TAFE NSW Bathurst business students are staring down the barrel of success after recently revealed statistics suggest a 3.6% jobs boom in the technology and business services sector in the Central West region over the next three years.

Business and finance jobs top the list accounting for more than 20% of all jobs posted within the region with a considerable amount of these advertising opportunities for office and administrative assistants.

TAFE NSW Business Services Teacher, Karen Single, said students get a taste of what is required to work in an office environment by undertaking practical learning in the onsite simulated business at TAFE NSW Bathurst.

“Students learn transferable job-ready skills in accounting, banking, marketing and administration which involves working as part of a team and communicating with simulated internal and external customers.

“A high percentage of our graduates gain employment when they complete their business course and are in demand at local doctor surgeries, law firms, child care centres and banks. Others choose to continue their study at TAFE NSW to upskill in a specialty area such as administration, project management, quality auditing, training and assessment, community services, nursing, teaching, policing and law,” Ms Single said.

TAFE NSW Certificate III in Business Administration student, Madison Smith, said the eight-week course gave her the foundation skills to help with her administration roles at Steele+Co Law and Conveyancing and Lifeline Central West.

“I’ve learnt how to approach and communicate better with customers, developed a polite phone manner and much more,” Ms Smith said.

“I would really like to continue my study to work in the community services industry and this course has provided me with the foundational skills to take me there.”

TAFE NSW Certificate III student, Caitlyn Beath, said she preferred to learn in a comfortable environment and TAFE NSW lived up to her expectations.

“By learning in a small group, I’ve learnt how to operate office equipment such as a photocopier, computer, printer and simple things like opening mail which are all skills that will help me with any career path I choose to follow,” Ms Beath said.

Ms Single added, “The Certificate II in Business, Certificate III in Business Administration and Certificate III in Business Administration (Medical) are all available for semester two enrolment in Bathurst with students given the opportunity to complete two certificates in one semester.

To find out more about studying business courses at TAFE NSW, phone 13 16 01 or visit www.tafensw.edu.au.

Media contact: Emma Curtis, TAFE NSW Media Officer, (02) 6338 2509, mobile 0427 901 515.