Get Qualified Australia Pty Ltd, known as ‘Get Qualified Australia’ or ‘GQA’ was, up until recently, a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) company that assisted job seekers in turning their on-the-job experience into a qualification in industries ranging from the automotive industry to business and beauty. It described itself as ‘Australia’s leading Skills Recognition & Recognition of Prior Learning Specialist’.
THE STORY SO FAR
Late last year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) successfully obtained an asset freezing order (pending further legal action by the ACCC) in the Federal Court of Australia against Get Qualified Australia, GQA’s sole director and shareholder, Adam Wadi, and Mr Wadi’s spouse, Lama Al-Natour. The ACCC then filed substantive legal proceedings against Get Qualified Australia and Mr Wadi, alleging:
- misleading or deceptive conduct in contravention of the Australian Consumer Law 2010 (ACL);
- false or misleading representations in contravention of the ACL;
- unconscionable conduct in contravention of the ACL;
- contravention of the unsolicited consumer agreement division of the ACL;
- unfair contract terms under the ACL.
Specifically in respect of Mr Wadi, the ACCC alleged that he ‘aided, abetted, counselled or procured and was directly and indirectly knowingly concerned in each of GQA’s contraventions of the ACL’.
GQA has now declared that it is unable to pay its debts and is now in liquidation. It has left thousands of students who were in the middle of obtaining their qualifications after having paid fees to GQA, as well as many students who were already claiming refunds from GQA. A creditors’ report revealed that the company owed over $1.5 million to creditors including Facebook and Google AdWords. Blair Pleash of insolvency firm Hall Chadwick has been appointed as the liquidator for GQA and has said that it was “not looking good” for customers and creditors as the company itself did not have a large amount of finances in their bank. The creditors report revealed that GQA has only $1,600 in cash in its bank account and an apparently overstated $210,012 in plant and equipment. It has been reported that, up until shortly before Mr Pleash’s appointment as liquidator, GQA staff members were still contacting clients advising that they had established a whole new service team and requesting the payment of fees.
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national regulator for Australia’s vocational education and training sector. They regulate courses and training providers to ensure nationally approved quality standards are met. GQA is not itself a registered training organization (RTO), In March, the cancellation of RTOs owned or operated by GQA and Mr Wadi by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) was confirmed by the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal. Those cancelled RTOs were Get Qualified Australia Adelaide, Get Qualified Australia Canberra and Get Qualified Australia Brisbane.
The ACCC claims that GQA call centre sales staff were motivated by their sales targets. It was alleged that consumers were advised and assured that they were eligible for qualifications by sales representatives who had no idea whether or not the consumer was eligible or not.
Numerous consumers were signed up, charged fees ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars and then GQA never communicated with them again and their much sought after qualification was never acquired. Staff members of GQA pressured consumers for upfront payments before they could reveal any information regarding how they could go about gaining their qualification.
The ACCC also alleges that the company itself had a “money back guarantee” in where consumers were promised their money back if they didn’t receive their qualification but the company almost always declined refund requested when consumers did not receive their qualification.
Recently, the Federal Court heard the ACCC’s claim, in which it seeks orders for consumer refunds, monetary penalties, declarations, injunctions, orders for corrective publication, the implementation of a trade practices compliance program, and legal costs. However the likelihood of this occurring is low as GQA is now in liquidation. The ACCC also seeks orders against Mr Wadi disqualifying him from managing corporations.
Alongside the legal action being taken against GQA by the ACCC, Qualify Me! has also taken legal action against GQA for trademark infringement and misleading and deceptive conduct.
THE RESULTS
As a result of the legal case the ACCC has brought against GQA and GQA’s collapse into liquidation, we have received a large number of student enquiries requesting support in achieving their desired qualifications. We are very concerned for students who have already paid for qualification services and prepared all or a substantial part of the required evidence, yet are now faced with having to pay for the full RPL process again.
The Qualify Me! Team have finalised a tailored model of their RPL & Skills Recognition programs that is designed to allow ex-GQA clients to continue their RPL process with Qualify Me!, saving them both time and money compared with the alternative of having to start from scratch and pay again in full. There are still some challenges in such a model, for example our evidence collection criteria is aligned closely with industry and performance criteria as per the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) standards and may therefore differ to what was requested of them prior.
Students who have been impacted should try the Qualify Me! Free Skills Assessment to get started on our program. Unfortunately, we may not be able to service all students as we have become aware that a number of students previously on GQA's books do not meet our RPL Program entry criteria. Students who do not qualify for our RPL program, have the option to undertake suitable nationally accredited vocational courses.
Our management team empathise with the number of students involved and would like to do our part for the industry. To date, we have already established a dedicated student support team to cater for the high demand of applicants coming across. This student support team is there to only work with those students who have been affected by GQA and with this comes several benefits, some of which include quick one-on-one service, supporting you when needed and ensuring faster processing time. Students impacted by GQA’s liquidation have been offered discounts, in some cases below cost, as a step forward in fulfilling our corporate social responsibility.
Here is a list of Qualifications we can help with:
Make the switch! Let Qualify Me, Qualify You!
Product
Don't focus on being the cheapest Product - When it comes to fighting off your competitors, an attractive price point tends to rank pretty highly when winning over new business. After all, a large percentage of your clients will be shopping around for the best deal on the market when looking to make a big purchase decision.
But customers also know that a poor job could cost them down the line. So, while price is important, a good deal means nothing if your client is going to have to get another trader to fix the job within 6 months.
“[Customers] want to work with the trades business they like the best, trust the most, the one they feel comfortable with, the one they feel confident who will do a good job on their Project,” says Small Fish’ Jon Dale.
“They all know what they want. They’ll want it cheaper, but they don’t want the sh*t trades business.”
Dale argues that for most customers price is an afterthought – once they’ve secured a good tradesman, that’s when attempt to haggle down the cost of the service.
“They don’t want something rubbish,” Dale continues. “They want the good thing. They want it cheap if it’s possible.”
Instead, focus on the quality you offer. Aside from price, what separates you from your competition? Perhaps it’s your flexibility, your premium customer service or your reliable service guarantee. Dale suggests taking the time to talk to customers in order understand their needs and expectations from the job you are doing.
“Not just a technical solution and not just gathering information so you can give them a quote, but actually understanding what’s important to them in this project. And then, explain how your business will give it to them,” he adds.
“It involves understanding what they’re afraid could go wrong in this project and explaining to them how you and your business and the service you provide will help protect them from those things.”
Instead of focusing on cutting corners to offer a competitive price, think about the value of the service you offer. Ultimately, most customers are willing to pay a bit extra knowing that the service has been completed to the highest standard, the process has been smooth and no shortcuts have been taken.
Looking to start your own business? Head to Qualify Me! to see how a tradesman coach like Dale can give you the keys to success.
Thinking of applying for your kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation licence with NSW Fair Trading? If you have the skills, knowledge, and experience, the Qualify Me! recognition of prior learning (RPL) program can help speed up the process.
If your skills are certified by our RPL program, you’ll be awarded a nationally recognised qualification which you can use to apply for your licence. There’s no need for classroom study, and you can receive your certificate within 4-6 weeks. It’s cost-effective, fast, and easy. In this article, we’ll answer all your burning kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation licence questions, and you’ll discover how RPL can help.
Why do I need a kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation licence?
Kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation licences are becoming increasingly popular, especially for plumbers and carpenters looking to expand their business offerings. But why do you need one?
According to Fair Trading NSW, you must have a licence before you do any residential building work in NSW valued at more than $5000 (incl GST) in labour and materials, including kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovations.
Renovations include installation, refurbishment, restoration, and on-site repairs of a kitchen, bathroom or laundry. It doesn’t include work affecting any internal or external load-bearing part of the building that is essential to the stability of the building, including things such as foundations, floors, walls, roof, columns, and beams.
If you’re a carpenter, joiner, plumber, or tiler and you want to organise full-scale kitchen, bathroom, and laundry renovations, you’ll need this licence to subcontract work out to other trades.
Without this licence, you cannot hire subcontractors from other trades.
What are the different types of kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation licences?
There are three types of kitchen, bathroom, and laundry renovation licences available through NSW Fair Trading. You can use your nationally recognised qualification achieved through our RPL program to apply for whichever licence applies to your situation.
Contractor licence
A contractor licence allows you to contract and advertise to do work. You can only do the types of work described on your licence card. Contractor licences can be issued to individuals, companies, and partnerships.
Qualified supervisor certificate
A qualified supervisor certificateallows you to supervise and do the work described on your certificate. Qualified supervisor certificates are only issued to individuals and do not allow you to contract for work.
Endorsed contractor licence
An endorsed contractor licence is issued to individuals who apply for a contractor licence and who also have the qualifications and experience needed to be a qualified supervisor.
Who Can Get A Kitchen, Bathroom And Laundry Renovation Licence?
To be eligible for a kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation licence, you need a current endorsed contractor licence or qualified supervisor certificate in one of the following trades:
- Carpentry
- Joinery
- Plumbing
- Wall and floor tiling
You also need to complete certain units of competency outlined on the NSW Fair Trading website as outlined on our Kitchen, Bathroom & Laundry Renovation Licence.
That’s where the Qualify Me! RPL program comes in — if you have on-the-job experience, you may qualify for RPL. This means you can skip the classroom study required to complete the units of competency and instead be awarded a certificate that proves you have the skills required to attain your kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation licence.
What Work Experience Do I Need To Qualify For RPL?
To qualify for our RPL program, you’ll need to have worked on kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovations while being supervised by someone holding either a kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation licence or a builder’s licence.
The RPL process requires the licensed supervisor to sign a testimonial to vouch for your work experience, skills, and knowledge.
You’ll need at least x years of work experience to qualify for this RPL program.
What If I’m Qualified In Another State Or Internationally?
Are you already qualified in another state? You can apply for a licence directly with NSW Fair Trading under the mutual recognition system.
If you’re qualified internationally, you can enquire with NSW Fair Trading to check if you’re eligible to apply for your license. However, you’ll most likely be referred to an RPL organisation like Qualify Me! to confirm your skills and experience before applying for your licence.
How long does the RPL kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation course take?
It can take up to six weeks from application to approval. In the first two weeks, we’ll collect evidence to prove your experience; then, we’ll pass your information over to one of our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) partners, who will assess your skills and knowledge for each unit of competency.
RTOs can take up to four weeks to award your qualification. However, in most cases, we can reduce your total wait time to just four weeks.
How Do I Apply For My Kitchen, Bathroom And Laundry Licence After The RPL Program?
Once you’ve been awarded your nationally recognised certificate, you’ll need to collect the following:
- Details of any past or current licences or certificates you hold
- An original copy of your trade qualification and your nationally recognised RPL certificate
- Details of your employment and experience
- Details of any past compliance issues, insolvency matters, or criminal offences (if applicable)
- One passport size photo
- Proof of identity
You’ll also need to complete an application form, an application checklist, and an additional detail form/s if applicable.
You can lodge your application and pay your licence fee at your local Service NSW centre. Find out what fees apply in your circumstances here.
Next Steps: Free Skills Assessment
Think you’ve got the skills, knowledge, and experience to qualify for the kitchen, bathroom and laundry renovation licence in NSW?
Take our free skills assessment to see if you’re eligible for our RPL program, or contact us for more information.
Everyone wants to run a big booming business, dominate the industry and see their name on the cover of Forbes. But most businesses, not just in the trade sector, start from humble beginnings - think tech giants such as Amazon whose founders built the business from the ground up – starting with a bit of spare change, and working out of a quiet corner in their garage.
While you might have been fortunate enough to start your business from a small office space, as opposed to a garage, chances are you’ve found yourself with the same big ideas.
So what happens when your small team starts to expand? No doubt you’ve found yourself in limbo – you’re neither Apple nor a lemonade stand – so how do you establish where you sit on the scale of small to big business?
First, it’s important to differentiate between the two.
“When you’re small, there’s only a few of you, overheads are very low, you probably work from home, you can all talk to each other all the time, systems aren’t as necessary because you’re all there, helping each other out,” says Small Fish’ Jon Dale.
“You can cope, you can manage the workload and the stress load, and the number of things you need to think about.”
Meanwhile, according to Dale, big businesses require a more systematic approach, with a higher level of staff. Dale also emphasises the importance of having a a number of well-oiled machines operating:
Marketing machine
Sales machine
Operations machine
Back office machine
The people running those machines
You overseeing
In that transition period from start-up to big player, there’s a stressful period where you don’t quite have the systems in place to manage the change in workload.
“In between, when those machines aren’t quite built, but it’s too big, and there’s too much going on for you to be holding it all in your head, it’s a bit hard to work,” Dale continues.
“So that transition from small to big goes through a difficult patch at the period of stress and work and pressure when you really need to push on through to the beautiful other side and it’s hard work.”
When any business expands, you’re ultimately going to face a period of growth that’s hard to keep up with. However, maintaining momentum will help you shift from ambitious start-up to booming business.
Looking to start your own business? Head to Qualify Me! to see how a tradesman coach like Dale can give you the keys to success.
While showcasing your new business and establishing a point of difference in the market is crucial, if your customer isn’t willing to fork out the cost of your service, your business is invaluable. After all, that’s what can separate you apart from other competition, especially in a congested market.
When it comes to delivering a quote, there are a couple of options to ensure that you give your client an accurate but fair estimate.
Cost Plus Pricing
“With cost plus, you (can) give your customer an estimate of the cost of the job (or you might not, it’s not necessarily part of the deal) but what they pay is how long it took at your hourly rate and materials and subcontractors plus your margin,” says Small Fish’ Jon Dale.
In this particular scenario, the client pays for the length of time it takes you to complete the job, as well as the materials used. It’s a low-risk method for the business and is common for jobs that are hard to price.
However, you still need to give a rough but accurate estimate. If you underquote and the job ends up costing far more, the client won’t be happy and might even try to contest the final fee. Which in turn can damage your business reputation as one that over-charges or rips off its customers.
Fixed Price Quoting
“Fixed price quoting, on the other hand, has you commit yourself to a fixed price for the job. You have to estimate how long it will take, allow for how much stuff you’ll have to buy and how much you’ll have to pay any subcontractors and then, commit to doing the job for that amount,” says Dale.
When it comes to a job that’s difficult to estimate, this can prove terrifying and your budget may blow out – unfortunately, it’s up to you to cover any unexpected costs.
Which is best?
Well according to Dale, there’s only one right way: fixed price costing. Dale suggests that having a price in mind for the job brings certainty to the client – they know what they’re getting into and you don’t have to face any awkwardness should the job take longer than expected.
“The problem lies in the communication of this,” continues Dale. “It’s rare that a customer hears an estimate and understands the difference between that and a fixed price quote. It’s common for documentation to be a bit loose or almost non-existent.”
When wires get crossed, that’s when you can run into trouble.
“It leaves the door open for things to go horribly wrong, for disputes and ill-feeling, work getting done and not paid for, all that.”
Reflecting on his own experience, Dale explains how one of his clients organised an extension and renovation on a cost-plus basis.
Although the builder estimated a similar price to the customer’s budget, he also pointed out that there may be unexpected and additional costs.
After a verbal agreement, more expenses arose and extra remedial work was done - the customers started running out of money earlier than the construction was progressing. Because of the initial estimate, the customers were still convinced the project would only set them back the quoted amount.
“Despite open communication about the extra cost, it didn’t end well. No testimonials from those people,” says Dale.
“A fixed price quote, with rules about variations wouldn’t have solved their budget problem but it would have made the problem obvious sooner and in writing. A solution could have been found before work was done and money spent.”
When it comes to choosing between the two, the choice is obvious for Dale: fixed priced quotes help manage expectations and avoid any uncomfortable conversations.
Looking to start your own business? Head to Qualify Me! to see how a tradesman coach like Dale can give you the keys to success.
All Accountants including any tradies accountant is responsible for keeping and interpreting financial records for individuals and organisations. Their work covers a wide range of finance-related tasks including creating and maintaining budgets, auditing, recording business transactions, preparing financial documents like profit-and-loss statements and reports for tax purposes. Accountants can also choose to specialise in areas such as management, taxation, trusts, funds and systems, to name a few options.
A nationally recognised Diploma of Accounting is an effective way to begin your career in the financial sector, helping you become recognised for prior learning, land an entry-level job or go onto to further studies such as a degree.
Through your studies you will learn:
- Skills in budget management and forecasting
- Preparation of financial reports and taxation documentation
- Implementing internal control procedures
- Management of accounting information
You’ll also develop your communication, organisational and customer service skills, and gain real-world experience making you job-ready from the moment you graduate. Upon completion you’ll be eligible to be recognised as a Registered Tax Agent with the Tax Practitioners Board.
Those with a Diploma of Accounting often work as bookkeepers, payroll managers, assistant accountants and accounts supervisor.
You can also continue your education. A Diploma of Accounting is a vertical pathway to an Advanced Diploma of Accounting. You can also study degree level qualifications through a Bachelor of Applied Commerce or a Bachelor of Business. These degrees are prerequisites for attaining a Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting – an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited postgraduate qualification and an internationally recognised designation.
There are a range of different Registered Training Organisations (RTO) around the country that offer the course. Studying a Diploma of Accounting at TAFE is a popular option for many students.
Many education providers allow you to study a Diploma of Accounting online, giving you the flexibility of organising your study around your life.
The duration of the course differs depending on the Registered Training Organisations, but generally takes two years to complete with approximately 15 hours of study each week.
To be eligible to study a Diploma of Accounting you’ll need to show evidence you have completed one of the following:
- Accounting Principles Skillset
- Certificate IV in Accounting or equivalent
- Certificate IV in Bookkeeping or equivalent
Year 12 applicants or recent high school graduates must provide evidence of having completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (Year 12) within the last 2 years.
If you have relevant experience or international qualifications in the field, you may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is an assessment process that considers an individual’s relevant prior learning – through life experience, work, or activities such as volunteering, in Australia or overseas – to determine if they meet the requirements for a unit of study.
RTOs consider these existing skills and knowledge to assess whether a person demonstrates the required competencies needed to meet the relevant Australian standards. They can provide a credit against units of competency, allowing an individual to gain eligibility for a formal qualification or reduce the amount of time required to achieve a formal qualification.
Also keep in mind that other qualifications can be a pathway to an accounting career such as the following courses:
Diploma of Leadership and Management: The ability to motivate and manage a workforce is beneficial in any industry. Transferable leadership, strategic and operational skills improve your promotion prospects and open doors to a range of career options. Recent events have proven that now, more than ever, expertise in navigating teams through major change and using innovation to overcome obstacles is highly sought after by employers.
Leadership and management have different but complimentary skillsets, working together to inspire, motivate and optimise employees to meet the strategic goals of an organisation. A Diploma of Leadership and Management is a nationally recognised qualification that can help you develop both.
What is a Diploma of Leadership and Management?
A Diploma of Leadership and Management (BSB51918) will teach you the skills required to excel as both a leader and a manager in any chosen field.
Through theoretical coursework you will learn how to:
- Use emotional intelligence to communicate with team members, helping you to get the best out of staff and successfully resolve conflict
- Develop and manage budgets and operational plans, while managing risk and improving processes
- Support staff recruitment and manage people performance
- Develop policy and procedure to facilitate continuous improvement
Your studies will also develop skills in self direction, discipline, critical thinking, communication, innovation and organisation.
If you have relevant experience or international qualifications in the field, you may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is an assessment process that considers an individual’s relevant prior learning – through life experience, work, or activities such as volunteering, in Australia or overseas – to determine if they meet the requirements for a unit of study.
RTOs consider these existing skills and knowledge to assess whether a person demonstrates the required competencies needed to meet the relevant Australian standards. They can provide a credit against units of competency, allowing an individual to gain eligibility for a formal qualification or reduce the amount of time required to achieve a formal qualification.
Diploma of Leadership and Management job opportunities
Leadership and management qualifications can help you develop in your current employment and set you up for a range of career opportunities. You’ll be equipped to work in roles such as corporate services managers, middle managers, production manager and supervisors.
You can also further your studies with an Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management, or direct degree articulation pathways in a Bachelor of Business, a Bachelor of Business (Management), Bachelor of Commerce (Major in Management) or a Bachelor of Management.
Where can you study a Diploma of Leadership and Management?
There is a range of different Registered Training Organisations (RTO) around the country that offer the course, studying a Diploma of Leadership and Management at TAFE is a popular option for many students. Many RTOs offer studies for Diploma of Leadership and Management online. Entry requirements differ amongst RTOs with some needing a English proficiency to a year 11 level or equivalent qualification at the Certificate III level or higher, or 3 years of work experience in a role that requires the use of written documentation and communication.
It’s recommended that you are experienced in leading or supervising teams, you’re comfortable working with others, you have strong interpersonal communication skills, and you’re confident with technology.
Tradie business : The concept isn’t just relevant to the corporate world. Tradesman business coach Jon Dale wants to ‘normalise’ your profits and losses to help you find out how your company is actually tracking. He discusses the process of crunching the numbers on his website, Smallfish.com.au, forecasting recurring monthly revenue and expenses to help calculate your real profit.
When it comes to a successful business, revenue can seem irrelevant without calculating your expenses. It’s all well and good to have money coming in, but if your losses far outweigh your sales, chances are you’ll find yourself in the red.
“Basically, we look at the income - (invoiced) revenue is what we see, assuming you do your accounting on an accrual basis,” says Dale.
“Whether your customer has paid that invoice yet or not, is not what we’re looking at yet. So we’re not looking at your cash position. We then think about how normal that income is.”
Once you’ve been trading for several months, you can get a good idea of how ‘normal’ your revenue is – putting inflated invoices aside, how regular and consistent are the payments?
“That’s what I mean by normalising – you can’t just take the numbers at face value, you have to think a bit,” Dale continues.
“Recently, I’ve been making sure to make allowances for the JobKeeper and cash flow boost payments. If we look at revenue and gross profit and net profit and some payments have been received, they inflate the profitability artificially, don’t they?
“It’s a true reflection of the profitability of the business because the money really came in, didn’t it? But it doesn’t help us understand if things are going okay, so (in our heads, at least), we track it out.”
When you ‘normalise’, you see past the one-off payments that affect your balance sheet. Using an example of one of his clients, Dale explains that “every month we look at revenue and consider whether the revenue is coming in at the same rate the costs are going out.”
‘Normalising’ profit and loss is part of Dale’s wider idea that all successful businesses need systems in place.
He suggests that when the company isn’t performing well, having a plan in place can help identify the root cause and help you identify and fix the problem.
“The first step is being clear that there’s a problem, isn’t it? And the P&L (normalised) is where we’ll see if we don’t have the systems in place (yet) to measure other things,” Dale adds.
“It’s a great check to do. If things are shifting (hopefully, in the right direction), something we’re doing is having an effect and if things have shifted in the wrong direction we’re aware of it soon, and we can identify and fix the problem.”
Looking to start your own business? Head to Qualify Me! to see how a tradesman coach like Dale can give you the keys to success.
The information in this article is general in nature. Your situation may vary so if you are seeking financial advice please speak to a professional.
Qualify Me: When you think of iconic tackles in Rugby League, a couple of cinematic moments come to mind: Scott Sadler chasing down Todd Byrne in the 2003 Grand Final and Sonny Bill’s shoulder charge on Joel Clinton. But few hits compare to Gorden Tallis’ 2002 State Of Origin collar-grab on Brett Hodgson. The Queensland enforcer ragged-dolled the NSW fullback, dragging him by the shirt more than five meters towards the sideline.
Fast forward nearly twenty years and Tallis is still one of the most respected personalities in the Rugby League community, this time as an expert commentator with Fox Sports and a columnist with The Courier-Mail. Nicknamed the “Raging Bull,” the former second-rower began his footy journey with the St George Dragons before moving north to the Brisbane Broncos. He scored 79 tries in 258 appearances across club, state and country in a career that lasted 12 years.
The fearless hardman also captained his country, took out the Clive Churchill Medal in the 1998 Grand final, and won three premierships at the Brisbane-based club.
Gorden Tallis’ State of Origin career
Although the edge forward dominated opponents for the best part of a decade, much of Tallis’ heroics came during his State of Origin career. While he’s best known for the tackle that sent Hodgson over the sideline, the veteran also captained his side to three straight series wins from 2001 to 2003, leading a rookie Queensland Origin team to victory.
Tallis appeared 20 times for Queensland, including three outings during the Super League era. He captained the side on seven occasions and managed four tries.
Tallis’ post-footy career
Two years after retiring in 2003, Tallis was nominated to the NRL Board and just three years later he was named in an Indigenous Australian Rugby League Team of the Century. His biggest honour, however, came in 2018 when he was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame.
With most NRL careers barely lasting 15 years, even legends of the game worry about the longevity and what comes after retirement. For that reason, Tallis understands the importance of upskilling and choosing an occupation with a clear career trajectory.
The NRL Legend has also given back to the community in his post-footy career. Along with his work at Qualify Me!, Tallis has become an ambassador for the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane while working with grassroots footy through the NRL Kids to Kangaroos initiative.
His reputation as an unflinching competitor has also attracted numerous offers to take part in charity boxing bouts.
Tallis’ work ethic both on and off the field makes him a natural fit as an ambassador of our organisation.
Want to secure your future or consider a change of career path? Head to Qualify Me! to see how your current experience and previous learnings can translate into a more exciting profession.
Qualify Me : We are excited to announce that Qualify Me! has become a proud sponsor of the footy! Our team has already attended corporate box games, and, as you can see from the pictures, we had a great time!
We would also like to congratulate Luca Z on winning our ticket giveaway for himself PLUS 3 mates! Keep an eye out for future giveaways, our kiosk, fun activities and the Qualify Me! girls and team at future games at the ANZ stadium from July and beyond!
Sieders : Dave "Sideways" Sieders, the undisputed fast-man of the Australian V8 Ute Series - fuelled by Hog's Breath Cafe, will sport new backing as the Championship comes down to the wire at his hometown track at Homebush Olympic Park this weekend, 5-7th December 2014.Sieders:
Having recorded 17 pole positions in just under five years, more than any other driver in the Series history, the 30 year old from Western Sydney was a natural choice for trade and skills recognition provider Qualify Me! as he chases a maiden title, with 140 points remaining and 61 points to the lead.
"It's really exciting to bring a new brand into motorsport, especially one that doesn't have a direct link to the automotive industry," said Sieders, "we've been on pole twice at Homebush, including last year, but with backing from a business like Qualify Me! I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a little extra pressure to qualify at the front this time around".
"It's great to see a business with such enthusiasm behind everything it does, and they've already worked this new partnership into their regular operations and marketing, which I know some people have already heard on the radio."
Specialising in trade qualifications and skills recognition, Sydney-based Qualify Me! has offices throughout the world and offers over 500 different certificates and diplomas that incorporate all trades, business, finance, accounting, hospitality, aged care, child care and logistics, with the process often completed in a four week period.
"Working with a lot of tradies, the V8 Utes was a natural fit for us to involve ourselves with the interests of our own demographics, and when we were given the option on the top qualifying driver in the Series, it made the decision very easy," said Qualify Me! CEO, Wagdi Andrawis.
"It's something new for us, but we've already worked it into our advertising campaigns, we have had Dave record some new radio ads, and we're giving away a few prizes tied to the race team."
Having finished in the top three of the Series for the past four seasons, Sieders' will need more than a bit of luck to go his way to move up from second position and take out his maiden V8 Ute Championship.
"There is a fair amount of points to Kris, but there's enough points there to get the job done," said Sieders, "Homebush is one of those tracks where a mistake can be very costly, and with the quick turnaround between some of the sessions, anything is a possibility, so we'll push right to the end".
The Australian V8 ute Racing Series will hit the streets of the Homebush Olympic precinct for two practice sessions on Friday, with qualifying and race one on Saturday at 9.30am and midday, and the final two races of the year on Sunday at 9.30am and 2.15pm.
Races one and three will be broadcast as live on 7Mate at 12.30pm on Saturday and midday Sunday.
"We've had a shot at winning the Championship every year in the Utes, and you get a little boost knowing you have a lot of family and friends trackside to spur you on, it's a great way to finish the year."
- ends -
ARMOR ALL DRIVERS LEADERBOARD - TOP 5
P. DRIVER (CAR #) MAKE POINT
1 Kris Walton (#68) FG FORD UTE 850
2 David Sieders (#8) FG FORD UTE 789
3 Jesse Dixon (#49) VE HOLDEN SS 745
4 Rhys McNally (#26) VE HOLDEN SS 713
5 Ryal Harris (#1) FG FORD UTE 702
AUSTRALIAN V8 UTE RACING TOP POLE WINNERS DRIVER POLES
1 Dave Sieders 17
2 Grant Johnson 13
3 Warren Luff 9
4 Ryal Harris 7
5 Marcus Zukanovic 7
6 Jack Elsegood 6
7 Gary Baxter 5
7 tied at .... 3Sieders
Christmas give away: Interview with Shane Hall plumbing skills recognition client of Avalon
– winner of the Qualify Me! 2014 $10,000 Christmas Giveaway
[Interview Audio transcript]
Interviewer: James Choucair (Business Development Manager)
Interviewee: Shane Hall (Qualify Me! Certificate III in Plumbing client)
Location: Qualify Me! head office 70 Parramatta Rd, Croydon NSW 2132
Date/Time: 2pm on 23rd of December 2014
Tell us a bit about yourself?
“I grew up on the Northern Beaches and did my whole apprenticeship. I went to TAFE and did my certificate III & IV [in plumbing] but uhhh TAFE sort of stuffed me around and um you know I did all my exams failed one, and had to go back and do it again; and then I passed it but they didn’t put it back into the system. This is like 6 years ago. And like I went back to them and said bugger that I’m not going to go through all that trouble, so that’s when I came to Qualify Me!
How have you found the process of skills recognition at Qualify Me!?
Its been pretty good.
What was involved?
“As soon as I called up Ray, he sent me all the details and I came in a week later with my transcripts and all that and handed it in. A few weeks later I had a competency conversation and that’s it.
Did you have to collect photo evidence as well?
Oh yeah, photos and videos and all that, it’s all been handed in and everything else.
Great! Where are you going with this plumbing qualification?
So I want to start my own thing up next year think when I can.
Would you recommend our services?
Yeah hundred percent, easy as.
Would you encourage youngens to take up plumbing as a future career?
Oh definitely, I just like it being out and about not being stuck on the same job everyday and just being outdoors.
And the question we all want to ask, where is the 10k going?
It’s going to go straight into my savings for a house deposit. Its really hard at the moment [to save up] so this will go a long way in getting me on my feet.
Shane, thanks for your time today and congratulations once again on your win!
Thanks heaps guys.
