How to become visual storytelling masters

It seems like the biggest concern everyone on social media has is how do I produce an interesting post and engage with the online community? There are two obvious ways of ensuring this: tell stories and use catchy images. This actually makes a ton of sense. For example, will you be more drawn to a really good novel or a textbook? If you still aren’t convinced, listen to this great podcast by the CBC called Vestigial Tale which explains in evolutionary terms why ‘humans such suckers for a good story’. As for catchy images, well let’s be honest: between a post filled plain text...

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Do you have a bully in your workplace?

Psychopath, sociopath or emotional manipulator? The workplace bully comes in many different shapes and forms, but almost all organisations has one. Research by the University of Wollongong has found that half of all Australians experience workplace bullying at some point in their career, and the consequences for the victim can have a severe effect on their mental health. And when colleagues jokingly say the boss is a psychopath, they might actually be on to something. In fact, psychopaths are just as common in leadership roles as they are in prisons. Research has found that one in...

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Is your company as empathetic as Facebook?

In a recent study published by Harvard Business Review, Facebook was ranked the most empathetic company in the world. The annual study showcases businesses who are “successfully creating empathetic cultures” and scores companies based on: Ethics Leadership Internal culture Brand perception Social media messaging The list of 20 most empathetic companies (which can be found here) includes LinkedIn, Netflix, Unilever and Johnson & Johnson. Empathy is often misunderstood and companies go about making attempts to achieve it incorrectly. It is not trying to solve everyone’s problems,...

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Why we should all take up Chinese

The Federal Government is pushing for Australian school children to learn more languages, and launched a foreign language programme, ELLA, for pre-schoolers to boost international literacy. Currently around 8,500 pre-schoolers around Australia are using the app, with the top three most popular languages being Chinese, Japanese and French, the Adviser reported. “Seeing and hearing young children counting, following recipes and singing in a language that isn’t their native tongue, you understand how engaging this app is and why it has had such positive feedback from kids, educators...

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Greater Sydney Commission unveils 40-year future plan for Sydney

The Greater Sydney Commission has released a draft amendment of its 40-year vision for a liveable and sustainable city. The draft titled ‘Towards Our Greater Sydney 2056’, with its strategy for a metropolis of three cities including; the Western City, The Central City and the Eastern City is set to provide a framework to bring economic and employment benefits. The aim is to drive national priorities tailored to local needs and includes creating a satellite city in Western Sydney around the new airport to be built at Badgerys Creek, which is being delivered by the Western Sydney...

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Mortgage fraud is "systemic" in Australia

Mortgage fraud is systemic in Australia, with more than a quarter of recent home buyers admitting they misrepresented some information on their loan application. The disturbing results come from a survey of 1,228 people who had taken out a mortgage over the past two years, conducted by investment bank UBS. The key finding was that 28 per cent of people surveyed said their mortgage application was not totally factually accurate. Of those who admitted misstating information, the bulk said their application was "mostly factual and accurate". However, one-in-20 mortgage applicants admitted that...

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Aged care workforce on a crutch

A parliamentary inquiry has brought to light concerns of training deficiencies, accreditation needs and future staffing levels in the aged care sector. Almost 300 submissions have been received from both the NFP and for-profit sectors. Chair of the Community Affairs References Committee, WA Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said some of the biggest concerns were around staff training and retention. "The issues that have come up are around inconsistent and inadequate training, remuneration and wages, lack of a career path and concerns about the growth of the workforce into the future,...

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Major reforms to shake up VET industry, loans scheme scrapped as of 1st December 2016

Vocational education, the great hope of the Gillard government to boost Australia’s skills based is an unmitigated disaster. The sector is expected a blowout of $3 billion in public debt this year. While its completion rate for courses is delivered online hovers around 6%. So how did it go so wrong? Starting in 2012 the Gillard announced that publicly funded TAFE’s must now compete with private institutions who has shifted most of their learning online. As a result, the private market had access to public student loans while under its restructure, TAFE had to close its campuses, 5000...

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What is it like working as the Personal Assistant to the UK Prime Minister, David Cameron

Recently, the conference producer of Akolade’s 3rd Annual Public Sector EA & PA Summit, Claire, conducted an interview with Kate Marley who was the Former Personal Assistant and Political Special Adviser to the UK Prime Minister David Cameron to ask her what is it like working for the most powerful leader in the UK. C = Claire, Akolade’s Conference Producer K = Kate, Former Personal Assistant and Political Special Adviser to the UK Prime Minister David Cameron C: Was it always an ambition to work so closely with the Prime Minister? K: I started working for David Cameron when...

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Dreamworld: A case study of ineffective management

I have always had a place in my heart for Dreamworld, the popular family theme park located in Gold Coast. This theme park has always been my favourite among the other theme parks in the same area. With the recent tragedy on the 25th October 2016 that took place on the family ride, Thunder River Rapids, claiming the life of 4 adults due to a malfunction of the system, it has affected me, and many Australian families who grew up with the park, deeply. Dreamworld has 1.8 million visitors each year coming from across Australia as well as the globe. Its tagline is “Happiness”, which...

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It’s not about what you know, it’s about what you want Part 1

First you go to school, then you go to work. They are two major components of most people’s life, yet very separate from each other. If you don’t have the right education, you can’t get the job. It’s as easy as that. Or is it? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are worse off than non-Aboriginal. Only 21 per cent of Australia’s Aboriginal population (aged 15-64) has finished Year 12, an often crucial component to be able to enter employment. It is also estimated that 63 per cent of Aboriginal people feel that lack of adequate training and qualifications are a barrier...

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Why isn’t your supply chain digital?

Digitisation is here, but have you explored the benefits of digital transformation on your supply chain? The figures speak for themselves; a digital supply chain can: Lower procurement costs by 20%, Reduce supply chain process costs by 50%, and Increase revenue by 10% If you haven’t digitised your supply chain, perhaps you need to consider the benefits a technology-assisted chain can offer: Drive customer-centricity In an increasingly customer-to-business global economy, it is vital to align your processes with meeting the needs of your end consumer. We have powerful tools...

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The art of effective listening

Have you ever noticed that most people don’t actually listen to hear what you’re saying anymore? They listen to respond. Rather than taking the time to consider what you’re saying, or why you’re saying it, they’re already ten steps ahead inside their own minds, formulating an answer to give you. When I was a child I read a book my Father gave to me. I can’t remember what it’s called but I can remember one key lesson in it. “When someone is talking to you give them your full attention. Listen, acknowledge, wait for them to finish speaking and then reply.” While effective listening...

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Virtual technology meets fashion

Who can honestly say they grew up watching Clueless and weren’t obsessed over Cher Horowitz’s virtual closet? Now almost 2 decades later, the way technology is moving, you can. Technology is constantly changing and so is fashion. What happens when the two collide? Wearable technologies are becoming one of the biggest opportunities in the tech industries and we are now beginning to see them appear on every item of clothing possible. With more people shopping online, shopping centres are exploring ways of bringing the virtual online world to the high street. Take for example; Westfield...

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