Victoria’s Government-Funded Courses Your Gateway to Success

skills first
 

Are you thinking of enrolling to upskill to stay relevant in today’s job market? The Victorian Government is providing funding for TAFE/ Vocation courses in several programs you can choose from. Continue reading this article to learn more about the government-funded courses and skill first program of both state and federal governments.   

What is Victorian government skill’s first funding program? 

According to the State of Victoria, skills first is a set of reforms for the training and TAFE sector. The reforms ensure that Victoria’s training and TAFE system delivers high-quality training that leads learners to real jobs.  It ensures quality training and learning experience for real-world practice. It will also increase the chances of job placement after the students get their diplomas and certificates.  

The following growth industries are prioritised in the government-funded course under the skill first program: 

  • Medical technology and pharmaceuticals 
  • New energy technology 
  • Food and fibre 
  • Transport 
  • Defence and construction technology 
  • International education and professional services 

 

What are the courses that are subsidised under the skill first program? 

The courses that get subsidised are those that have been identified as high in demand in the job market today. This is because the government wants to meet skills shortages or prepare for an increase in jobs in Victoria. A skilled workforce is a factor in the economy of any country, so both state and federal governments are working hard to fund training for everyone. Good news and an opportunity you can get. 

The following are the courses: 

While many of the subsidies cover the full among of the course, not all of them are completely free as a lot of these courses are only partially subsidised. As a potential recipient of a subsidy by the Victorian Government, you should be aware of the other costs that are not covered by the subsidies. Some of the other costs you might incur include the following: 

  • Textbooks and other learning materials 
  • Administration fees 
  • Uniforms for workshop classes, as necessary 
  • Placement fees, if any. 

Courses covered by the Skills First Funding program of the Victorian Government being offered in the Global Business College of Australia (GBCA) are, but are not limited to: 

How to check if you are eligible for government funding under the skill first program? 

To check your eligibility for the different programs click here

How to start your journey toward government funding in the skill-first program of your choice? 

Start your journey today to be relevant and upskill to learn more about GBCA’s course offerings covered by the Victorian Government’s Skills First Funding program, please click here to find out more. We are looking forward to helping you upskill! 

 References: 

[1] https://www.courses.com.au/government-funding 

[2] https://www.skills.vic.gov.au/s/how-to-enrol 

[3] https://www.education.vic.gov.au/training/providers/funding/Pages/fundedcourses.aspx 

[4] https://www.training.com.au/fh/government-funded-courses-in-victoria/ 

International students can get COVID vaccine for free

GBCA Coronavirus update in Australia

COVID-19 vaccinations are free for everyone in Australia, including international students  – 24/06/2021

The Australian Government is committed to ensuring everyone in Australia will have access to the vaccination when it’s their turn – this includes international students who are studying in Australia.
COVID-19 vaccines are free for everyone in Australia regardless of Medicare or visa status.
Vaccination providers cannot charge students for the COVID-19 vaccine or your appointments to receive the vaccine. If students don’t have a Medicare card, or are not eligible for Medicare, they can get a free vaccination at:

  • a Commonwealth Vaccination Clinic
  • state or territory vaccination clinic.

The vaccine is voluntary, and everyone is encouraged to get a vaccine to help protect the community from COVID-19.

Find out when your students can have their COVID-19 vaccination 
Use the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker to find out when and where they can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
If students need more information, they should call the COVID-19 vaccine helpline on 1800 020 080 or for translating and interpreting services call 13 14 50.

Getting proof of COVID-19 vaccination without a Medicare card
Students that don’t have a Medicare card, or are not eligible for Medicare can get proof that have had their COVID-19 vaccination by:

Information to assist international students
To assist you in communicating this information to students, a number of translated resources are available on the Department of Health website.

Information on COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine

Information on COVID-19 AstraZeneca vaccine

Preparing for COVID-19 vaccination

After your Pfizer vaccine

After your AstraZeneca vaccine

COVID-19 vaccines: common questions

16th Chunhui Cup Launch Ceremony 2021

Chunhui Cup 21
On Thursday 20 May GBCA proudly launched the Melbourne Qualifier for the 16th “Chunhui Cup” Global Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, aka “Chunhui” Cup.
 
The Chunhui Cup has been running for 15 years since 2006, and now it has become one of the most prestigious and sought after student innovation and entrepreneurship competitions in China, with qualifiers in over 30 countries. It aims to support young people during their overseas tertiary studies to develop capacity for entrepreneurship and innovation and provide them with opportunities to connect to the wider Chinese product and capital markets. Formed in 2018, the Melbourne Qualifier assists participants to be better prepared for the grand finals in China and helps them build local connections, boosts the domestic ecosystem in Victoria, and helps build productive professional and business links between Victoria and China. It is truly exciting to see our young students and scholars from all universities in Victoria and Tasmania, across all disciplines, working together to develop their entrepreneurial thinking and skills, land gaining valuable experiences in a real world event that offers competitive challenge and opportunities for their future career.
 
Three distinguished speakers delivered inspiring speeches at the Launch Ceremony of the Melbourne Qualifier. The event was launched by His Excellency Mr LONG Zhou, Chinese Consul General in Melbourne, who tremendously encouraged and motivated students to actively participate in the Melbourne Qualifier to realise their entrepreneurial dreams.
 
Ms Fiona Letos, Director of International Education, Global Victoria, highlighted that “developing international students entrepreneurial skills is very important to boost their career readiness, which is part of the Victorian governments commitment to international students”. 
 
Prof. John Dewar, Vice-chancellor and President of La Trobe University, shared his insightful view that “supporting innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities for our students is a mission that has only become more important during the COVID-19 pandemic to stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and help communities to recover from the pandemic.”

Though virtual, the launch ceremony was also attended by representatives from the Victorian Government Jason Fitts, Manager – Asia Global Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions

Representatives from the Victorian Universities:


Not-for-profit organisation:
Mr Clive Dwyer, Director of Engagement, Committee for Melbourne

All distinguished members of the judging and mentoring panel:


As well as representatives from the incubators, venture capital companies, students and scholars associations.

 
Two of last year’s winners gave fantastic testimonials. Miss Yu Fu said: “My team’s business case on modernising a traditional tea business benefited from the great support, advice and mentoring we received. The idea is now a reality with a vibrant company established and invested.” In addition, many participants said that taking parting in the Melbourne Qualifier had been a fruitful journey for them.
 
We encourage all interested students with a great idea and the commitment to get out of their comfort zone to develop it, to enter (it is free). The winning teams from Victoria and Tasmania will have the chance to go to the global competition finals in China in December. Entries close on 4th July 2021.
 
 
 
 
Chunhui Cup 21 Launch Ceremony

UC-GBCA orientation

Our UC-GBCA orientation is designed to introduce our new students to the central Melbourne city campus surroundings, resources, policies and the tools they need to successfully transition into their new learning environment. At UC-GBCA, we bring all sorts of information to the students and seek new ways to engage incoming students to encourage familiarity with the college and help to enter students learn about the culture and expectations of UC-GBCA.

Career tip: Resume Mistakes To Avoid 5

The message of the final instalment of our Resume series might come as a surprise to many of you: Don’t include incorrect contact information in your application!

Consider this: You’ve taken the time and effort to review our resume and cover letter. In may ways, you should be the top contender for the job! So why haven’t you heard from the employer? You look at your emails and check the sent folder, only to discover that you’ve included an incorrect email address.

If you’re lucky and the employer is still interested to meet with you, they might decide to contact you and give you an opportunity to rectify this mistake. However, a small mistake like this can spell doom for your application, especially if the other top contenders provided correct and well-formatted information.

Another potential issue that you should consider is the name of your email address. Your email address is part of your professional identity. A suggestive, flirtatious or funny email address might be entertaining amongst friends, but it could cause potential employers to dismiss your application out of principle. Consider creating a separate email account for job applications. Try following these guidelines when making a professional email account:

  • Make it easy to remember.
  • Have the address include your first and last names.
  • Do not share the account with friends or family.
  • Avoid using numbers or other symbols.
  • Register it on your LinkedIn profile, which should be treated differently to your other social media accounts.
  • Ensure that you include the correct spelling of your email address on both your resume and cover letter.

This article was written and edited by Arthur Chan and Matthew Leach. 
中文版,由Arthur,Cissy和Nebula编写和编辑 (WeChat or browser compatible, coming soon)


The GBCA team would like to wish all current students and alumni best of luck when seeking employment. It is not easy and sometimes, with the best efforts one may still not be selected for an interview – don’t give up or overthink, we are living in an era where there are just too many options available, if you had tried your best, you should not have any regrets and keep on trying.

Best wishes

GBCA

Career tip: Resume Mistakes To Avoid 4

It’s common to apply for a number of different positions at the same time. Many people doing so will likely resolve to make a one-size-fits-all resume. While a generalised resume isn’t necessarily a bad thing and can often be quite useful, it might not be as highly regarded as applications that are customised specifically for the advertised position.

If you’ve already made a general resume, try comparing it with the selection criteria listed on a job advertisement. Remove any points that may be irrelevant and try rephrasing existing points that best demonstrate your skills that are relevant to the criteria listed. It may take an additional thirty minutes, but it’ll help you stand out amongst the crowd of applicants.

Remember, even if the position titles of two job vacancies are the same, the relevant selection criteria on each advertisement could be completely different, so your applications should not be identical if you intend to apply for both positions.

This article was written and edited by Arthur Chan and Matthew Leach
中文版,由Arthur,Cissy和Nebula编写和编辑 (WeChat or browser compatible, coming soon)

 

Career tip: Resume Mistakes To Avoid 3

Do you have strong graphic design skills? People entering the work force might feel the need to polish their resume up with some impressive visuals in order to balance out a short resume. Unfortunately, this will only make potential employers more likely to dismiss these applications.

We discussed this matter with some of our community collaborators and found that many of them prefer a clean, clearly formatted document with font no larger than size 14 with a maximum of four pages. An elaborate visual design, while potentially enjoyable to look at, can come across as unprofessional.

While professions that relate to graphic design might benefit from a resume with wonderful visuals, recruiters would still be expected to want to see the history of an applicant’s career before moving on to examining their visual portfolio.

If you’re struggling to include information in your resume, why not try including a short paragraph that outlines your skills? Try including information about the places that you’ve volunteered; if there’s any point of relevancy to the job that you’re offering, write a short paragraph and describe how the volunteering experience may be beneficial to the job that you’re applying for. If you covered your experience, skills and education in a one-page resume, use your cover letter to explain how they might be compatible with the job that you’re applying for.

Good luck!

This article was written and edited by Arthur Chan and Matthew Leach.
中文版,由Arthur,Cissy和Nebula编写和编辑 (WeChat or browser compatible, coming soon)

Career tip: Resume Mistakes To Avoid 2

GBCA would like to thank our students for their support of the Career tip – we’re coming back early!
Based on student’s feedback – we would like to share a short series that focus on some of resume mistakes which active job seekers may find useful….
If you have any questions or seeking advice, please email career@gbca.edu.au or stay tuned for our career seminars commencing in February 2019!


Have you ever met someone at a party that you found either attractive or a good potential friend? It might be because they communicate well.

Let’s explore the subject of communication in regards to resumes. Your resume is your professional file. As such, it should communicate why you are a qualified individual to potential employers. Make sure to outline your career experience in order to demonstrate why you are suitable for the position. If there are any hobbies or activities that you enjoy that might be compatible with the position, consider adding them to your resume.

With that said, you should avoid including any unprofessional content in your resume that might limit your chances of success. Irrelevant hobbies or an unprofessional email address could spell doom for an otherwise excellent application. If you do want to add a personal touch to your resume, try to restrict it to items that are still relevant to the job or industry.

Let’s think about the party scenario again: if you meet someone who’s jump from 1 topic to another every 30 seconds, do you you would be taking this person seriously?  

This article was written and edited by Arthur Chan and Matthew Leach.  
中文版,由Arthur,Cissy和Nebula编写和编辑 (WeChat or browser compatible, coming soon)

Career tip: Resume Mistakes To Avoid 1

GBCA would like to thank our students for their support of the Career tip – we’re coming back early!

Many had expressed to us that they felt sometimes their job applications had disappeared into a void that nobody had actually read it – It could be true and can certainly be discouraging, we would like to share some resume writing tips that would increase your chance of getting an interview offer. Please note these are not the “holy grail” of resume writing, each application is different and should be different. If you have any questions or seeking advice, please email career@gbca.edu.au or stay tuned for our career seminars commencing in February 2019!


Most recruiters have identified spelling and grammatical errors as the leading factor in whether or not a resume would be shortlisted. There are many apps that provide Auto-Correct functions, but spelling and grammatical errors are still a pervasive issue in job applications. Here are some of the examples that the majority of apps will not detect:
1. “principle” and “principal”
2. “affect” and “effect”
3. “they’re” and “their”
4. “its” and “it’s”
Please take the time to review what you’ve included in your application. Try revisiting the application after a good night’s sleep and, if you’re unsure, ask a qualified friend to proofread your resume.

Some people rush through their job applications, only to get nothing in return. Giving your resume a little bit of extra love and care is just like spending a few minutes to make sure that you look nice before you leave the house: That additional effort could be what you need to turn a few heads!

This article was written and edited by Arthur Chan and Matthew Leach.
中文版,由Arthur,Cissy和Nebula编写和编辑 (WeChat or browser compatible, coming soon)

Career tip: Ask when you have the chance

A good interview is a two-way conversation. You should aim to have a discussion with your interviewer about where your resume matched the job description. Try using the information that you’ll learn from these discussions to improve upon your resume.

In most cases, employers will perceive an interviewee who does not ask questions when offered the chance as either unprepared or disinterested. Use this as an opportunity to get to know more about both your potential employer and the job that they might offer you.

The best questions that you can ask will be based around the conversation that you just had. Make sure to prepare a couple of interchangeable questions that relate to the position prior to the interview. Don’t stress if you don’t feel like the questions you’ve prepared are suitable; you can always ask about the company’s internal culture or how the position that you are being interviewed for became available.

This article was written and edited by Arthur Chan and Matthew Leach.
中文版,由Arthur,Cissy和Nebula编写和编辑 (WeChat or browser compatible)

(Career tip will return in Feb 2019, we would like the thank the kind DMs and cards from our students! To revisit our career tips so far, follow #GBCAAU #bejobready on our official social media channels and blog!)