YOUR STUDENT ASSOCIATION MAG

● ● NEWS ● ● EVENTS ● ● DEALS ● ● HEALTH ● ● ADVICE ● ● FOOD

MORE THANjust STUDYING?

NEW BEGINNINGS, NEW YEAR, NEW HOME

A CHANGE IS (ALMOST) AS GOOD AS A HOLIDAY

A FRESH START

FREE ISSUE 01 FEB 2013

STUDY OR

RELAX

HEADS UP

LOVE BANANA (BREAD)

hmM,

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CONTENTS● ● 05 WELCOME:

a message from the college director

● ● 07 YOUR SA: at TAFE it’s not just about studying

● ● 09 EVENTS: a look at what’s happening during term one

● ● 11 CAREER: a new direction for your future

● ● 13 LAW: tips for moving to a new home

● ● 15 MIND: prepare yourself for a fresh start

● ● 17 LIBRARY: the place to study and chillax

● ● 18 FOOD:the perfect, reliable, great-every-time banana bread recipe

● Editor Wei Weng

● Designer Wei Weng

● Contributors Diane CravenCareers ConnectBrenda StaggsCounselling and Career Development TeamSutherland College Library TeamWei Weng

● Email si.sutherlandstudentassoc@tafensw.edu.au

● Phone Gymea 9710 5094 ▪ Loftus 9710 5856

● Address Gymea: Building D, Room 22, Cnr Hotham Road & Kingsway, Gymea 2227Loftus: Building A, Room G26, Rawson Avenue, Loftus 2232

The Student Association is a nonprofit/political/religious organisation. The Student Association at Sutherland TAFE publishes its magazine “the sutho” every six months. All articles and comments are gratefully received and should be sent to si.sutherlandstudentassoc@tafensw.edu.au. The Student Association will review all submissions and determine in its absolute discretion whether any submission shall be included in the magazine. The Student Association does not guarantee that any submission will be chosen for publication for current or later issues.

The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Student Association, unless explicitly stated. The Student Association accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any of the opinions or information contained in this issue. This publication and all information, data and images (’the material’) is subject to copyright under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) and it is owned by the Student Association. This publication of any of the material must not be copied or reproduced, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of the Student Association.

editorial

get in touch

YOUR STUDENT ASSOCIATION MAG

ISSUE 01, FEBRUARY 2013 © TAFE SUTHERLAND COLLEGE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

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WELCOME

Welcome to Sutherland College for the 2013 academic year and I trust you will enjoy your learning and life experience whilst you study with us.

Sutherland College assists in training and assessing around ten thousand students each year and

has developed a reputation of being a leader in providing career pathways through a wide range of educational programs.

Sutherland College is made up of two unique and dynamic campuses located at Gymea and Loftus at which we provide high quality learning and social environment which is friendly, safe and free from harassment.

To support your learning experience at Sutherland College we can provide services to assist you in a range of areas. These services include quality teaching and learning facilities, Library Services, career and personal counselling, multicultural language support, teaching consultants for students with disabilities, literacy and numeracy support if needed, access to the Childcare Centre at Loftus Campus for students with children, Loftus Gymnasium open to the public and cafeteria facilities on both campuses which provide food and refreshments at a very high standard. If you need information on any of these services, please don’t hesitate to talk to any of our staff who should be able to assist you.

I encourage you to participate in Student Association activities to make your learning experience a more memorable one. Services such as Careers Connect and the Legal Service are provided by your Student Association.

For any enquiries about academic records, TAFE identification card, travel concessions, course information and e-services access to your student records, please contact our administrative staff or either campus.

Finally on behalf of all the college staff I would like to congratulate you on your decision to study with us and wish you an enjoyable learning experience.

College Director,Diane Craven

“The Student Association is a key representative group which inputs into the social and academic life of students whilst on campus.”

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outdoor furniture, relax in the student lounge, play table tennis, ball games or video games, watch TV or enjoy a lunch hour BBQ with entertainment, we offer something for everyone!

If you are passionate about live music, art, filming, or DJing then enter our national competitions for your chance to win some amazing prizes and get your work seen and heard. All events, activities and competitions will be advertised on notice boards around both campuses. Alternatively “like” our Facebook page and you won’t miss a thing!

All students and staff of Sutherland College can join the Student Association. Membership costs only $20 for the calendar year and gives you heaps of discounts and benefits! The earlier you join the sooner you can start saving!! You can either sign up at the Student Association offices

Life as a student is about having fun, making new friends and getting involved in a range of social and recreational activities.

more than STUDYING

JOIN UP

Sutherland Student Association is the centre for social activity

and financial savings on campus. We aim to improve the out-of-class experience for our college community. Whether your needs are cultural, social, recreational, health or sporting the Student Association works for you by providing a range of quality facilities, services and activities to help you make the most of your time at Sutherland College.

The income collected from Student Association membership fees is reinvested into improving services and facilities to make Sutherland College a better place to study. We have been actively working during 2012 to improve the campus environment — major projects include new filtered water coolers, planter pots, plants for the cola area, installation of a water system for the childcare centre from a rainwater tank at Loftus campus and wooden screening around the air- conditioning units.

As a TAFE student you are involved with the Association in many areas — whether you purchase mobile credit, USB drives or movie tickets, print in the Library, borrow DVDs or novels from the Library, have lunch in the canteen, use microwaves, sit on the

Words: Student association

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YOUR SA

or pay by credit card or EFTPOS at the cashiers in the main office.

To receive benefits you will need to have your Association membership sticker on your TAFEcard. This can be done on enrolment days or in the Student Association office, just bring along your receipt with proof of membership and we will look after the rest!

The Student Association is a student oriented organisation. To have an active and effective Association, student input is vital. The Student Association is managed by a Board of Management made up of students and staff who are elected at the Annual General Meeting.

The Board is responsible for making recommendations for spending funds collected from membership and income generated from services provided by the Student Association. Being on the Board is about directing a small business, marketing services, managing budgets, running meetings

and developing interpersonal skills to work as part of a team involved in providing activities, services and facilities to ‘make campus life better’.

Your Association will provide training, support and recognition for the skills developed and experience gained. The Certificates of Recognition and a reference from the Association and College Director are valuable additions to your résumé.

The Student Association acts as a united voice for the needs of its members. So have your say and consider nominating yourself or another student for a position on the Student Association Board of Management. Make campus life better for yourself and other students by what you say and do.

To become a Board Member, simply apply and attend the Annual General Meeting held at the end of February or register your name at the Association Office.

If you require any information about the Board, AGM, or the Student Association and its services just call into the office or phone Gymea on 9710 5094 or Loftus on 9710 5856.

GET INVOLVED

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EVENTS

HEADs UPDon’t miss out on

these great events.

free fruit salad & yoghurt at the loftus canteen11:30am - 1:30pm

free fruit salad & yoghurt at the gymea canteen11:30am - 1:30pm

loftus: free spray on tattoos at the cola area12:00pm - 2:00pm

gymea: live music near the pavilion12:00pm - 1:30pm

loftus: join the sa board free bbq11:30am - 1:00pm

gymea: student services info day and free gelato near the pavilion11:30am - 1:00pm

loftus: student services info day and free gelato at the cola area11:30am - 1:00pm

gymea: live music near the pavilion12:00pm - 1:30pm

Thu 7 feb

WED 13 feb

mon 18 feb

tue 19 feb

Wed 20 feb

loftus: live music at the cola area12:00pm - 1:30pm

gymea: join the sa board free bbq11:30am - 1:00pm

international women’s day celebration at the cola area, loftus campus 11:30am - 1:00pm

free donuts at the canteens at both campuses10:30am - 12:00pm &5:00pm - 6:00pm

harmony day celebration at the cola area, loftus campus11:30am - 1:00pm

free easter eggs from the association offices building d at gymeabuilding a at loftus12:00pm - 4:00pm

thu 21 feb

thu 7 mar

tue 12 mar

thu 21 mar

Wed 27 mar

*free stuff available for members only. the event details subject to change.

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A change is (almost) as good as a holiday

There’s nothing like a fresh start to get you feeling all enthusiastic again is there?

you to take a risk and have a go at that career you’ve really wanted to get into all along, but have been too busy working to have the time! In this case, look at your situation as an opportunity to re-invent yourself, particularly if you’ve been working in a certain area for a while and it has gotten stale.

Whatever the reason for change, you’ll need to take a look at your resume. Does it suit the new career you are looking to get into? Try to highlight the skills and attributes you have that relate to your new area of interest. Think about all the experience you have had in the past in your previous roles. You might be surprised to find you have transferable skills that you can bring to a totally different career area.

Consider including a ‘Career Objective’ section to your resume and/or a Cover Letter. These let you get across the passion you have for your new direction and why. Bosses want people who are passionate about their work and are often willing to overlook lack of experience in favour of training a person who is enthused about what they do and eager to learn!

Perhaps you need to learn new skills or qualifications? If so consider enrolling

Whether it’s moving to a new place, starting a new relationship

or buying a new pair of shoes, a new beginning is sure to make you feel revitalized. The same goes for your working life too!

Depending on who you talk to or what articles you read, it’s said that most of us will change career more than a couple of times in our life. As we all live longer, we will work for longer. This probably means that, over the years, the areas we are interested in, career & job-wise, will also change.

But jumping from one career into something totally different might not be so easy...so why would you do it? And how do you do it effectively?

People change careers for a number of reasons. They may find that what they were into 5 years ago no longer interests them. It may be that technology has made their job redundant. They may have had a passion for something all along but were just never sure how to make a living out of it and so went down another path. Or they may simply want a better work/life balance or to do something that makes a difference in the world. One common is reason to change is after being laid off. Finding yourself without a job is often the perfect push that inspires

Words: careers connect team

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CAREER

in a course. If you don’t have any practical experience in the new field, perhaps consider volunteering - not only can it give you valuable skills to put in your resume, it might also lead to industry contacts or an offer of paid work. Consider part time or casual work. This can allow you to gain valuable experience in your new area whilst leaving you time to study or to work in your current field to ‘pay the bills’.

Remember, whether we like it or not, chances are you’ll spend a good chunk of your life at work, so why do something that doesn’t make you happy, satisfied or interests you? As the old saying goes, if you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life, so maybe it’s time to take a risk and go for what you really want to be doing. Who knows where it might lead you?

Careers Connect@SI runs FREE Employability Skills Workshops such as Résumé Writing, Job Search Strategies, Cover Letter Writing, Selection Criteria and Interview Skills every term.

Our workshops will assist you in gaining the skills and information necessary to successfully enter the workforce. Whether you are looking for full-time, part-time or casual employment our workshops will assist you in marketing yourself to potential employers.

To book in to these workshops simply:

1. Log in to www.sydneytafe.edu.au/careersconnect using your DEC Student Portal username & password (Don’t forget if you have never accessed Careers Connect, you will need to register to access Careers Connect before you can log in).

2. Click on “View Upcoming Events” under the events section (left hand menu.

3. Go to “workshops” and click on “View all” then select the workshop you are interested in.

4. Click on “Book in to attend this event” at the bottom of the workshop description (Workshop bookings open 7 days prior to the scheduled date.)

5. Don’t forget to turn up on the day at the time & location listed with previous examples of job applications or resume if you have them as well as pen & paper.

Please note that bookings are essential as places are strictly limited.

WORKSHOPS

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oral. All agreements must follow the Residential Tenancies Act 2010.

A landlord should provide the tenancy agreement in writing. If not, then during the first 6 months of the tenancy, they cannot increase the rent and cannot end the tenancy without a legally specified reason.

There are two types of agreement:

• Fixed term – for a specified period

Starting Tafe this year and moving out of home for the first time, or just

moving houses? Here are a few things that you should know. Where possible you should always get any agreement that you make in writing. A residential tenancy agreement is a contract. It has standard ‘terms’ that are the tenant’s and landlord’s rights and obligations.

Tenancy agreements are usually in written form. They can also be oral (e.g. a conversation with the landlord), or partly written–partly

New Beginnings,New YEAR, NEW HOME

Our Legal Service professional tells you how to prepare for moving into a new home.

Words: brenda staggs, legal service solicitor

agreement

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LAW

(e.g. 6 months). • Periodic – no fixed term is

specified.

At the start of every tenancy you should be given the following by the landlord or agent:

• a copy of this information statement;

• a copy of your lease (tenancy agreement);

• 2 copies of the premises condition report (more on that later);

• a bond lodgment form for you to sign, so that it can be lodged with NSW Fair Trading; and

• keys to your new home.

The first thing you should do before you sign the lease is read it thoroughly. If there is anything in it which you don’t understand, ask questions. Then make sure that:

• you have read the lease;• you know the length of the lease

is negotiated before I sign, which means it can be for 6 months, 12 months, or some other period;

• you have been offered at least one way to pay the rent which does not involve paying a fee to a third party; and

• you have checked that all additional terms to the lease are legal, for example, the lease does not include a term requiring me to have the carpet professionally cleaned when you leave, unless you have agreed to that as part of a condition to allow me to keep a pet on the premises.

In relation to any promises by the landlord or agent (for example,

replace the oven, paint a room, clean up the backyard etc):

• Made sure these have already been done, or

• Get an undertaking in writing (before signing the lease) that they will.

• Fill in your part of the condition report and don’t forget to return a copy to the landlord or agent within 7 days. This is an important piece of evidence. If you don’t take the time to complete it accurately money could be taken out of your bond to pay for damage that was already there when you moved in.

• Get a letter from Fair Trading sometime during the first 2 months saying that your bond has been received and advising you of your Rental Bond Number. If this doesn’t arrive call Fair Trading to make sure it has been lodged.

It is also a good idea to take photos of the place and what it’s like when you move in, in case there are any problems in the future.

If you rent part of a place from another tenant then you should get a written agreement from them which states what you both agree to. You can get can download a sample agreement from www.tenants.org.au share-housing-agreement.

Hopefully you won’t have any problems with your new home but if you do its best to get legal advice straight away so that you can stay on top of things. You can get advice from www.tenants.org.au or your TAFE Legal Service, call 9217 5473 to make an appointment.

Before you sign

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Welcome to TAFE! You might be here for a variety of reasons; to

get a job, change careers, to get into university or try something new. Whatever brings you here, you have decided to dedicate your time and resources to further study, which is great.

The first few weeks at TAFE can be very energising for some, but challenging and even daunting for others. Remember to be kind to yourself and allow yourself time to adjust to a new environment. For some students sitting behind a desk can feel very strange and maybe classroom learning has not taken place for many years. These experiences are very common for new students, especially in the first few weeks of commencing a course. Meeting new teachers, getting to know your classmates and the handing out of assessments can all be overwhelming, but please remember these feelings are only temporary and if at any time you think it’s all too much, please take the time to talk with your teachers or come and see the friendly TAFE counsellors — Norma, Martina and Elizabeth, before you make any quick decisions regarding your future studies.

A FRESH STARTTips to Start Well and Succeed

on your Learning Journey.

Spending some time working out a study timetable will save you time (and stress) in the long run. Knowing when you have time in the week to study will help you plan to get assessments done on time when life gets busy.

TAFE Counsellors can help you with organising your studies by assisting with setting up a study timetable and planning so you can complete assessments on time.

Don’t forget to schedule some time in for fun stuff and reward yourself for a job well done or when you achieve a goal so you can stay motivated.

Although study-time is important, the stuff you do when you are not studying also has an effect on your experience of TAFE and chances of succeeding as a student. Making sure there is balance in your life will assist you with your energy and motivation levels and act as a ‘buffer’ for when stuff becomes stressful — helping you to be more resilient and handle bumps in the road more easily.

Simple things such as ensuring that

DON'T DROP OUT - DROP IN

GET ORGANISED

LOOKING AFTER YOU

Words: Norma, Elizabeth and MartinaSutherland College Counselling and Career Development Team

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MIND

you are eating healthy food or getting enough sleep are really important. Exercise such as walking on a regular basis can have a huge impact on your overall feeling of wellbeing. It also acts as a stress reliever; burning off adrenalin, relaxing muscles and tiring our body so we sleep better.

It’s important to have some down-time and relaxation when you can do the things you like — this helps you to recharge your batteries so you can stay focussed when you are studying; this might be a cup of coffee with a friend, weights training, a yoga class or listening to music. If it feels like you can’t fit this into an already busy life, then please come visit the TAFE Counsellor for some tips.

If you find that you are struggling or falling behind, seek out some support early so that you give yourself the best chance to succeed.

The Counselling and Careers Development Service can help you with any study or personal challenges

OUR SUPPORT

and help you to make decisions around career and planning your next steps towards success.

There are also Individual Learning Centres and Disabilities Services in TAFE to support your learning. Just ask the TAFE Counsellors how to use these services.

You can contact the Counselling and Career Development Unit at

• Gymea Campus — Building A, level 1. PH 9710 5109

• Loftus Campus — Building G, level 1. Room G1.14. PH 9710 5817 or 9710 5882

Alternatively email us at: SI.ContactSutherlandCounsellors@tafensw.edu.au

If you have an urgent personal wellbeing issue, please see your teacher so they can make contact with us as soon as possible.

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The libraries have fantastic facilities and resources for student use.

These include computers with the full range of programmes offered by the college including Microsoft Office 2010, Typequick, MYOB, and Adobe CS5. The computers also have free access to the internet, so check out the educational uses of Facebook, and Twitter, even connect to your personal email accounts. Remember, you will need your student portal username and password, issued to you at enrolment, to access the internet on campus.

We provide B&W and colour printing and photocopying facilities, student association members receive a 50% discount on costs; binding services for an impressive presentation of your assignment or resume and two group study rooms which can be pre-booked for that all important group

STUDY OR RELAXSutherland College libraries are great places to be at.

assessment task. Each room has a whiteboard, computer, DVD/VHS player together with a data projector. Take advantage of these to practise your class presentations. These are just a few of the facilities available to students. We have an extensive range of resources to support your studies including books, magazines, eBooks and DVDs, together with online access to a huge range of magazine articles for your research reports. Remember, our online resources are available 24/7. If you haven’t studied for a while, or are unsure of where to start searching, get some hints from our subject guides. They will lead you through everything from finding information, looking up the catalogue, accessing online videos, journals and databases, how to study and prepare for exams,

Words: Sutherland College Library Team

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LIBRARY

writing up your reports or essays, as well as showing you how to improve your presentation skills. Also, the libraries have lounge areas to relax and read a newspaper, magazine or book. If you like reading paperbacks, the libraries have quite a selection to choose from as well as movie DVDs, all can be borrowed free of charge and many have been provided by your student association! Free wifi is also available in the libraries, so why not drop in and connect your iPhone, iPad or laptop to access the internet. The libraries are air-conditioned, they are cool in summer and warm in winter. So why not grab your friends and visit the libraries to take advantage of this fabulous resource. Library staff are here to help you find that piece of information you need, are always friendly and approachable, so if you need help with anything in the library, all you need to do is ask. We hope to see you soon at the libraries!

Gymea CampusGround Floor Block APH 9710 5027si.gymealibrary@tafensw.edu.auwww.sit.nsw.edu.au/library/gymea

Loftus CampusGround Floor Block BPH 9710 5834si.loftuslibrary@tafensw.edu.auwww.sit.nsw.edu.au/library/loftus

During TermMonday – Thursda 8.45am – 8pm Friday 8.45am – 6pm

Vacation Hours Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm

contact us

library hours

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Bananas are full of vitamins, minerals, vitamin B6, folate,

potassium and soluble fibre. In addition, full ripe bananas produce a substance called Tumor Necrosis Factor which has the ability to combat abnormal cells. Banana bread is the perfect thing to do with super-duper ripe bananas!

• Dry:2 cups plain flour2 tsp of baking soda1 tsp of baking powder

• Wet:½ cup of melted butter1 cup of sugar½ tsp of salt2 eggs1 tbsp of vanilla (alternatively use caramel)4 tbsp of sour cream

FOOD

LOVE BANANA (BREAD)

• Also:1 tbsp of milk5 large extremely ripe bananas

• Preheat oven to 150°C (although my fan-forced oven often burns the bread at this temperature, I generally use 130°C).

• Line a nonstick cake/bread tin with butter (I use baking paper instead).

• Chop the bananas into a juice mixer, add 1 tbsp of milk, then mix it until smooth. Sift dry ingredients into a different bowl.

• In a different bowl mix the wet ingredients (use electric mixer to make it really smooth).

• Add the sifted dry ingredients, mix again (mix it well). Finally add the mixed smooth bananas, mix again (for about 3-5 mins). Pour into cake tin.

• Bake until “ready”. (My shape of cake tin takes about 90 mins, perhaps because I use a low temperature to avoid burning the outside. Basically you need to keep checking by poking the cake with a stick until it comes out dry or moist, NOT wet.)

The fruit (bread) that everyone loves

Recipe: wei weng

Prepare

Get started

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