursework covers a range of competencies that graduates will be able to apply in the communication industry. They include being able to: ªªDevelop, implement and critique media communications strategies and plans. ªªComprehend, critique and apply knowledge from the communications media-related field in an appropriate practice context. ªªCompetently and appropriately apply multimedia communication techniques in various settings. ªªProduce communications media-related documentation, such as news stories, reports, government related and general publications. ªªAppropriately apply theory and principles of media communications techniques in contexts including corporate settings, the broadcasting medium, as well as through print and web.

Students must complete seven compulsory papers and one elective paper in the first and second years of the degree and eight compulsory papers and can choose eight out of nine electives in the third year. Each paper is worth 15 credits; totalling 120 credits for a year or 360 credits for the degree. This translates to an average of about 3600 learning hours per student.

gain 120 credits, equating to 1200 learning hours.

The Graduate Diploma in Communication (Local Government) is designed to offer professional development in the local government field to experienced communication practitioners who may already hold a generic bachelors degree.

The Graduate Certificate in Communication (Public Relations) allows PR professionals the opportunity to move into more complex areas of the profession by both formalising their existing knowledge into a qualification and the teaching of theoretical rationales through which the politics and practice of public relations can be framed.

The Graduate Diploma in Communication (Public Relations) provides PR practitioners with the opportunity to build on the skills and knowledge gained in the industry. A person already working in middle management or working as part of a communications team may complete the graduate diploma in order to become a PR specialist.

The Graduate Diploma in Communication (Local Government) consists of three compulsory Level 6 papers and eight elective Level 7 papers, of which the students must complete five. The Graduate Diploma in Communication (Public Relations) consists of four Level 6 papers with one being compulsory and students have the option of choosing two from the other three, and six Level 7 papers, of which students must choose five. For either qualification students need to

The graduate certificates are also Level 7 qualifications – these are 60 credits each.

The Graduate Certificate in Communication (Local Government) is aimed at providing professionals already working in local government with the opportunity to formalize their skills into a qualification.

There are four intakes per year - in February, April, June and August.

The overlapping intakes allow flexibility so that students can study in intakes 1 and 3 or 2 and 4, or whatever suits them best.

The Bachelor of Professional Communication is offered under the Zero Fees Scheme to New Zealand citizens, and both permanent residents and Australian citizens that reside in New Zealand during their study.

The degree course requires three years’ full-time study, or up to 10 years’ part-time study, and intakes are 17 weeks long. Fulltime study requires the completion of 60 credits (four papers) per intake, while students who are balancing work and family commitments are advised to aim for a maximum of 30 to 45 credits per intake, depending on their hours of work.

ªªCompetently work within the legal, ethical, and government policy related parameters of the communications media-related sector.

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GRADUATIONS 2015

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ON-SITE PROGRAMME

PROFILE:

MASTER OF APPLIED MANAGEMENT MASTER OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) is stepping up to meet industry and student needs this year, with the introduction of the institution's first two Masters degrees.

The Master of Applied Management and Master of Information Technology programmes are set to accept enrolments for the degree courses commencing in the second semester.

Neil Selman, general manager group services at H&J Smith, was contracted to NZQA as the industry representative on the advisory panel evaluating the institute's application for the Applied Management programmes.

Neil said there was sometimes a gap between academic courses and their practical application in the real world, but SIT's "keep it real" approach sets students up to quickly assimilate into the workforce.

SIT's strong connections with the industry benefit both students and businesses, and enable SIT to understand and respond to changing needs, ensuring courses remain relevant, he said.

SIT Head of Faculty New Media, Arts and Business Phil Morrison said the Master of Applied Management, and postgraduate diploma, were developed by SIT in response to feedback from students and research supported by Venture Southland. "[That research] indicated a healthy demand for such qualifications, both to provide greater opportunity for domestic and international students, and also to support provincial

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business growth and economic development."

The Master of Applied Management is aimed at management practitioners or recent graduates who want to undertake an advanced programme of study in order to prepare for further study or help obtain a more senior position.

Organisations employing Masters graduates will benefit from the advanced knowledge and capabilities - including analytical, managerial and research - that graduates have acquired during their studies, Phil said.

The Masters programme is a 180-credit programme, with students able to choose one of two pathways.

The first is designed for student wishing to undertake more course work, and consists of three compulsory papers (45 credits), a number of elective papers (90 credits) and a research project (45 credits).

The second pathway is designed for students wishing to undertake a more substantial research project, and includes a research thesis worth 90 credits.

Phil said an important aspect of the Applied Management programmes was the freedom and flexibility to tailor a programme of study that delivered the outcomes in a way that met the learning needs and interests of each student.

To be eligible for the Masters programme, students will have completed all requirements of a relevant bachelor's degree or graduate or postgraduate certificate, or postgraduate diploma with at least a B grade average at Level 7 or higher.

However, Phil said in exceptional circumstances, a mature-aged applicant may be considered for admission if they have completed an approved course or programme, or have relevant work experience that is deemed to meet the required standard for entry.

An applicant not meeting the academic criteria may be provisionally admitted to enrol in one or more papers, and on successful completion of those papers, may apply for special admission.

In its 2015-16 investment plan, SIT specifically pinpointed the development of the Master of

ON-SITE PROGRAMME

Information Technology to address the need - identified by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) - for "qualifications and fields of studies ... that are most likely to see an increase in demand".

SIT Head of Faculty Health, Humanities and Computing Maree Howden said the plan also referred to an Infometrics report commissioned by TEC that confirmed the sizeable contributions to growth in regional output and employment by business and financial services, and noted there would be growth in demand for many highly skilled occupations including business, legal and information technology (IT) professionals.

The priority for SIT was to ensure that the skills people developed in tertiary education were well matched to labour market needs, Maree said. That included addressing new and emerging shortages in specific areas, and the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills needed for innovation and economic growth.

After graduation, possible careers in the public and private sector include business analyst, information systems manager, network manager, security specialist, software developer, software tester, systems administrator, systems analyst and team leader.

Maree said the programme's endorsement by people employed in the information technology field indicated SIT was meeting expectations that the tertiary sector was supplying skills essential for economic growth and business innovation.

Graduates wishing to continue their studies may be admitted into doctorate programmes in New Zealand or overseas.

"Increasing the skill level of those working in the field of information technology will provide benefits to employers and the economy as a whole, as increasing skills underpins an organisation's ability to be innovative, apply new ideas and adapt to competitive challenges and new markets."

Students can follow one of two pathways - one involving more course work, the other with a greater focus on research.

The first has four compulsory components worth 90 credits, including a research project worth 45 credits - and an approved selection of further papers worth at least 90 credits.

The second pathway consists of four compulsory components worth 135 credits, including a 90 credit thesis, and an approved selection of further papers worth at least 45 credits.

Tertiary providers were being encouraged to work more closely with industry and ensure the demand for the skills being offered exists, she said.

"At every stage of the development of this programme from the initial proposal, representatives from industry have been consulted and asked for their input on the relevance to the sector of such qualifications."

"Increasing the skill level of those working in the field of information technology will provide benefits to employers and the economy as a whole, as increasing skills underpins an organisation's ability to be innovative, apply new ideas and adapt to competitive challenges and new markets."

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FACILITATOR PROFILE

Diana

Desmond Bachelor of Professional Communication facilitator

Diana Desmond's love of new challenges has taken her 10,000 kilometres from her suburban Hawke's Bay home to the bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

Diana is a facilitator on the SIT2LRN Bachelor of Professional Communication and post-graduate courses for communication.

She currently facilitates Change Communication (BPC 300).

But she's half a world away from Southern Institute of Technology's (SIT) Invercargill campus, living with her husband Tony in a 10th floor apartment in a teeming city of 12 million people that she describes as "fascinating, frustrating and challenging all at the same time".

She works with students via email and uses the announcements function on Blackboard for general updates and posting interesting readings.

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“It's no more difficult from here than in New Zealand, although I do make students aware they won't get responses early in the morning in New Zealand because we are five to six hours behind in Vietnam.”

Ho Chi Minh City is a long way, too, from Methven, Mid Canterbury, where Diana grew up and attended high school.

She had a long stint, when her three boys were at high school, as a communication lecturer at Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), teaching on numerous programmes with a communication element. She also taught public relations at degree level for several years.

In 2009, seeking a new challenge, she began a Master of Communication online through Deakin University in Melbourne.

"I loved it. I didn't have to do a thesis and could take a wide variety of papers. I completed it in 2013, graduating with distinction with specialisations in professional writing and communication and media."

After 14 years, Diana decided it was time for change, so resigned from EIT and began working on contract, including writing resources for SIT. Husband Tony was also selfemployed, doing research and as a consultant in the timber industry, but an employment offer was about to change their lives considerably.

"At Christmas [2014], a friend contacted Tony to see if he wanted to manage his timber treatment and painting plant in Vietnam, starting in June 2015. We discussed it and couldn't come up with any good reasons not to take up the offer."

The couple flew to Vietnam for a week to see if they could live there.

They decided they could, and Tony accepted the offer.

They packed up their home in order to rent it out with the local hospice shop doing well out of the necessary - and therapeutic - culling of possessions.

They've exchanged their home in leafy New Zealand suburbia for an apartment in a large complex.

When they arrived in Vietnam, initially Diana volunteered for the organisation Know One, Teach One where she wrote a course for their female graduates titled Empowering Women.

She’s joined a group made up of ex-pat wives and partners of men working in Vietnam, plays Mah-Jong and attends the occasional coffee morning where she listens to local speakers on various subjects.

"I guess I'm a life-long learner and am always looking to experience new things. I'm an avid reader, love arts and crafts and travel."

FACILITATOR PROFILE

John

Dr.

Wallaart Occupational Health and Safety facilitator

Massive change in the health and safety sector is happening around New Zealand in the wake of the Pike River mining disaster. SIT2LRN course developer and facilitator Dr John Wallaart is helping develop the next generation of health and safety specialists.

Dr John Wallaart has what he’s titled a “brief resume” as his CV. But “brief” isn’t quote the right word it’s eight pages long.

That might seem quite lengthy but it only takes a quick glance to realise it would be impossible to provide a career précis in fewer pages without missing several important aspects of his career.

and safety to the next generation of students from around the world.

The experienced health and safety practitioner has spent more than 35 years in the sector working for multinational organisations and in government, and is well aware of the change in focus being placed on workplace health and safety, particularly with the new legislation introduced in New Zealand in April.

That change – introduced in the wake of the 2010 mining disaster at Pike River Mine that claimed the lives of 29 miners and contractors - has placed great emphasis on changing New Zealand’s health and safety culture and bringing the subject to the forefront of businesses’ activities.

It’s also meant greater demands from employers to have skilled and qualified people joining their organisations – which is why SIT2LRN’s Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety (a course John developed and now also facilitates) is proving increasingly popular with both students and employers.

“The course papers are highly regarded both in New Zealand and

elsewhere and have a significant and immediate practical application in industry,” he explained.

“We get weekly stories about students who are highly satisfied and organisations are contacting me to recruit successful students.”

John has lectured in management and technical subjects, including analytical chemistry, business ethics and occupational health and safety management, in various tertiary institutes and he’s relishing the opportunity to again be working with SIT. The path his career has taken possibly wasn’t part of his wider plans when he began his working life as an industrial chemist in Dunedin 1969.

But moving to Invercargill in 1972 to work at the new aluminium smelter as a chemist/laboratory supervisor opened the door to new career opportunities.

After working in the labs for several years, he joined a team focussed on implementing new organisational systems across the smelter. When this work was completed, he became

It’s an impressive CV, particularly for someone who arrived in New Zealand unable to speak English. His parents fled Indonesia, where he was born, during an uprising and eventually settled in New Zealand when he was 12 but he had to spend the first six months learning simple words like “house” and “grass” mostly from students who took pity on him.

Now it’s John who is doing the teaching, passing on his vast experience and knowledge in health Dr. John Wallaart with 2015 Occupational Health and Safety graduates SITUATION May 2016

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FACILITATOR PROFILE

The course papers are highly regarded both in New Zealand and elsewhere and have a significant and immediate practical application in industry.

We get weekly stories about students who are highly satisfied and organisations are contacting me to recruit successful students."

the smelter’s specialist occupational health officer, where he developed an interest in improving respiratory protection for workers in heavy industry.

During his time at the smelter, one of the largest employers in Southland, John was responsible for establishing and implementing modern occupational health and safety systems, establishing and managing two rehabilitation centres, a medical exercise centre and a physiotherapy unit, and also developed an interest in occupational asthma – a significant problem for these types of organisations.

It was through that work that he became concerned about workers having to wear various pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) in challenging conditions, which affected their effectiveness and, in turn, potentially put workers at risk.

respiratory protection and is often surprised the subject does not receive more coverage by industrial and mainstream media, particularly given recent high profile events such as outbreaks of Swine and Avian Flu, the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York and the physical impact that had on the workers removing the rubble, and the Tokyo subway poisoning.

“While these are highlights in the international media, there are still about 17,000 wearers of respiratory protective equipment in New Zealand every day in industries ranging from hospitals to aircraft painting workshops.”

Since the purpose of the equipment was to protect people from airborne contaminants there were strong reasons to ensure the equipment worked as intended to prevent occupational disease, he said.

In 1995, after almost 25 years in aluminium smelting and having completed other tertiary qualifications such as an MBA, he began working towards a PhD in Occupational Health and Safety at the University of New South Wales Medical School.

“Obviously, there are strong personal, moral and social reasons for prevention, but on a national New Zealand perspective, there are arguments to reduce the future compensation costs, which are currently in the millions of dollars and rising,” John said.

He also worked with an Australian company helping to develop, with a team of Swedish and Australians, a new respirator for industry.

This led to the development of the world’s first FPBR (Fan supplied, Positive pressure, Breath responsive Respirator), which is now used by military forces and by emergency responsive teams in such situations as CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) warfare.

Respiratory equipment was a muchmisunderstood topic and it was likely that people in various workplaces were being exposed to environmental contaminants while thinking they were protected, he said.

In his spare time he also completed a commercial pilots license and instrument rating and flew commercially in his spare time.

John is passionate about improving

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While much of his experience had been in industry, in 1998 he joined ACC as an injury prevention manager, where he was responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating various national occupational health and safety intervention programmes. They were predominantly in the agriculture, construction and aviation sectors - such as FarmSafe, Site Safe

and AirCare - as well as some programmes for the health industry.

He became particularly interested in reducing the incidence of noiseinduced hearing loss (NIHL), a major issue internationally for compensation bodies, commercial and private organisations. He initiated a research project that led to students completing PhD and Masters degrees in New Zealand. He has also published extensively on the topic.

Dr Wallaart is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences on a range of occupational health issues.

In 2014 he was invited to join WorkSafe New Zealand – set up following the Pike River deaths - as a principal advisor in chemical and biological issues.

He believes great gains can be made for the New Zealand government, commercial organisations and private individuals such as students.

He is passionate about teaching adults who are keen to gain insight and understanding of a complex range of subjects that affect everyone.

Having obtained all his qualifications after leaving school and gaining all up to PhD level by studying in the evenings and weekends, he’s well qualified to talk to students about extramural studies. This form of study and gaining qualifications is becoming increasingly popular nationally and internationally so students are able to learn from someone who can offer advice from personal experience.

And that knowledge is proving invaluable for those students looking at what promises to be a bright career in a growing and vital sector.

STUDENT PROFILE

DONALD HUME Certificate in Landscape Design Graduate

A yearning for a new career and a different scene is what drove a former Motueka man’s desire to embark on a life-changing study experience with SIT2LRN. Donald Hume moved to Christchurch after the 2011 earthquake to work as a forklift operator on the ports.

But last year the 47-year-old became tired of working shifts and realised the long hours were taking a toll.

He took stock of his options and although he’d never been interested in school and had left as soon as he could find a job – “I wasn’t academic and had no real plans” - he realised further education was the key to a new future.

“I’ve long been interested in gardening and creating and wanted a career change.”

Donald signed up to study for a Certificate in Landscape Design through SIT2LRN. “I would have preferred a classroom course but my work hours clashed with those courses so SIT2LRN was the best option for me to combine work and study. I hadn't studied for over 30 years so it was a big step for me.

“I quickly found I really enjoyed it and got great feedback from the facilitator.”

The course gave him a taste of the industry, giving him basic skills in things like plant identification,

construction details, and planting plans, and the qualification helped open doors for him when he moved to Melbourne late last year.

Donald has now been working for a landscaping and construction company in Melbourne for more than six months, and although further study is needed before he can become a qualified landscaper – and ultimately own a landscaping business - he’s using his time wisely to gain key insights and essential skills before taking that step.

He likes to reflect on the organisation he’s working for and consider how he might do or approach things if it was his business.

His goal is to become his own boss in the next 12 months, so continuing that learning experience is an important part of his ethos.

And he’s continuing to pick up new knowledge and skills while he’s working - Australian weather, wildlife and horticulture are obviously different to New Zealand so he’s had to learn about working in hotter drought conditions and plants that aren't quite the same as home … all the while avoiding redback spiders and brown snakes!

“The experienced guys that I work

with are really generous with their time and advice and have been keeping me busy.”

He’s relishing the new opportunities that completing the course have helped create for him.

The course opened up new options and gave him a taste of what the industry would be like. That gave him the confidence to change careers, a step he might not have taken had it not been for SIT2LRN, he said.

“The highlight of my working experience to date would be seeing finished projects that I have played an integral part in creating, from a design or an image on paper, to a stunning landscaped property.

“I am part of a larger team, but my work is valued and I am proud of my achievements.”

Donald is delighted with how things are going and has three words of advice for anyone considering undertaking distance learning through SIT2LRN: “Just do it”.

“It cost me very little through SIT because of a study grant arrangement and a few hours of my time after work and on weekends.

But it was fun and didn’t seem too onerous,” he said.

“Have a go. Open your own doors.”

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STUDENT PROFILE

JURAN ADAMS

Diploma in Digital Photography and Diploma in Digital Film Student

If awards were given out to the most remote SIT2LRN students then Juran Adams would come pretty close to claiming a prize.

Although living in Nhulunbuy, in the Australian Northern Territories, might provide some logistical headaches – it’s more than a 15hour drive to Darwin some 1000 kilometres away – that isolation also offers some unique opportunities for the former South Auckland woman’s SIT2LRN study.

She’s working towards diplomas in both digital photography and digital film because she wants to improve her skills in photography and filmography and to “document” her adventures.

Originally from Manurewa, (but describes herself as an East Coast girl at heart, of Ngati Kahungunu and Ngati Porou descent), Juran has been in the Australian far north for about eight years. She and her husband moved from Western Australia to the small remote town of Ramingining (population 700) in 2009, then Galiwin'ku (pop. 2000) in 2012. She worked as a youth worker in both towns.

Two years ago, her husband was offered a job in Nhulunbuy, the hub town of Arnhem Land (pop. 3993 in the 2011 census), so they decided to make the move. "We saw greater opportunities and a chance to transition ourselves back to the 'big city'," she joked.

“It isn't the most exciting travel destination on paper, but it is one of the most amazing places on Earth, full of culture and beauty,” the 25-year-old said.

Nhulunbuy was established when a bauxite mine and port were established nearby in the late 1960s,

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followed by an alumina refinery.

However, the closure of the refinery in 2014 has affected 1100 workers, affecting the town’s population.

“The refinery closing down was hard initially for the town and we arrived while that was all happening, but so far we've seen it pick up again.”

The small nature of the town suited them, she said.

“I've done a range of different jobs

I am very driven … and what I would love to say to other online students who are struggling is that it may be tough depending on what kind of lifestyle you lead, but there is no other way around it besides getting to your computer and getting yourself in the zone.

“Working hard and sacrificing some of that time to complete your own dreams and goals, as terrifying as they are.

while living here. I've been a graphic designer, book producer in the indigenous languages, a teacher assistant and currently I am a Special Education Support officer.”

In her current role, she assists student with special needs in both mainstream classes, as well as VET training, which is similar to NCEA. “I enjoy working with kids so much but I love anything creative, so being able to do this [SIT2LRN] course enables me to maintain my creativity regularly.”

Her sister in New Zealand completed the same course and encouraged Juran to begin studying.

“I took the course because I have been struggling to find something I can start studying again that I will actually enjoy,” she said.

“Since doing this course so many other dreams have developed just by exercising my brain again by learning - I'd forgotten how to learn!”

She wants to learn new skills so she can share the story of the Aboriginal people who live in the Northern Territories.

“If I can learn what it takes to be a sound photographer or film maker like my facilitators and my sister, who is actually amazing, I can spread messages, create awareness among my own people and most importantly, make life hopefully easier for a race that has been trodden on enough for the last 150 years and still continue to be treated like aliens, on their own land.

“I have been immersed in their

STUDENT PROFILE beautiful culture, seen so much of their land and learnt so much of their laws, but what use am I if I am not passing this on to others and helping to preserve their culture for their future generations?”

It’s her dream to improve society’s view on indigenous people and connect indigenous cultures.

“It means a lot to us to give back to those that own the land we live on.”

Studying through SIT2LRN has reawakened a yearning for knowledge and opened her eyes to her abilities and potential, she said.

“After this I want to study social sciences, anthropology, indigenous histories and so many [other subjects] now that I know I have the capacity!”

Being able to balance her existing job and life with study is challenging – she works from 7am until 3:30pm each day and has 90 minutes to herself before she has to collect her husband and 3-year-old son. Juran also coaches an Aboriginal elite touch rugby team.

She uses the weekends to study but often finds the biggest challenge is working with power outages and internet issues, prevalent in the remote north.

“We never know when it is going to go out, but coming to the end of wet season at the beginning of May, it should clear up, but we still never know. We live a life of mystery and I never minded it much until I had deadlines to meet!

“Still, I am so lucky to even have this chance, and I always do my very best and try to meet those deadlines.”

She’s full of praise for her facilitators, who she describes as “so supportive”.

“I have already learnt so much about different types of photography styles and how to achieve them.”

She hasn’t been able to use her camera on the beauty of Nhulunbuy as much as she would like.

Living remotely and so far from the rest of the world brings challenges – “I would have loved to be able to study on campus and connect with other class mates” – but she loves where she lives too much to consider moving, which makes the SIT2LRN online programme ideal to develop technical skills and build knowledge.

She’s also unable to study in Australia without getting citizenship so SIT2LRN made it all possible.

Plus, she realises it would be quite different living in a cold climate again – the average high temperature is 30 degrees Celsius with an average rainfall of 1305mm.

“I am very driven … and what I would love to say to other online students who are struggling is that it may be tough depending on what kind of lifestyle you lead, but there is no other way around it besides getting to your computer and getting yourself in the zone.

“I am able to test my skills on photographing the beaches, red dirt roads, water holes, animals … and the people. I am learning different skills such as night shots in pure darkness, architecture and landscapes,” Juran said.

“Working hard and sacrificing some of that time to complete your own dreams and goals, as terrifying as they are.”

“The film course is giving me skills to document the many experiences we have with our adopted families, which the world should see, and give a more accepting view towards indigenous cultures.”

She’s a firm believer in hard work paying off. “It will always happen somehow in some form. You just have to be patient, balanced and work hard.” ny

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STUDENT PROFILE

FRANCIE TURNER SIT2LRN Certificate in Business Coaching Student

New Zealand rowing representative Francie Turner has her sights firmly set on making history at the Olympic Games in Rio this year.

And thanks to SIT2LRN, she also has her sights set on making our workplaces better places to work in the future.

what the water and the conditions are like and just align everybody in the crew to work as closely as they can as a team.”

with the business coaching. For me it’s understanding how those coaching aspects fit into a business structure,” she said.

The New Zealand women’s eight will be rowing uncharted waters in Rio this year, but that’s nothing new for the Dave Thompson-coached crew.

Capitalising on months and years of hard work at the world championships was a massive moment in Francie’s career.

New Zealand had never medalled at a World Cup or world championship in the women’s eight, let alone qualified for an Olympics, but that all changed on a picturesque lake in France last year when New Zealand finished second behind the allconquering United States team to secure a spot in Rio.

“It was very, very exciting. We went overseas last year with the intention of qualifying the eight, which was top five, but the silver medal was awesome and I think it really reflected how hard we had worked, how we had come together as a team and how we had worked out our strengths and weaknesses.

“We talk about the fact that a big part of coaching in business or sport is that high-level transformational coaching, so making that coaching change to our behaviours and our attitudes. At Rowing NZ, or any sport, those people who can make changes to their patterns of behaviour, make changes to how they are mentally going to perform, are actually going to get the best result, and work together better as a team. It’s the same in the business coaching.”

Steering the boat that day was coxswain Francie Turner, the person charged with navigating and motivating her team into the record books.

“We put our best performance out there and got a result, which was hugely exciting.”

Ever wondered what the person sitting without oars and facing in the opposite direction does during a race? Wonder no more.

“The role of a cox is as a strategic communicator. If you think of an eight, you’ve got eight people who you’ve got to get on the same page, doing the same thing at exactly the same time, because that’s when the boat goes the fastest,” Francie explained.

“My job is to understand my athletes really, really well, understand the race plan really well, understand 16

SITUATION May 2016

Away from the water Francie is studying towards a Certificate in Business Coaching, following on from the Bachelor in Business Studies, majoring in human resources, she completed a couple of years ago.

The online nature of the SIT2LRN course works perfectly around Francie’s training commitments and her overseas travel, but it’s the parallels between her studies and her on-the-water day job that are most exciting.

“I’m really enjoying it. In a sport which is high performance coaching every day, there’s a lot of crossover

Francie plans to one day take what she’s learnt on and off the water and apply it to the workplace.

“All of my study is really working towards understanding people’s competency and people development. I’d really like to match that up with a bit of governance and just get a real understanding of how can we support people in our organisations to have the most successful businesses, to have workplaces where people enjoy coming to work, really getting the best out of the resources and the people around you,” she said.

“I think in New Zealand we have to take the approach that we need to treat our people as people - look after them and they will look after you.”

ALIESHA DUFFIN

Graduate Diploma in Communication (Public Relations) Student and Bachelor of Commerce graduate Aliesha Duffin is looking forward to her next adventure with nervous anticipation.

She's been awarded an Asia NZ Foundation internship to work at the Caravelle Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where she'll be working on brand redevelopment and marketing, subjects in which she majored.

The hotel is one of the city’s leading international five-star hotels in the centre of the business, shopping and entertainment district.

Although Southland born and bred, Aliesha has spent most of her life in Australia, but having worked for a few years, decided to return to further her study.

“I looked into marketing and wanted a broad degree.”

The Southern Institute of Technology's Bachelor of Commerce course fitted the bill and Aliesha enjoyed the small classes, easy access to lecturers and the practical nature of the degree.

A particular interest in nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), non-profit and voluntary citizens’ groups that perform service and humanitarian functions led her to apply for the internship.

She graduated in December and decided to take a year off to travel, but wanted to continue study while doing so.

Aliesha enrolled in the Graduate Diploma in Communication majoring in Public Relations through SIT2LRN

and was entitled to apply for the Asia NZ internship.

The three-month internship is aimed at university students needing to gain practical work experience as part of their course requirements and able to be away from New Zealand during semester one.

Aliesha decided to continue studying with SIT as she enjoyed the education she received on-campus.

“After examining the costs and what

The Southern Institute of Technology's Bachelor of Commerce course fitted the bill and Aliesha enjoyed the small classes, easy access to lecturers and the practical nature of the degree.

I was going to do in 2016, I felt it was only logical to continue my studies with SIT." Having searched for employment, she felt completing the programme would help with diversifying her skill set.

“After looking for jobs, a lot required communications skills, which makes me think that if this Graduate Diploma goes well, I may look at doing the full Bachelor of Professional Communication degree online.”

Aleisha is enjoying the course, with the facilitators making sure that students are on top of things, while the study guides and readings are clear and easy to follow.

“Distance learning is a challenge, as it is less structured in the sense that you are not required to go to classes … with planning the move overseas and with the job applications it provides me with the flexibility that is needed.”

Studying while overseas will be a challenge, but one Aleisha is looking forward to tackling.

“I will be working five and a-half days a week and I am hoping to travel and explore Vietnam as well as studying fulltime,” she said.

The internship will also provide a practical component to her learning, with the hotel agreeing to create work assignments around her course assignments.

“I feel that doing the two together is such a great opportunity for me.”

She's hoping to use the experience to network and gain practical, handson experience and perhaps further employment opportunities.

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STUDENT PROFILE

ROWENA MCDIARMID Diploma in Professional Coaching Student

Most SIT2LRN students have to juggle “normal” life with their study. There’s often children and family life, and perhaps a job as well to think about.

But when you throw 10,000 newborn lambs into the mix, the pressure to find time to study can increase exponentially.

It’s a good thing then that Rowena McDiarmid is a wonderful juggler.

Not the literal clown-type version, more of a figurative juggler.

It must be a challenge to keep tabs on just which balls/flaming torches/ chainsaws she’s keeping in the air at any one time, let alone doing the tasks involved with each activity.

There’s the farm managing role Rowena shares with her husband on their 1500 hectare Central Otago farm that has her not only responsible for all the business administration work but also lending a physical hand as and when required.

There’s also two “typical farm boys – hands-on rough-and-ready chaps”, aged 7 and 8, to look after, plus the likes of rugby training to get them to.

Then there’s the farming industry groups she’s involved with – a business advisory group for the farm, a Central Otago Farm for Profit group and a Red Meat Profit Partnership project – that all take up time.

She’s also been involved in her local community – she was treasurer of the school PTA, secretary in a local community group, and also founder of a community newsletter – but has opted to let those roles go.

On top of all that, she’s studying towards a Diploma in Professional Coaching through SIT2LRN. And as part of that has doubled her

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workload for the third intake … which just happens to coincide with lambing. Imagine trying to find time to juggle all the normal things with her study, while 10,000 lambs are being born on their Oturehua farm.

“I have to be flexible,” she laughs.

She thinks she may have found the trick to finding time – which is about

“Coaching is about asking good leading questions to get someone to think about what it is they’re doing and why they do it." an hour a day at the moment but will almost triple for intake three - to commit to her study: turn off the television.

She and her husband lamb 5500 Romney crossbreed ewes and 1500 hoggets and fatten 700-900 Friesian bulls.

The property sits at 500 metres above sea level – they can have a 6-degree frost in the middle of summer – so their grass-growing period can be quite short.

Coupled with the obvious environmental aspects – drought is always a threat in the harsh Central Otago climate – they also face

ongoing market challenges, which can put pressure on the business.

But farming is something she loves and something she’s always wanted to do. She started on a dairy farm when she left school, spent time on arable farms while overseas, and has been a sheep and beef farmer for 10 years. Her husband is a third generation farmer. “That was the deal. You marry the man and you marry the farm.”

While Rowena had always wanted to be a farmer, she didn’t come from a farming background.

Her mum was a psychiatric nurse which meant there were numerous “coaching conversations” around the dinner table, so that approach to problem solving became second nature, she said.

“Coaching is about asking good leading questions to get someone to think about what it is they’re doing and why they do it. And in that way they find their own solutions so you are really only coaching them through something they already know but you’re just helping pull that information out of them.

The path to SIT2LRN developed after her youngest son headed off to school. She realised she was feeling “a little bit lost with where I was going and what I wanted to do in life”.

She became more interested and involved in the industry side of the farming sector, and began taking courses with the Agri-Woman Development Trust.

STUDENT PROFILE

It was through those courses that she realised she wanted to do something with coaching and saw real potential for coaching and personal development in the beef and lamb sector of New Zealand agriculture.

Rowena doesn’t necessarily believe it’s bad market prices holding the sector back, but attitude and she’s keen to use her coaching training to try to change that mindset - if possible.

“We have profitable sheep and beef farms in New Zealand but they’re in exactly the same situation as the rest of us – they have droughts, they have markets – so we have to understand what those top guys are doing.

“Coaching will only help someone who wants to help themselves. I’m not going to change the world but if I can help a few people on the way then that’s going to be great.”

She came across the course through a friend who is also studying towards the qualification.

“I like the idea of doing it over time so it can suit my timetable. Doing it over a length of time rather than a five or 10-day block course means you immerse yourself in it a bit more

and come to grips with the coach approach.

“I’m a perfectionist and I like to make sure I know what I’m talking about and doing it over a long period of time you get more of a feel for it.”

The course teaches how to coach and encourages students to be reflective and use examples from their own experiences, something she really likes because using personal perspectives helps cement the knowledge.

Her facilitators have been “really inspiring and motivating” and provided great feedback, which also helps with her learning process.

She hopes to take about 18 months to complete her study – depending on how lambing goes, of course – but doesn’t have any firm plans for when she graduates.

“With what I want to achieve it’s not going to be a fulltime role but it could be a part-time job for me that I can fit around our current business and add value to my life and others,” she said.

“Our industry is facing a lot of change at the moment. There’s a lot of push to develop water, there’s constant change in the markets and compliance issues and a lot of

guys are going through succession planning, so if I can use coaching to help someone get a grasp on those issues for themselves, that’s where I’m heading.”

To get there though, she still has to find the time to study.

“You just fit in. If I find myself with half an hour before the guys come in for morning tea I’ll just sit down and do it.”

People considering online study need to be prepared to make changes to fit it in, she said.

“If you’re at a stage in life where you think you have to make a change, distance learning is the way to go.

It’s helped to clarify my priorities too – it’s family, our business and then study. I’ve had to let other some commitments go but knowing it’s not forever – it’s 18 months but the benefit is there.”

Remote learning also allows her to continue living a ‘normal’ life while extending herself, she said.

“Yes, there’s a bit of commitment time-wise – it just means you can’t watch TV.” Particularly when there’s all those lambs potentially needing some help.

SITUATION May 2016

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STUDENT PROFILE

SUE MORTON Diploma in Digital Photography Graduate

A chance comment from a fellow photographer was the catalyst for Sue Morton to sign up for the SIT2LRN Diploma in Digital Photography.

Fulltime work had seen the Stratford-based artist already shift her focus from oils, acrylics and watercolours to exploring photography, so when she overheard another photographer mention he'd completed the online course, she decided to investigate.

"I love jumping into things, and I just thought, it could be interesting, and it would be a way I could learn more."

Working at a gallery, Sue spread the two-year diploma course out a little, completing her final paper in the third year. Gaining her diploma added to an already-impressive list of photographic achievements, including several awards.

Sue admits she was nervous about distance learning, but says she would recommend it to anyone.

"I found it scary to start with because you don't have the support there [in person]. But it taught you to do a bit more yourself, which makes you a bit more independent."

For her, the most valuable part of the course was the critiquing of her work.

"Being able to question your work, to take criticism as a positive, not a negative."

Membership of the local camera club meant Sue wasn't a stranger to critiquing of work, and while she welcomed feedback, she knew how difficult it was for some.

"But that's what the whole course is based around, your facilitator giving 20

SITUATION May 2016

Sue Morton with her winning entry at the Taranaki National Art Awards.

Photo: Michelle Rowland

you feedback, and while that can be quite frightening, you don't have to agree, and it opens your mind up to all the different ways to look at things."

Art has always been a part of Sue's life; when she finished her high school years at Te Awamutu College, she qualified as a teacher at Hamilton Teachers College, majoring in art.

Five years of teaching around Te Puke and Hawke's Bay followed, before Sue met her dairy farmer husband-to-be, Henry, and the couple eventually moved to Morrinsville. Then in the 1980s they moved to Taranaki, where they've lived ever since, although in more recent years moving off the farm and on to a five-acre lifestyle block.

Farm commitments and three growing sons led to Sue picking up relieving and teacher relief shifts around local schools, while painting and joining local art societies kept her artistic side flourishing.

As a trustee, Sue became closely involved with the Percy Thomson Gallery in Stratford, and when the role of gallery director came up, she took the opportunity.

"I took up the reins and had a ball for the 10 years I was there."

The role proved to be the catalyst for Sue to explore other ways to express her creativity.

"I found that keeping down a fulltime job as director, painting took

a back seat, and slinging a camera over my back and heading off for a walk was much more satisfying."

Sue is now the president of the Stratford Camera Club, and has held two solo exhibitions. Portraits and Portrayal was a series she completed for her portfolio paper, and it was reshown at Lysaght Watt Gallery in Hawera, while earlier this year she took part in a group show, Connections, in the Percy Thomson Gallery.

One of her images from the portrait series, Paul Hutchison - Self Portrait, a photograph of a local artist, won first prize of $1000 in the photography section of the Taranaki National Art Awards.

Her latest series, titled Remnants of a Slice of Heaven, explored an abandoned local garage and the identity who inhabited it, leaving behind a shell of his character and life there.

An audio-visual slideshow of works from the Nightlife series Sue developed during the course gained a commended in the Jack Sprosen Memorial Trophy Competition. It brought together Sue's painting and photography skills, using an eclectic combination of torchlight in a dark room, pink cellophane, and longexposure photographs.

She has an exhibition scheduled for November in Whanganui, has recently taken part in Waikato Hunt Week, and hasn't ruled out further study if she finds something appealing and relevant.

STUDENT PROFILE

JIM ENNION SIT2LRN National Diploma in Project Management (Level 5) Student

Completing a diploma in project management through SIT2LRN has proved invaluable for Jim Ennion in the community work he and his family are doing in Myanmar.

“I was completing my Master of Laws focusing on Burmese land law at the beginning of 2015 and, as a family, we were planning what we should be doing in the upcoming year. As much of the work involving land rights issues in Myanmar is NGO-facilitated and project-based, we thought that some sort of project management experience would be helpful preparation for work in this area,” Jim said.

Although the family were based in Nelson at the time, Jim’s wife grew up in Invercargill and knew about the Southern Institute of Technology’s (SIT) Zero Fees scheme.

Pleasantly surprised that online courses were included in the scheme, Jim found the course was the most cost-effective of its kind in New Zealand and was impressed with the way the SIT2LRN administration team were able to work around his circumstances and make it possible for him to take the course.

Jim said the practical nature of the course meant he was able to relate his studies closely with his ongoing work.

“The course provided the flexibility for me to use my existing parttime work as the basis for these assignments. I was working as the

Sunday Services Director for our church in Nelson and I was able to use various events and services which I organised and coordinated as specific projects for these assignments.”

Partway through 2015 Jim contacted a non-government organisation called Compasio, based in Mae Sot, a small town on the Thai-Myanmar border.

Myanmar, also known as Burma, has a rich past, but since gaining independence in the years after World War II has been troubled by one of history’s longest-running civil wars.

Compasio is a Christian community development organisation that works with Burmese migrants and refugees living in Mae Sot, specifically focusing on vulnerable women and children and preventing family separation.

“I was able to start work on designing and building a reporting system database for the organisation in order for them to keep track of daily activities, client profiles, individual and family support plans as well as evaluate how effective projects are. My final project as part of the course was the planning and organisation involved in procuring an appropriate database platform for the organisation,” Jim said.

“The course opened my eyes to how to effectively manage projects.

While you can get something done by simply starting and finishing a task, the more detailed and complicated that task is, effective planning, monitoring and evaluation will bring about much better results. It was also meaningful as it equipped me to move into my current role with Compasio in Thailand and continue to fulfil our family's dream of assisting Burmese people.”

Jim’s studies continue to help him in his work, with the reporting system database he has developed being used by the Compasio Community Team.

“My wife has been a part of starting a Burmese Early Childhood Development Centre with Compasio.

They completed two weeks of teacher training [recently] and the centre will start running [soon].

"Late last year, we were asked by the Director of Compasio to write a proposal to start the centre. Because of my [SIT2LRN] project management training, I was able to complete the proposal with a professional format, good content and efficiently.

This enabled the project to be more readily accepted by Compasio's international directors and move through to implementation.”

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STUDENT PROFILE

CHERYL MUIRSON SIT2LRN Diploma in Digital Photography Graduate

Cheryl Muirson’s rediscovery of photography through the SIT2LRN diploma has seen her create beautiful, award-winning images.

She completed the Diploma in Digital Photography last year, but first came to photography at high school in 1977.

While she loved the creative opportunities that the darkroom offered, she struggled at the time with the more technical aspects of the craft.

She went to teacher’s college and specialised in art, and it was while teaching at both primary and high school level in 2011 that she decided to pick up the camera again.

“I started again with film and dark room manipulations. I wanted to combine painting with photography, as I had stumbled across [German visual artist] Gerhard Richter’s works, which made me start to think of other possibilities,” Cheryl said.

“I wanted further education in photography with a broader topic base that included Photoshop components, as I was still struggling with the technical aspects of Photoshop, and SIT2LRN really helped me realise that I have to keep playing and experimenting.

“A friend of mine said she would do it with me, so we both applied with SIT2LRN. It was great to have a study buddy.”

Cheryl is inspired by the work of American fine art photographer Brooke Shaden, her compatriot Jerry Uelsmann, and Polish-born Adela Holmes.

“Fine art portraits really inspire me and I love the Auteur paper and the Photoshop manipulations that SIT offered.

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“I did a creative photography course with Scott Fowler in November 2015, working with models and that really started my creative juices rolling. I joined a photographic club too, and the works produced by our members are awe-inspiring.”

A highlight for Cheryl has been the creation of the image titled Abandoned, which won her a Canon Online award, the Photographic Society of New Zealand’s annual awards.

A Facebook collaboration of photographers, models and makeup artists included a tour of the abandoned Antonio Hall, an exceptionally haunted-looking property in Christchurch.

“The tour of Antonio Hall and the chapel with the marble altar triggered a strong desire to create a series of photographs based on Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations and the abandonment of Miss Haversham,” she said.

Cheryl planned a series of shoots for her Associateship Honours from the Photographic Society of New Zealand (APSNZ), which included model Shauvy Zilda Thoms.

“Shauvy fitted a dupont silk wedding dress that I purchased after going to the NZIPP awards in Queenstown.

She is such an inspiration stunningly exotic with a vulnerability that suited the images I was aiming to achieve. It was a fabulous shoot and I was buzzing afterwards.

“I entered the image into the Canon Online awards only a few hours before the competition closed. I was

so surprised when it was announced the following week that I took out the top award.”

Cheryl has subsequently been awarded her Associateship, a significant achievement in New Zealand photography, but it hasn’t all been easy.

Her niece Jamie Lee Sullivan was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in March 2015, and tragically passed away in October.

Jamie Lee had been eager to model for Cheryl, but the cancer took that opportunity away and Cheryl said she struggled at times to maintain her studies during the heartbreak.

Throughout her studies, however, the way the course had been designed provided plenty of support.

“Photography fits very well with distance learning and SIT has it right with having a Facebook page where we can talk to other students and facilitators. The students’ page for digital photography is a great place to get critique and support for each week’s tasks,” she said.

Cheryl's love of that the art of photography, initially discovered in 1977 and rediscovered four decades later, provides her with a creative outlet.

“I want to produce photographs that make people stop and look. I want to evoke emotions and make the audience wonder.

“I want people to recognise my work, but, more importantly, I want to have that satisfaction of saying ‘I created that’.”

Abandoned

Her celebrated images, Glittering on Rustic Objects and Abandoned are part of the Great Expectations – A Homage to Charles Dickens series she undertook for her Associateship. The accolades keep coming for Cheryl, she recently received second prize in the second round of the Cannon Online competition.

Glittering on Rustic Objects

SITUATION May 2016

23

INDUSTRY; WHO EMPLOY SIT2LRN STUDENTS

DOUG HALL Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Student

A supportive employer is helping make Doug Hall’s educational journey much easier. But it’s not just Doug that’s going to benefit from a new qualification.

When Doug Hall completes his SIT2LRN course, it won’t be just the aluminium smelter worker that will benefit.

The knowledge he’s gaining will also be of use to New Zealand's Aluminium Smelter (NZAS), the company that’s supporting his study.

He's the seventh employee NZAS has supported through an SIT2LRN course, because it recognises the benefits for the employee and the workplace.

NZAS recognises the importance of additional learning and training and values what SIT2LRN offers because of the flexibility and relevant workplace applied content and assessments offered.

Doug recognised that changes in New Zealand’s health and safety legislation, introduced in April, would create employment opportunities.

He enjoys health and safety – there’s a strong focus on it at the smelter – and decided he wanted to study the subject through SIT2LRN. To ease himself back into study, he completed a Certificate in Adult Education (Level 5) last year and is now studying towards a Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety.

Through good time management and the support of NZAS managers, Doug’s been able to incorporate about three hours of daily study by using the assignment requirements for work purposes, while doing coursework at home.

“You just make sure you plan to do some study each day to fit around your ‘normal life’, and when you have done that, forget about it until tomorrow,” he said.

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“One of the benefits of the online community is getting to network with people from other workplaces who are also studying health and safety – people I wouldn’t have otherwise met," Doug said.

“Study was always a long-term strategy for me so working towards the diploma remotely means that I can continue to receive an income by working and studying at the same time - this gives me the best of both worlds.”

Having the company support his study has also allowed him to tap into a significant support network at work, as well as providing plenty of workplace examples for case studies.

Superintendent Health, Safety and Environment Craig Scarlett is mentoring Doug and provides guidance for each project as well as creating opportunities in the workplace to carry out assignments.

Specialist Site Hygienist Raewyn Robson and Occupational Physician Martin Peterson provide occupational health information and literature support. Training Specialist Debbie Rankin assists with training information and assistance with remote learning, while Superintendent Bob McCullum allows Doug to have the flexibility to fit study into relevant opportunities at work.

“It’s been quite difficult to fit the work into the time I have and getting to grips with the quantity, as well as the variety of knowledge required, but I have achieved good results so far," Doug said.

“It’s certainly surpassed what I was expecting in that the knowledge base required for this diploma is vast.

“However this has greatly increased my awareness of specific occupational health and safety issues, as well as my understanding of the causes and intervention strategies.”

His goal is to graduate with the

“Study was always a long-term strategy for me so working towards the diploma remotely means that I can continue to receive an income by working and studying at the same time - this gives me the best of both worlds.” diploma and use the knowledge he will have gained to bring benefits to his current role. There's also the potential to use that knowledge sitewide to bring benefits to NZAS. “NZAS are industry leaders in health and safety in the workplace and are prepared to support anyone who is willing to become more knowledgeable in this field,” Doug said.

He's pleased he’s able to give something back to the company that’s supporting him – as he put it, it’s a “win-win” for everyone.

2014 GRADUATES OUTCOMES

2014 SIT2LRN OUTCOMES

803 STUDENTS GRADUATED

from the Faculty

Working Hours Of those working the average hours worked per week for graduates from the school were

95% OVERALL GRADUATES

SATISFIED

with their programme of learning

participated in Survey 44% graduates

The results in this report are a summary of their feedback and ratings

34

HOURS

Further Study

43%

Graduates were in full or part time study or intended to study in 2015/2016

42%

undecided

Working Location

95

%

Graduates were

EMPLOYED IN NEW ZEALAND

Graduates who were working were employed in the field related to the qualifications gained

Graduates use the skills and knowledge gained from their qualification in their current employment

<

79% Graduates were

WORKING <

Graduates' median gross

$52k ANNUAL SALARY

SITUATION May 2016

25

MEET THE

PROGRAMME MANAGERS

Lucille Hatley

Chris Montgomery

Steve Woller

Lucille Hatley SIT2LRN Senior Programme Manager When we caught up with Lucille Hatley she was in the middle of her sixth trip to China - nothing new for someone who has had several roles at the Southern Institute of Technology during the past decade.

“I have worked for SIT for nearly 10 years in various roles from administration, resulting and academic leader to programme manager, as well as international liaison looking after our international students in China. I have also been a facilitator and supervised Postgraduate Diploma in Business Enterprise research dissertation students.

"I started my new role as Senior Programme Manager for SIT2LRN this year.”

Lucille has a Masters Degree in Tourism and Hospitality, a National

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SITUATION May 2016

Diploma in Adult Education and Training, and a Graduate Certificate in New Zealand Immigration Advice, all of which fit neatly with her most recent position.

“In my current role I look after the Post Graduate Diploma in Business Enterprise, the Bachelor of Applied Management (which includes five majors and the associated Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates), Bachelor of Professional Communications (and the associated Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates), and Diploma in Hotel and Tourism Management programmes, which includes our students in China.”

Lucille has a strong background in hospitality, having worked in hotels for several years and also owning a cafe.

She was a lecturer in South Africa for seven years, delivering classes in business, hotel and tourism management, and also looked after co-operative education internships for hospitality and tourism students.

“I love working for SIT2LRN. We have a fabulous, multicultural team who work well together to get things done. Having been in the faculty for nearly 10 years I have seen, and been part of, amazing growth, innovative ideas and development which makes SIT2LRN what it is today,” Lucille said.

“My tip to students is to start by enrolling in a programme that you are really passionate about – make sure you are doing it for the right reasons and when times get tough, focus on the end result and the doors that your new qualification will open for you.”

MEET THE PROGRAMME MANAGERS

Chris Montgomery SIT2LRN Programme Manager

Chris Montgomery might be a long way from home, but he’s brought a fair bit of it with him.

There's the unmistakeable Scottish brogue that persists despite first coming to New Zealand in 2007, and his love of football team Dundee United, whose tangerine kit is not dissimilar to that of the Southern Institute of Technology-sponsored (SIT) Southland Sharks basketball team.

Before coming to New Zealand, Chris worked with energy and services company Centrica, the parent company of British Gas, in London, as a process analyst and training designer.

“I originally trained in property/ estate management, but found business analysis and management much more satisfying, so switched career focus, honing my skills with

Centrica in London before taking a year out to travel.”

It was while living in Invercargill that Chris met his now wife, Colleen, and the southern city became his new home.

He spent six years at The Southland Times newspaper as a distribution manager, with particular authority over processes.

Since shifting a couple of blocks to the downtown campus of SIT, Chris now oversees courses in business, adult education, and occupational health and safety, along with horticulture, animal care and environmental management.

Away from campus, football and family consume much of his life.

“I enjoy playing and coaching football in my spare time and am player/

coach of the Queens Park Premier Reserve team here in Invercargill,” Chris said.

“I also enjoy skiing and watching pretty much any sport - even cricket every now and again, which is something I never did prior to moving here. I also enjoy craft beer and spending time with family and friends.”

Family includes Colleen, son Hamish - or the ‘bairn’ as Chris calls him - who turns six in May and stepdaughter Rosie, who will be 18 in July.

Chris said he loves his work at SIT2LRN. “There is an enormous feeling of wellbeing that you get when are part of someone’s education journey.

Seeing students achieve is the best part of this job.”

Steve Woller SIT2LRN Programme Manager Steve Woller describes himself as a filmmaker and jack of all trades given his eclectic experience, and this is mirrored in the courses he manages at SIT2LRN. "As Programme Manager I help facilitate the smooth operation of the Digital Film and Photography strands as well as Health Science, Project Management, Interior Décor, and Professional and Business Coaching.

They keep me quite busy," he said laughing.

The Taranaki native moved south in 2008 to catch up with his brother and study at the Southern Institute of Technology, graduating with a Bachelor of Digital Media in 2010.

He's been surprised by the creative vibe he found in Invercargill.

“I came down not knowing what I was getting into. I wanted to try something different and start again

basically. I’ve really enjoyed it down here, enjoyed the city, the community and the lifestyle. I’ve met some exceptional people - we've been working together, building a great little film-making community,” Steve said.

“Some people think the provinces aren’t creative but they are. I’m from Taranaki so I know a little bit about provincial life. Invercargill is one of those places where everybody is self-reliant. They know if they want to do something, they have to do it themselves, and because of this the people have such amazing creative skills."

Steve loves the collaborative nature of film-making. "Whether you're a lawyer, plumber or painter – there's a role for you on a film project," he said.

"It's like that here at SIT2LRN – the variety of courses, facilitators, and students make it feel like you're in the middle of a film. You put on your production hat and get into it."

He’s helped out on Two Little Boys (2012) and Pete’s Dragon (2016), both filmed in Southland, and been involved in various roles with several local, New Zealand Film Commission and internationally-funded films.

He appreciates the opportunity he has at SIT2LRN to help students and facilitators move their educational dreams forward.

“The sky is quite big down here," he said. "Lots of spaces for dreams.

It’s well layered, there's good light and super long days in summer. It's pretty hard to beat.

"Were we rolling on that? Shall we cut there?"

SITUATION May 2016

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NEW in 2016 Master of Information Technology and Master of Applied Management These 18 month full-full time on-campus courses are aimed at professionals and recent graduates, domestic and international wishing to undertake an advanced programme of study in order to prepare for further study or to assist with obtaining a more senior position.

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0800 4 0 FEES www.sit.ac.nz