Office administration is now a combination of information technology, human resource management, office resource management, written communication, verbal communication, research and budgeting. All areas of modern business and government require experts who can implement and manage office administration systems. Efficiency can only be achieved if the people working with technology and new administration systems are trained specialists ... anyone for coffee?

As a trained office professional, you will gain skills that you can transfer to any area of business or government operations. You can combine your training and experience in office administration with your other interests.

There is a spectrum of specialist areas you can enter:
- arts administration
- legal and paralegal administration
- medical administration
- music industry administration
- human resource management administration
- local government administration
- State Public Service
- Australian Public Service
- educational administration
- hospitality administration
- tourism administration
- sports and recreation administration
- advertising and marketing administration
- banking and finance administration.

If you are interested in this area of study and work, ask yourself if you are suited to the demands of the job. Here's a quick checklist:
Are you (or can you be)...
- efficient and organised
- polite, well-presented and punctual
- well presented
- skilled in spoken and written English
- able to work independently and part of a team
- able to follow instructions
- discrete and ethical?

You can use office administration as a path to other careers. It is a great place to start if you are unsure about exactly where you want to go in the future because you will learn skills that you can use in any job.

Office administration is also a great way to learn information technology skills that are used in business and government operations. If you like working with computers and you are thinking about how you can combine your interest in IT with business, think about office administration.

Wages and conditions for office administration work vary according to your qualifications, experience and your employer.

Find out about your entitlements from the Australian Services Union.

You can research NSW awards on the NSW Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) website
or you can contact the NSW DIR Award Enquiry Service or your local NSW DIR office.

WageNet gives you information about Federal awards. You can ask for help by filling in an online enquiry form or you can contact the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) WageLine.

If you are interested in studying office administration as part of your HSC, consider doing a part time school-based Vocational Education and Training (VET) traineeship:
Certificate II in Business - Office Administration
Certificate II in Information Technology.

TAFE NSW offers a range of training options in office administration:
Office trainee
Certificate II in Business
Computing Skills for the Office - Statement of Attainment
Introduction to Microsoft Office - Statement of Attainment
Word Processing - Statement of Attainment
Office manager courses
Certificate III in Automotive Services - Administration
Certificate IV in Business Administration
Diploma of Business Administration.

TAFE NSW also offers a selection of courses in Business and Public Administration.

If you're not at school and you want to combine workplace training and study, consider a New Apprenticeship in business services or public services.

You can choose from a range of private training providers. Make sure that you only deal with government-accredited private training providers. Check out the credentials of private business colleges by contacting the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET).

There is a list pf private training providers recommended by ACPET on the Job Guide 2002 website.

Australian Institute of Office Professionals (NSW)
GPO Box 3167
Sydney NSW 2001
www.aiop.com.au

Business Services Training Australia
Level 7, 163 Eastern Road
South Melbourne VIC 3205
T (03) 9645 7555
F (03) 9645 7556
E admin@bsitab.org
www.bsitab.org

Australian Services Union, NSW Clerical and Administrative Branch
Level 7, 321 Pitt Street
Sydney NSW 2000
T (02) 9264 8211
E offce@asuclerical-nsw.asn.au
www.asu.asn.au