One of our ABS Staff, Dr Peter Williams, was recently nominated as the external representative for the Learning and Teaching Committee at Alphacrucis College, based in Parramatta, Sydney.
The terms of reference for the committee include carrying out the work of the Alphacrucis College Academic Board in the following areas:
Peter currently chairs the Learning and Teaching Committee for the Faculty of Education, Business and Science here at Avondale University College, and is happy to be broadening his experience in the Learning and Teaching space.
If your family is anything like mine, then the way we go to work, school and University has changed dramatically. For our family, our house is now a school, a lecture hall, and an office. Our family decided to foster 2 brothers, of the chihuahua kind, due to so many animals being surrendered due to the current Covid 19 uncertainty, see article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-21/coronavirus-brings-increase-in-pet-adoptions-and-abandonments/12074914. So now we have 2 brothers, who have joined our family of 2 dogs, in a house with 3 humans at home all the time!
With so many changes occurring to the way we live life as a society, we need to start thinking outside the box as families, as small businesses and as citizens to survive in these changing times. It is so great to see some small businesses adapting so quickly to the changing business environment. One example of that is the way one café adapted to the “take away only” government initiative, by varying how they serve customers, the menu they now offer to customers and how customers can pay and collect (see article https://www.dailyliberal.com.au/story/6697498/crisis-breeds-innovation-businesses-adapt-quickly-in-bid-to-survive/). The Dubbo Chamber of Commerce President “said a lot of businesses were taking an innovative approach as the country battled coronavirus. Crisis breeds innovation”.
So too for all of us with the ability to work from home, we need to be resourceful, adaptable and embracing of the change. The Australian government has issued some really good work from home checklists click on this link: https://www.comcare.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/276948/Working_from_home_checklist_20032020.pdf.
If you have been asked to work at home, it may be possible to claim a tax deduction for costs associated with working at home as well, see below some examples:
But back to our home school/ University/office. We now have the challenge of working from home with 4 furry friends and these pictures will show you just how important they are for our productivity. Picture 1 is our home school, laptop open, phone on the ready and one feisty chihuahua placed strategically on the lap. Picture 2 is my office floor, and Picture three is our University lecture hall, where no fewer then 2 furry friends enjoy the lectures on “Marketing and Culture”.
There has been much research done on the ‘Positive Impact on Students” that animals can provide. Key findings in the study include:
In a world were we now have to practice “social isolation”, I know I can at least hug a furry friend without worrying we have exchanged more than a hug. In these uncertain times, embrace the changes, look for the good things that will come from this (such as more family time 😊), and please look after your heath both mentally and physically. Here at ABS we moving all our classes to an online offering, something we have struggled with in the past, but have now fully embraced. Crisis certainly does breed innovation!
Associate Professor Lisa Barnes,
Head of Avondale Business School
“We desperately need more leaders who are committed to courageous, wholehearted leadership and who are self-aware enough to lead from their hearts, rather than unevolved leaders who lead from hurt and fear.” So states author Brene Brown in her book Dare to Lead (Vermillion, 2018).
Brown, having studied a PhD, Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Social Work has found in her research that courage is a collection of four skill sets – each of which form one section of the book:
The book draws upon results from Brené’s own research from the last twenty years as well as studies from others in relevant specialties. She mounts a convincing argument as the tools and theories within have arisen out of real research and are shown to have a real impact through stories from leaders who have implemented these tools and successfully transformed their workplace interactions.
It is a well organised book that begins with a solid theoretical overview which establishes the background and importance of the subject, the book then finishes with an abundance of practical tools that you can use in your own workplace. I found it to be a very engaging read due to the personal stories, direct style of writing (including the rare use of a four-letter word), and particularly the many practical tools for real-world application.
I feel it would particularly appeal to any current or
aspiring leaders, as well as anyone seeking to transform the culture of an
organisation.
Would I recommend this book? Absolutely yes!
Reviewed by Jolisa Rabo, Human Resources Officer, Avondale University College.
The changes brought about by COVID-19 have been far reaching, and the staff here at ABS have experienced the full magnitude of these.
The sunroom of Peter Williams’ house has been turned into a makeshift school, as two of his three children, Amira (7) and Elijah (6) have transitioned to a home school environment. With one in Kindergarten and one in Year 2, encouraging learning to continue has become a priority in the household, with Peter’s wife now wearing the hats of Mum, Classroom Teacher and School Principal!
Elijah turned 6 over the weekend, and was utterly dismayed to find that instead of celebrating with his classmates and friends, he would be celebrating it with just immediate family (though the Lego helped ease this a tad!), although he was able to have a Zoom party to include the grandparents. His younger brother Isiah (4) has perhaps taken to the home school the most warmly, and having known the alphabet already, has taken on some sight words and is proving to be quite the mathematician! Amira is a conscientious student who takes pride in her project work, and with the increased one-on-one time is making some excellent reading and spelling progress. Peter, who prefers not to work from home, has continued to work in his office in the business school, but due to changes this week at Avondale, will now be asked to attempt this from home!
Warrick Long has transitioned to home, using his study with a minimum of fuss. His wife Kerrie, who works for an Aged Care service has also started working from home, so the Long Household is now the hub of two different business. So far the co-workers are getting along well and all with the assistance of technology, can continue to function.
Technology has also added a dimension of fun into the situation, with the video conferencing technology allowing a variety of backgrounds. Warrick, while sitting at his study desk at home, chose the tropical island getaway and dressed the part for one of his Zoom conferences.
Departmental Assistant Diane Smith has also transitioned to home, and is able to support ABS well with the aid of her computer and internet connection.
Abs is still open for business, so feel free to connect with us via our email addresses, office phones (diverted to our mobiles) or send us a Zoom invitation, you never know what background you might find us in.
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Employees care less about their environment as a workplace, and more about it as an experience, and specifically an emotional connection to organisational values, purpose and culture. Such is the assertion of CBRE in their workplace review (find it here) of North American workplaces. This survey looked at what is important to employees in order to enhance their workplace experience.
The top five factors as reported in the survey are:
CBRE share some very interesting insights as to how this impacts on workplace design, three of which are:
The whole report is well presented and easy to read, and has some very far reaching implications on office design.
Dr Warrick Long, Senior Lecturer and
Postgraduate Leadership Studies Coordinator
While working from home is not a new concept, Covid-19 has forced even those who have been skeptical of its virtue into a situation where we have no choice and are required to adapt very quickly to a world of home offices and virtual meetings.
As a manager you are learning to manage, communicate with, and support your employees remotely.
As an employee you are perhaps struggling with team communication, having to develop technical skills, and adjusting to a new workspace.
As humans we are all working through the natural emotions that come from having our sense of normalcy stripped by a worldwide pandemic, while at the same time trying to perform our jobs and adapt to our new realities.
Below are a list of tips and resources you can refer to for guidance on managing your employees remotely, working from home yourself and supporting your wellbeing in this time of change and uncertainty.
Managing employees remotely
Working from home
Supporting your mental health
Provided by Jolisa Rabo, Human Resources Officer
Avondale University College
I tried very hard to get work during high school, but was never successful, mainly because in those days after school jobs typically went to kids whose parents knew somebody in the business. For different reasons, many school leavers today still don’t have any work experience, and face the difficult task of getting that first full-time job.
A recent article in HRM online (read it here) advocates that it can actually payoff to hire candidates without work experience. The main advantage is that they’re a blank slate, and “if you select the right person at the start they can grow with the company and you can actually mould these individuals to exactly what you want.”
The article provides plenty of very useful advice on how to ensure you select the right candidate, and it is well worth reading the full article (which only took me 4 minutes). But as a teaser, listed below are five things you can look for when considering someone with no work experience:
You may be missing a potential goldmine of great employees if you are not considering those with no work experience. Next time its appropriate, give some of these ideas a try.
Dr Warrick long, Senior Lecturer and
Leadership Postgraduate Course Convenor
Here For Good is a podcast series from leading researchers at Avondale University College. This episode features our very own Dr Peter Williams from Avondale Business School in conversation with Associate Dean (Research) Associate Professor Carolyn Rickett. The subject: Educational leadership and organisational change.
To listen, just click here.
Coronavirus (Covid-19) has created a great deal of uncertainty for individuals and business alike. Will we get sick? When will food reappear on supermarket shelves? How will our business survive such this period of reduced income? For employers and employees alike there is also uncertainty over entitlements to leave for scenarios such as school closures and isolation periods.
Australian Business Lawyers and Advisors have provided a guide for employers around leave obligations and various isolation scenarios. You can read the full updates here (12 March 2020) and here (17 March 2020), however some key points are:
It is important to remember that everyone is in new territory right now and as much as possible employers and employees need to work together, support each other and be flexible with each other to come out the other side of the Covid-19 wave as smoothly as possible.
It is important to remember that everyone is in new territory right now and as much as possible employers and employees need to work together, support each other and be flexible with each other to come out the other side of the Covid-19 wave as smoothly as possible.
Special Contributor Jolisa Rabo,
Human Resources Officer, Avondale University College
An Australian Paralympic basketball and sailing medallist, and now politician has spoken at Avondale as part of its annual celebration of International Women’s Day. Liesl Tesch has so many achievements to her name they have to be summarised to fit on her Wikipedia page. In her address to the Avondale Women’s Network (AWN) on Tuesday March 10, Tesch shared the high and low moments of her life and career, reminding her audience it is our responsibility to do great things with the path we have found ourselves upon and to advocate for women who have less than we do.
Tesch became an incomplete paraplegic after a mountain bike accident at age of 19 but discovered during her recovery that she had a talent for basketball. She would compete in the Australian national basketball team at five Paralympics and became the first woman to play the sport professionally and the only woman on the professional wheelchair basketball teams she joined in Madrid, Sardinia and Paris. She helped to establish a women’s wheelchair basketball league in Australia and in Europe. In 2009, Tesch was a part of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and then joined Daniel Fitzgibbon to win a gold medal in sailing at the Rio games in 2016.
One of the things Tesch is most passionate about is advocacy, with her most recent career move, after decades of high school teaching and professional sport, into politics. Tesch is Member for Gosford in the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of New South Wales, where she represents those in the city and also those who have needs but no voice. Her call to action for the women of Avondale: to get political and to advocate for those who need us.
The women’s network is headed by Avondale Business School Head Associate Professor Lisa Barnes.
