No one could have ever predicted the effects COVID-19 has had on our everyday lives. Although, it has allowed us all to press the pause button on our lives and reflect, which has been refreshing, for the most part. With the new year approaching, motivation is at an all-time high. Make sure you use this energy to do some good, make change and grow your knowledge. And, with 2021 looking like a normal-ish year in Australia, it’s a great time to focus on yourself and learn something new, make a career change or upskill to land a job.

A Gap Year Alternative

Year 12s experienced a disruptive year from both a learning and social perspective. University students also had a full-on year, and it hasn’t been great for those who planned to travel either. If you’re contemplating a gap year in 2021, be prepared for continued restrictions on travel. Nevertheless, if you’re prepared to be flexible, there are plenty of opportunities to make a great gap year out of 2021.

Any work, whether related to a career path or not, will put you ahead of the game. Part-time work in a bar or café is great experience, and you’ll earn some extra cash too. The best part is that there is demand for employees to fill hospitality positions in the Northern Rivers, so finding a job may not be so hard, if you’ve got your RSA & RGC certificate and Barista Training.

Receiving training from a recognised training organisation such as North Coast Community College gives your qualification credibility and is a good move if you want to work overseas at some point too. This way you can prove with a certificate that you are qualified to be behind an industrial coffee machine or pouring drinks at a bar. With overseas travel pretty much out of the equation for 2021, use next year to set yourself up as a more attractive employee to Australian and international employers for now, and the future.

Make a Career Change

Feeling like you need a complete refresh for 2021? A career change might be something you’ve been putting off for a while, but 2021 is the year to tackle it head on. North Coast Community College has many options when it comes to qualifications that will change the direction of your career path.

Getting out of the office 9-5 is a popular reason why people choose to take a career change. Finding a more meaningful job that makes positive change is also a big one. With Australia’s ageing population growing, Aged Care is one of the few industries where job security and new opportunities are almost guaranteed. The college runs a CHC33015 Individual Support (Ageing) in collaboration with Whiddon Maclean. It’s a six-month course, preparing you to with real world and practical skills for employment, starting on 1^st February 2021.

If learning about the environment, agriculture, land conversation and/ or bush foods piques your interest, look no further than North Coast Community College. The college has recently launched a new training facility and a series of qualifications that will give you practical, hands-on skills to set you up for a career in the primary industries. 

Maybe construction is where you want to go next, and if so, you’ll need a ‘CPCCWHS1001 – Prepare to work safely in the construction industry’ (aka White Card) before you jump into any role. White Card training is required by anyone who wants to carry out construction work, including site managers, supervisors, surveyors, labourers and tradespeople. The course at North Coast Community College is accredited by SafeWork NSW and is a general induction training for anyone entering the industry.

Upskill to Improve Yourself

Education is an investment in knowledge that pays the best interest. Having qualifications in First Aid, CPR and Emergency Response is a highly valuable quality for anyone. No matter the situation, feeling confident knowing what to do if someone around you requires a first aid response is an advantage in any industry, especially if you’re wanting to work with children or in Aged Care. Having this in your back-pocket when going for any job, in any industry is a nice bonus too.

Learning something new just because it’s something you’ve always been interested in is an excellent reason to start a course or qualification in 2021. North Coast Community College have a series of courses in self-development, from learning how to excel at Excel, to basic bookkeeping and managing workplace teams. Learning keeps our brains healthy and it’s important we never stop.

2021 might just be your best year yet! Challenge yourself and try something new, set yourself up for success and reap the rewards with accredited and non-accredited training at North Coast Community College.