The Innovation Centre has welcomed another new entrepreneurial company focusing on digital technology to its growing hub of innovative businesses. eLearning Australia are the latest company to join the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Innovation Centre and are making an impact using online platforms to make learning in the workplace more efficient and effective.

Prior to August 2008, Graham Rodgers, founder and Managing Director of eLearning Australia worked as a Human Resource Manager for a large electrical contracting business on the Sunshine Coast where he developed a passion for online learning. In this role he implemented a strategic plan of delivering theoretical training to apprentices through online methods.

Graham’s employer utilised this method, which essentially eliminated classroom delivery of the training and employed the world wide web. As a result, they were awarded the ‘Employer of the Year’ in the Australian Training Awards in 2007.

The online training methods provide mutual benefits for the employer and the apprentice, such as flexibility and time arrangements.

After the successful implementation of the online training systems within the company, other businesses showed significant interest in applying the training to their workplaces. As a result the product needed further adaptation, and hence, eLeaning Australia was launched by Graham and his wife Melody.

Graham’s previous company are now one of the key employers utilising the services of eLearning Australia.

eLearning Australia currently provides training for people completing electrical and telecommunications apprenticeships. Mr Rodgers commented, ‘we are currently in discussions with several industries regarding training for other areas and it is likely that the next significant area we will undertake will be an allied trade’.

“We also deliver company specific training packages such as staff induction and occupational health and safety courses” he continued, ‘which brings huge benefits to the company by having consistent information given to all staff and the ease of updating when necessary’.

eLearning Australia is driven by Graham’s background as an electrician, which enabled him to become a trainer in his field, wife Melody’s Science degree which assists with research for courses and daughter Talia’s degree in Learning Management.

The team now consists of six staff, incorporating significant growth since beginning in August 2008, including one Information and Communication Technology graduate from the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast provides attractive office space packages and is currently home to around 30 businesses within the Digital, Clean-Technology and Creative sectors.

‘We chose to locate our business from the Innovation Centre because of the vast variety of innovative companies based here’ Mr Rodgers said.

‘It allows us to network with other companies and work in an environment that is conductive to forward thinking, which keeps us on our toes’ he continued.

Innovation Centre CEO, Colin Graham said, ‘eLearning Australia are another great company taking traditional businesses into the future of online technology and allowing them to compete in an increasingly competitive business world’.

For more information on eLearning Australia visit www.elearningaustralia.net.au or for more information on the Innovation Centre visit www.innovation-centre.com.au, phone +61 7 5450 2600 or email innovationcentre@usc.edu.au.

From 5-12 September 2009, 50 cyclists and support crew will tackle a gruelling 1600 kilometre cycle through Queensland in only eight days. It’s our way to raise funds for cancer research and remember our mate Adam Smiddy who lost his life to melanoma.

More than 100,000 Australians are diagnosed with cancer each year and too many good lives are lost to this devastating disease. We are united by a passion to make a difference.

I invite you to join the fight against cancer. Support our team as they tackle one of Australia’s most demanding endurance events knowing your donation goes directly towards world-class research which will one day save lives.

This video was created from footage shot in 2008 and provided to Reflected Image. We scripted and edited a fifteen minute “mini documentary” which was presented and voiced by Duncan Armstrong. The video will be used to promote the Smiling For Smiddy charity ride and to encourage donations at various events as well as being streamed on their site http://www.smiddy.org.au

[vimeo width=”500″ height=”450″]http://www.vimeo.com/4974679[/vimeo]

The Strong Arm Strap is an innovative yet simple device that helps prevent injury for transport workers opening and closing tautliner curtains. Produced for the clients website www.strongarmstrap.com

[vimeo]http://www.vimeo.com/4708653[/vimeo]

Reflected Image PRoductions are one of the first owners in Australia of Panasonics new full 1920 x 1080 progressive scan HD camera. Capable of shooting in the highest quality AVC intra format which is full 1920 x 1080 progressive it ensures we are capable of acquirung the highest quality images suitable for todays high resolution displays.

Guests at Wednesday night’s ‘Angels & Demons’ premiere event raised much-needed funds for local charity, Bloomhill Cancer Help.

The event which started at the Pig’N’Whistle with drinks and nibbles and finished with the premiere screening of ‘Angels & Demons’, attracted more than 130 Sunshine Coast movie goers and raised more than $2, 900 for the charity.

Mentored by Michelle Smytheman from Reflected Image PRoductions, four University of the Sunshine Coast PR students, Chloe Sollom, Eugiena Pratley, Jacinta Krause and James Caffery, started planning the event in early March as part of a ‘Production Workshop’ offered by the university which allows PR students to apply their skills in a real-life situation.

‘Previous USC PR students have been offered great jobs in the industry largely because of their Production Workshop and Internship experience’, said USC lecturer, Dr Amalia Matheson.

‘We actively involve industry professionals in our teaching to make sure the degree is relevant and integrated with both business and the broader community’.

‘This approach which underpins our new public relations degrees, has resulted in a 66 per cent increase in enrolments in the program’.

‘These industry elements set the Public Relations degree apart from others so our graduates have recent experience working on high-profile projects. It gives them an edge with employers.’

It is the first year that Bloomhill have partnered with USC students through the Production Workshop program.

Bloomhill president, Geoff Morton, is encouraged by the group’s progress and feels this mutually beneficial partnership for both Bloomhill and students is one that could continue into the future.

‘The students get to put their newly-found PR skills to practice while raising much needed funds for Bloomhill so it really is a win-win situation’, he said.

‘These students planned this event with no budget so to have raised $2, 900 for Bloomhill is a great achievement.’

One of the event organisers and USC PR student, Chloe Sollom has thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

‘It has definitely been an invaluable learning experience and I feel really fortunate to have been involved in planning an event that is going to benefit such a worthy cause’.

‘Helping to plan this event has made me feel more confidant about my PR capabilities and much more self-assured about entering the workforce.’

All funds raised from the event will go directly to Bloomhill Cancer Help so they can continue to provide their many invaluable care and support services to local people with cancer, their carers and family members.

Just thinking you have a great product or service is not enough when it comes to setting up your own business, according to the experts at the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast.

According to Innovation Centre entrepreneur-in-residence Nigel Hall ensuring you have a potential market might seem obvious but for many business founders failing to research this aspect of their business results in early failure.

Nigel will be one of five experienced and successful Sunshine Coast entrepreneurs presenting at the Innovation Centre’s one day intensive Start It Up! program for people wanting to launch their own business.

“Researching your product and potential customers is a vital step in business planning,” Nigel said.

Nigel said once business founders had identified and matched their personal goals with specific business
ones, it was important for them to ensure they would be fulfilling a market need.

“It’s all very well to have a great idea and think you know what people want but you need to do some
research to ensure what you think about your target demographic is right.
“Without a clear idea of who your potential clients are and their habits you could completely miss their needs.

“Having the support of family and friends is great but business people really need to get some good honest
and unbiased feedback and some hard facts about who their target demographic is,” he said.

“To do this you need to identify what benefits your potential clients receive from using your product or service
and use that to create an appealing pitch around the product and value proposition you can market. Most
people do no buy on technical features, they buy on utility. Its this message of utility you need to find within
your product description to attract clients.”

The one-day program will also include presentations by Sixty Second Parent CEO and founder of the internationally successful automated software development company Typefi Systems, Steve Huff, Innovation Centre CEO Colin Graham and founder and author of the ENACT suite of business programs, Trevor Holmes.  There will also be an Open Forum with Steve Huff, Trevor Holmes and pioneer of the start-up Proscribe Medical Communications Dr Karen Woolley.

The intensive and practical one-day Start It Up! Program, on Friday 5 June, will cost $295+GST per participant.  In addition to the one-day program, the cost includes a complimentary 1-hour Start It Up! Consultation with Innovation Centre entrepreneur-in-residence Nigel Hall (valued at $250), a complimentary initial consultation with either Hemming + Hart or Redchip Lawyers to assist you in setting up your business legals (valued at $200) and a 20-page Start It Up! Booklet – 10 Action Steps to Realising Your Entrepreneurial Ambitions (Valued at $49.00).

Numbers are limited so to book or for more information call 07 5450 2600 or visit www.innovation-centre.com.au.

While it was a wet weekend, there was strong support from Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival organisers USM Events, competitors and the crowd for the nominated charity Bloomhill Cancer Help.

In addition to the fantastic race events throughout the weekend of events from 27 to 29 March, there were several fundraisers for Bloomhill, with competitors also encouraged to donate to the worthy Sunshine Coast charity.
The Sunshine Coast organisation that assists people living with cancer, is very grateful to USM Events for supporting the work they do which includes offering practical as well as emotional support for people with cancer and their loved ones, including counselling, support groups, complementary therapies and transport.
Bloomhill, which relies on the generosity of the public and funds generated by its seven Op Shops, offers a “safe haven” for people with cancer and their families.  We focus on survival and quality of life and walk with our clients from the day of diagnosis, through treatment and on to the survival stage or for some the final stage of grief and loss.
“The public has shown amazing support for us over the 11 years since Bloomhill was created which has helped us to build an organisation that supports and assists over 700 clients,” Bloomhill Committee Member and Triathlon competitor, Brett Graham said.

“And it was great to see that support extend to the Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival,” he said.

Brett said not only were Bloomhill volunteers collecting donations and selling raffle tickets throughout the weekend, people also supported the organisation at the Bloomhill Brekky BBQ at The Courier-Mail Superkidz event.

“Bloomhill is able to provide services because of the generosity of the public so we would like to thank USM Events for their strong support and for the opportunity to raise funds and awareness at the Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival,” he said.

He said everyone at Bloomhill was very excited about the thousands raised and were looking to being presented with the funds on Tuesday.

Coolum author, Pam Hardgrave, who admits she is well into her 70s, is on a roll having just released her second book in less than a year.

Pam said she believed you were never too old to learn or to fulfil a dream.

“I have always been interested in writing but publishing a book was a dream – one I am very proud to have now fulfilled twice so far,” she said.

“When I retired to the Sunshine Coast a friend inspired me to venture into a new world, when she said ‘Are you going to die here?’, (no doubt meaning: are we going to shift again in a few years) but I realised I needed a new interest to stay young in heart, so I enrolled at University of the Sunshine Coast.  I became so involved I completed a BA Communication and went on to gain an Honours degree in Creative Writing under the guidance of Gary Crew,” Pam said.

Her new crime novel, What Lies Within, is suitable for young adult and adult readers who relish a mystery and the drama of emotions that a murder provokes.

Of the book, Sunshine Coast Daily columnist and author himself, Peter Richardson said – “Don’t give this book to your teenager.  Read it first, and then leave it in the loo.  That way, he or she is more likely to pick it up and read it from cover to cover in one sitting.”

The novel is Pam’s second major publication.  She completed her novella, Seesaw, which was released last year, as part of her Honours degree at University of the Sunshine Coast.

Pam is active with writers and writing events as president of the Sunshine Coast Literary Assn Inc. and founder of the Coolum Wave Writers group.

“I intend to keep learning from others and having fun playing with words for the rest of my life,” she said.

What Lies Within hits the reader in the opening lines when Kristy, a young teen, and her boyfriend, Ryan, stumble on a body in a nature reserve.  That’s when the nightmare begins.  A crime scene.  A community in shock.  Who can be trusted?  Kristy determines to find the killer.  But she can’t look into people’s minds to see what lies within.  Is she in danger too?

Find out more order your copy today by email: pamh@ozemail.com.au, phone 54 716 739. RRP $25

Pam will also be the special guest at a “Meet the Author” event at the Noosa Library on Tuesday 26 May, at 10am.  Attendance is free but booking essential.  To do so call 07 5442 4411.

With just over a week left before the Bloomhill ‘Angels and Demons’ Movie Night funraiser on Wednesday 13 May, the event looks like it will be a sell out.

Tickets are selling fast for the event so if you don’t want to miss out book soon.

Guests attending the exclusive premiere screening of ‘Angels and Demons’ at an evening fundraiser for local charity, Bloomhill Cancer Help on May 13, will be among the first in the world to see the film before its highly anticipated global release on May 14.

‘Through the generous cooperation of the Maroochydore Birch Caroll and Coyle cinemas and Sony Pictures, we have been granted the exclusive rights to screen “Angels and Demons” before its global release which means our guests will see the film even before the stars hit the red carpet at some of the premiere events,’ says event organiser and University of the Sunshine Coast PR student, Chloe Sollom.

‘Angels and Demons’ which is based on the adaptation of Dan Brown’s best selling novel, is expected to ride on the success of its prequel, the internationally acclaimed, ‘The Da Vinci Code’ which went on record as the second biggest film debut for the opening weekend at the global box-office with an estimated $US224 million in earnings following its 2006 release.

The premiere event will begin in the function room of Sunshine Plaza’s Pig’N’Whistle pub from 5pm, where guests will be served a welcome drink and a selection of finger foods before being ushered to the premiere screening of ‘Angels and Demons’.

Not only that, guests will be in the running to win great lucky door prizes, some of which will include a facial from Linda’s Beauty on Buderim, Birch Caroll and Coyle movie vouchers, goodies from San Churro Chocolateria and a selection of wines from the Buderim Tavern. There will also be fabulous raffle prizes including five $100 gift vouchers from Joanne Mercer shoes and a selection of Yves Saint Laurent beauty products.

‘I feel really fortunate to be involved in planning such a great event,’ says Miss Sollom. ‘It provides an opportunity for people to enjoy a glass of wine and a good film with friends while making a contribution to a worthy cause.’

Chloe Sollom, along with three other 21-year-old USC students, Eugiena Pratley, Jacinta Krause and James Caffery started planning the event as part of a ‘Production Workshop’ offered by the university, which gives public relations students the opportunity to apply their skills in a real-life, practical environment.

‘The Production Workshops give USC students a competitive edge that better prepares them for the workforce. Previous USC PR students have been offered great jobs in the industry largely because of their Production Workshop and Internship experience,’ said USC lecturer, Dr Amalia Matheson.

All funds raised from the event will go directly to Bloomhill Cancer Help so they can continue to provide their many invaluable care and support services to people with cancer, their carers and family members.

Tickets to the event cost $30 and include a complementary drink on arrival, finger food, entry into the movie screening and entry into the lucky door prize.
To buy tickets to the event, post your name, guest names, address, phone number, e-mail address and a cheque or money order to Bloomhill Movie Premiere, PO BOX 5477, Maroochydore BC 4558, or simply drop into the Bloomhill centre at 58 Ballinger Road, Buderim. For any enquiries, please contact Chloe on 5445 4389.

Enjoying the fine food of Lyn’s Place restaurant at Minyama will take on extra meaning on 22 May, when Lyn holds a special fundraising dinner for Bloomhill Cancer Help.

Lyn Howard, owner of the two-year-old restaurant, has a special place in her heart for the Sunshine Coast based charity that raises much-needed funds for those living with cancer.

“My husband died of cancer 28 years ago and there wasn’t any kind of organisations like Bloomhill around,” Lyn said. “What they offer is unique and really important for people going through this traumatic time.”

The Fundraising Dinner at 66 Jessica Boulevard will provide guests with pre-dinner canapés, a three-course meal and wine for $95 per person.

The menu will include Pan fried plump Scallops on crushed peas topped with candied pancetta, Confit Lamb served on soft herb polenta with oven roasted seasonal stone fruit, and Assiette of Chocolate and Hazelnut for dessert.

“We call our menu ‘global eclectic’ representing our experiences of flavours experienced throughout our combined worldly travels”.  Bloomhill Cancer Help is run by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, and provides assistance to any person going through cancer by offering; counselling, massage, a buddy system, respite care and many other services.

Lyn said that she was a long time supporter of Bloomhill and she was thrilled to be able to give something back to the organisation that provides vital assistance to many families affected by cancer and their families.

Tables of six or eight inside and outside dining will be available and there will be auctions and prizes drawn throughout the night, beginning at 7pm.

For more details, please check the website – www.bloomhill.com.au or to book your ticket please phone Lyn’s Place on 5477 5420.