I just got back yesterday but it was a 44.7 foot Beneteau. Very nice boat for racing and we took line honors in our class in almost every race. Unfortunately our handicap meant that we needed to win by a little more than we did but we all enjoyed it just the same.
It's at this point I thought "clueless management type".
and there it is, your ilk are the bane of my existence
) ) )
Wish I could help MT
I cant help personally but I have friends who are trying to take more or less the same path as you, but in NZ, so there are probably differences but it sounds more or less the same. They have all worked in CYFS youth facilities for kids who have offended to varying degrees (some quite badly), and others have volunteered for youthline. From what they say it sounds like no amount of volunteering would be too much. Good luck!
I reckon you'd be surprised how much you could learn by just emailing an academic involved in a programme at one of the unis you're interested in. Most probably wont reply but usually uni lecturers are pretty happy helping out with stuff like that, although I've only ever dealt with chemists. Im assuming the volunteering means you're interested in doing some type of clinical psych?
I didn't actually NT. The fact is I have been getting my head around what I actually want to do from here on. I basically have around 9 or so years before retirement age and I have been thinking that I don't actually want to continue down the same path unless it's very local and long term. With that in mind I am now working on a business plan for my own online business. It's going to take a lot of work but the concept is around providing a development and hosting service for Business Intelligence. It's something that I think would provide a lot of benefit to organisations in terms of lower cost BI and it will allow me to work mostly from home. Anyway, the idea is very much in its infancy at this stage and I have only a little idea of what the obstacles will be but in theory it should be workable. Time will tell.
Great idea.
Hi Mighty T, another area you could possibly look is HR given your background. I know it's quite removed from research, research is a very tough gig in Australia as you know. On the other hand, research is a great background to parachute into other areas as it gives real intensity of purpose, a team approach and is very driven to budget, timing and outcome.
I haven't quite grasped the ability to segment a post into separate quotes, so I'll just respond to your paragraphs chronologically
Fair enough, I can definitely understand that if it doesn't line up with your values about education then primary is probably the best option for you. I will say however that your knowledge of subject matter is far less important than your ability to engage with an audience and create rapport with your students.. if you can make that connection and have that buy in, you can teach anything.
Here in lies the big draw card and advantage of primary school teaching, and its great that you've identified that early on. I think if you've got that extra bit of patience you'll do well in the primary sector.
With that I'd probably suggest just diving into the studies, if indeed that is an option. You'll start placement almost immediately and that would be the best way to network with schools and look at volunteering for after hours programs. With the masters you'll do a bit more placement than I did over the two years, which is definitely a good foundation.
I've found that it's fairly easy for students to volunteer their services in extra curricular activities like after school care or some tutoring, but it can be difficult to jump in as a teachers aid or just an observer without a foot in the door. That all becomes a lot easier once a school knows you, or you've had placement there but it's certainly not impossible. I'd look at speaking to one of the assistant principals just as a starting point and just gauge how they feel about it.
Im not as familiar with the Monash and Deakin courses, but I know that Melbourne does a lot for their students and grads because they're incredibly well connected. Also ACU have a very good teaching program from all reports which you may or may not want to consider.
Hope that helps a little.
I can give you some insights. I am not an architect, but have worked in a small-medium sized architecture practice for 15 years. My daughter is an architect, at a large and highly regarded firm in Sydney, with a national presence. My son-in-law runs his own small architecture practice in Sydney.
The bad news is that many architects work very long hours, and do not get paid as well as, for instance engineers, for equivalent years at uni and experience in the work force. The architects I know often do weekend work (no such thing as overtime). And the degree - I am familiar with the programs at Melb Uni and RMIT - is tough, and has a very high drop out rate. I've heard as many as 60-70% of students who start the course, dont finish it. But dont quote me on that, it is just anecdotal. Depending on the type of work, dealing with clients can also be tedious and demanding. In our office, we have a standing rule to never give our mobile phone numbers to clients, or our lives would be hell.
The good news is that it can be incredibly rewarding. Good and beautiful things are created by architects. It is a profession where you can have a positive impact on the built environment, and literally see the benefits of all your hard work.
There are also good and bad architecture practices. I have a list of the bad ones in my head.
I hope I haven't put you off, it is hard work, but there are upsides.
I've heard squarespace.com is good for building your own website, never used it myself thoughWhat a fascinating and amusing thread. Fun to read when I should be working.
I've got an idea for your next one - a doco on that really, really adventurous young guy who flew planes and stuff and ended up in a small plane crash - forgot his name, but a natural hero. Don't understand why he's not an Aussie legend. must look him up.
Yes, and book me into that home.
Not an architect, but used to work in a related field. Most architects love the work, but it's hard to make a good living in the industry at times. In the hard times a lot of young architecture graduates have been forced to work for nothing just to complete their professional practise requirements for registration, which takes 2 years. It can be particularly tough during an economic downturn, especially if you're a sole practitioner. A lucky few prosper and become stars. Some have done very well out of the China boom.
Anyway, any web designers who aren't too pricey out there? My penniless daughter needs a website.
