Best Digital Image Award for Essendon Camera Club

By Darren Stones

Essendon Camera Club recently participated in the Gary Lewis Memorial Trophy Three Way Interclub Competition 2012. The competing clubs were: Essendon Camera Club, Ivanhoe Photographic Society and Rosanna Photographic Club.

The Essendon and Rosanna clubs were judged as equal first in the competition with 284 points each.

I was awarded the Best Digital Image of the Essendon Camera Club for my Kite Surfing at Merimbula photograph.

Judge for the competition was Lin Richards, and I would like to thank Lin for his time and effort in judging the competition.

My thanks to Adrian Tattersall Essendon Camera Club Interclub Secretary, and to the Essendon Camera Club members, Ivanhoe Photographic Society members, and Rosanna Photographic Club members who made it all happen.

Kite Surfing at Merimbula
Best Digital Image of Essendon Camera Club
2012 Gary Lewis Memorial Trophy Three Way Interclub Competition

Mentoring in the workplace and networking with mental health peer workers

By Darren Stones

Been an interesting week where studying a new course, mentoring and networking has provided some new opportunities.

Mentoring in the workplace

This week I have been busy studying the compulsory elective unit TAEDEL404A - Mentor in the workplace as part of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment course im doing at Moreland Adult Education in Coburg, Melbourne. Developing an entire Mentoring Plan from scratch and facilitating it with a mentee has been a good challenge, and the part I like about this is that you can actually do this in your own workplace in a real work environment.

The Mentor in the workplace unit has provided me with an excellent opportunity to get creative within the set guidelines of the course, and being able to mentor someone in my office has been a good experience. The mentee and myself have successfully completed two of our three sessions of mentoring, and we have another session scheduled for early next week.

My mentoring assessment task has to be submitted to our course facilitator for assessment in a few weeks. Each mentoring session has to be specially designed, implemented and then critically assessed by the mentor, and this is all documented as evidence of proof that is required for assessment.

Consumer Workforce and Mutual Support Day

On Wednesday 18 July, 2012 I attended in the Consumer Workforce and Mutual Support Day, which was hosted by the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council VMIAC in Brunswick, Melbourne. VMIAC Information Officers Dominic and Bill invited me to the support day as I had expressed to them my interest in peer work and wanting to network with peer workers.

The day kicked off at 11.00am where we enjoyed a Panel Discussion for one hour, and each of the 30 people in attendance introduced themselves and said a little about what they do.

At 12.00pm we enjoyed lunch for one hour, and this was an excellent opportunity to network with people working as mental health peer workers.

The mutual support session commenced at 1.00pm where peer workers were able to discuss various industry issues that they deal with in their roles as peer workers. The session finished just before 3.00pm and we all seemed quite satisfied with meeting new friends.

I'd like to share a photograph from my recent visit to New South Wales. The photograph features Iandra Castle, which is located at Greenthorpe in the central-west of NSW.

Iandra Castle, Greenthorpe, New South Wales
Photo: Darren Stones

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment TAE40110

By Darren Stones

They say you keep learning things each day, so it's with a sense of excitement that I find myself on the eve of commencing the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

My research regarding this course uncovered numerous training providers and methods of delivery, and I also sought feedback from people who have completed the course and currently doing it.

My preference is to undertake this course in a physical class environment where I can gain a solid understanding of training and assessment processes where versatility is required. By choosing this method, I will be able to see practical learning activities and actively participate with fellow students who will convert specially designed programs into real life learning experiences.

Facilitating various training and assessment activities in the workplace, plus getting involved in various workshops, seminars and talks is of growing interest to me.

With increasing knowledge in a variety of subjects, and a willingness to learn new programs that can be facilitated for employers, I see this course as leading me towards assisting people to further develop their skills and education.

I've chosen Moreland Adult Education in Coburg, Melbourne to do this course with, because they are local, are willing to provide me the course at reasonable rates, and are offering it over a time frame of about 16 weeks.

So, with a new learning experience before me, it will be a great opportunity to learn methods that should assist me to help others with their learning. I have experience in planning, developing and facilitating a successful travel photography workshop, so with that already under my belt, I am keen to further explore training and assessment methods and gain this qualification.

Course information:

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
TAE40110 (Units)

Core Units:
TAEDES401A - Design and develop learning programs.
TAEDES402A - Use training packages and accredited courses to meet client needs
TAEDEL401A - Plan, organise and deliver group based learning
TAEDEL402A - Plan, organise and facilitate learning in the workplace
TAEASS401A - Plan assessment activities and processes
TAESS402A - Assess Competence
TAEASS403A - Participate in assessment validation

Elective Units:
TAEDEL301A - Provide work skill instruction
TAEDEL404A - Mentor in the workplace
BSBCMM401A - Make a presentation