Short Courses


The National Finance Institute embraces online learning to provide trainees with a means to continually expand and develop their knowledge. For anyone looking to attain CPD hours or to expand their skills, a range of professional development courses are available for Online Study. Upon successful completion you will be issued with your personalised completion certificate. This is important as physical proof of CPD activities is essential for many industry bodies. Short courses completed can equate to 3 CPD hours/points (MFAA guidelines stipulate 6 CPD hours per day).

These Short Courses are all online and just $169 incl GST. 

Click Here to see a Fact Sheet on our Professional Development short courses (pdf).

HOW TO ENROL - just click on the blue cross beside the topic of your choice to see a description, then click on the blue button below or the small green Enrol Here button to register. We'll then email you with login details and your receipt.

PDSCOM002

Module rationale: 

We need to understand what it means to be assertive, to learn to demonstrate assertive behaviours and to use these behavioural characteristics when dealing with the conflicts we all encounter in our daily lives.

This module covers:

  • Communication processes
  • Communication Styles
  • Learn to be Assertive
  • Body Language, Negotiation and Non verbals.

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PDSHRM005

Module rationale:

New employees or those who are undertaking new roles need someone to show them what they must do, how to do it, when to do it and the standard to which they should perform.

The module covers:

  • Workplace training
  • Coaching, mentoring and training- Fundamentals, Principles and methods
  • Identifying coaching needs
  • Self-assessments
  • The manager as coach
  • Coaching results—testing/​assessment and providing feedback

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PDSCOM001

Module rationale:

Most of us tend to operate on instinct when we deal with others. We might have an idea that we need to talk to someone about the project they are working on and we might have an idea that we need to ask them for a key date, but that is about as far as our communication planning usually goes. Being aware of the flow of communication and building this awareness into your communication procedures will help you get more out of each interaction.

This module covers:

  • Communication concepts
  • Preventing poor communication
  • Effective communication strategies
  • Electronic/ written communication

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PDSCOM008

Module rationale:

Conducting interviews is one of the most important parts of an effective HR Management process.

This module covers:

  • Selection/ employment interviews
  • Appraisal interviews
  • Grievance interviews
  • Disciplinary interviews
  • Termination interviews
  • Exit interviews

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PDSMGT008                  

Module rationale:

Continuous process improvement means making things better today than yesterday. It is about learning from what was done today so that it becomes possible to do things better tomorrow. It seeks to expose (without blaming) as many issues and problems as possible as opportunities for organisational improvement and then collectively problem-solve to improve organisational processes as part of a cycle.

This module covers:

  • The continuous improvement cycle and why it is important
  • Identifying areas for improvement
  • Production, inputs and outputs
  • Continuous improvement and change
  • Implementing and monitoring improvements

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PDSHTM010                  

Module rationale:

Flexible workplaces are needed because the old-fashioned idea of an ideal worker is becoming less common. The ideal worker is a person who can work full time, and be solely committed to their job, because they are supported by someone who does not work who attends to their non-work needs.

This module covers:

  • Flexible work arrangements and benefits
  • Types of flexible work arrangements
  • Legislation
  • Individual flexibility agreements
  • Implementation plans
  • Managing flexible work agreements

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PDSHLT004

Module rationale:

A safety culture is a culture where a set of core values and behaviours promote safety in the workplace. Each organisation should have its own idea of safety culture (based on procedures, values and behaviours) and involve all employees.

This module covers:

  • Safety culture in the workplace
  • Responsibilities
  • Contributions
  • Safety checks
  • Identifying hazards
  • Risk controls
  • Hierarchy of control
  • Reporting incidents
  • Responding to emergencies
  • Signs and protection

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PDSCUS005

Module rationale:

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction made by a customer. They might be reasonable or non-justifiable.

This module covers:

  • How complaints are made and turning them around
  • Helping customers to complain
  • Complaints handling policies
  • Using communication skills
  • Complaint records and registers
  • Deciding what to do
  • Referring customers on

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PDSCUS001                 

Module rationale:

The first impression a customer gets is the one that lasts. Each organisation has a preferred way, according to enterprise policies and procedures, of greeting the customer, whether it be answering the telephone or face-to-face.

This module covers:

  • Communication with customers, building relationships
  • Personal Presentation
  • Determining Customer needs
  • Ongoing Service

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PDSHRM008

Module rationale:

Changes or additions to our thinking are anchored in behaviours that demonstrate particular learning or knowledge. Learning is, to put it simply and concisely, behavioural change.

This module covers:

  • Learning opportunities
  • Learning needs of individuals
  • Performance management plans
  • Diversity of needs
  • Enhance individual, team and organisational performance
  • Facilitate and promote learning
  • Develop workplace learning procedures
  • Recognition, feedback and rewards
  • Monitoring learning performance
  • Introduce improvements
  • Recording and reporting competency

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PDSHRM003

Module rationale:

Induction is the process whereby new workers, or workers moving from one area/ job to another, are made familiar with the business, the legislative environment, the workplace, the people, and the job to enable them to become productive within a relatively short period of time.

This module covers:

  • Employee induction
  • Developing induction policy
  • Induction programs
  • Probation and feedback
  • Monitoring and evaluating induction programs

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PDSCUS004

Module rationale:

Before you consider customer loyalty - how to get it and how to keep it - you need to know who your customers are and where your customers come from. You need to understand your market and the needs and wants of that section of the market that will purchase products and services you offer.

This module covers:

  • Your customers
  • Service strategies that generate customer loyalty
  • Different customers, different issues
  • Problem diagnosis

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PDSPER003            

Module rationale:

Emotional intelligence (EI) involves our ability to understand, express, and control our own emotions but also relates to the capacity to understand, interpret and respond to the feelings of others.

This module covers:

  • What is emotional intelligence?
  • Signs of high EI, measuring and developing EI
  • Using EI in relationships
  • Emotional intelligence in the workplace and the effect of emotionally intelligent employees on business outcomes
  • Controlling emotions and anger and expressing emotions

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PDSHLT002                     

Module rationale:

A food safety program is a written document that sets out how a business will control all food safety hazards that could reasonably be expected to occur in all food handling operations of the food business. A hazard is something that has the potential to contaminate the food and ultimately cause harm to consumers.

This module covers:

  • Food Safety Code, Programs, HACCP
  • Personal health and Hygiene, PPE
  • Clean work environment
  • Resources and waste management

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PDSHLT005

Module rationale:

Health and safety legislation in Australia is state based; each jurisdiction is responsible for its own laws and regulations. Legislation is uniform, however, because in most states it is based on the same model legislation. This means legislation is fundamentally the same throughout Australia, albeit with slight variations.

This module covers:

  • Preparing for incidents: Health and safety legislation
  • Preparing for incidents: The Emergency plan
  • Preparing for incidents: Equipment used in emergencies
  • Attending an incident: Initial response
  • Attending an incident: First aid
  • Attending an incident: Liaising with emergency services
  • After an incident: Site integrity
  • After an incident: Notification
  • After an incident: Debriefing
  • Investigating an incident: The investigation team
  • Investigating an incident: Investigation scope
  • Investigating an incident: Information sources
  • Investigating an incident: Investigation techniques
  • Finalising an incident: Construct a timeline
  • Finalising an incident: Creating a report

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PDSHLT006

Module rationale:

Part of a leadership role, including supervisory and managerial positions, is contributing to the strategies for meeting health and safety responsibilities. As workplace leaders, supervisors and managers are in a position to implement the processes designed to meet the health and safety obligations. To do this effectively supervisors and managers must be “Safety Leaders”.

This module covers:

  • Leadership
  • Protecting health and safety
  • Consultation
  • Hazard identification and risk assessment
  • Control measures
  • Incident investigation

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PDSHLT007                   

Module rationale:

Understanding the basis and importance of infection prevention and control and their role in preventing the spread of infection, particularly in regard to individuals working in health and direct client care contexts.

This module covers:

  • Infection control
  • Hazards Risks and Controls
  • Clean zones and cleaning
  • Food safety
  • Waste Management
  • Monitoring and investigations, policies
  • COVID-19 workplace principles, infection control policies and procedures

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PDSCOM005

Module rationale:

Negotiation and influence are two, quite different techniques. Influencing is about the ability to have an effect on the development or behaviour of someone or something. Negotiation is the discussion aimed at reaching an agreement.

This module covers:

  • Understanding influence
  • Influencing behaviours
  • Advanced communication
  • Negotiating

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PDSMGT009

Module rationale:

Change is normal and natural for all of us. We change constantly as does the world around us. In the organisational sense, the objective of change must be productive transformation and adjustment that enables increased competitiveness and contributes to the organisation’s ability to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the changing conditions of the business world

This module covers:

  • Interpret the need for innovation
  • Work practices and procedures that support innovation
  • Implement management practices to support innovation
  • Promote innovation in the workplace
  • Create a physical environment that supports innovation
  • Provide information and learning opportunities

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PDSMGT003

Module rationale:

Leadership relies on personal power. Carrying the title of manager does not automatically make a person a good leader.

This module covers:

  • Leadership roles
  • Leadership characteristics
  • Cultural competence
  • Vision and leadership
  • Leadership styles
  • Organisation health

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PDSCOM007                  

Module rationale:

Meetings provide a forum for one or more people to exchange ideas, share information, debate theories and collectively agree on courses of action. They can, if planned, organised and run correctly, be a useful organisational tool that achieves effective results.

This module covers:

  • Meetings
  • Organising meetings
  • Conducting meetings
  • Closing meetings

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PDSCUS008

Module rationale:

Show respect for team members. When we respect others, it is easier for them to respect us. Cooperative and effective working relationships are based on mutual respect. While the team leader/ manager will probably be involved in some selling, their primary role is the achievement of the organisation’s sales goals through other people.

This module covers:

  • Characteristics of good teams and leaders
  • Creating a sales plan
  • Assigning territories and setting service standards
  • Setting sales targets, sales results and analysing results
  • Managing a budget and resources
  • Ethics and legislation
  • Teaching sales skills
  • Team meetings

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PDSMGT004

Module rationale:

Organisations move through a number of identifiable stages as they grow and develop. In some cases, these changes are planned, in others they are unplanned. Sometimes the forces for change come from within the organisation and at other times they will be caused by external forces or influences. The need for organisations to meet and to cope with changing conditions requires innovation, creativity and flexibility.

This module covers:

  • New opportunities
  • Reflections
  • Large and small changes
  • Identifying opportunities
  • Change and innovation
  • Change leadership
  • Resistance
  • Monitoring and evaluation

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PDSCOM004

Module rationale:

Conflict is a difference of opinion between two or more people but can also be an effort by one person to block another person from getting what they want. The more value that individuals place upon the outcome, the greater the potential exists for conflict.

This module covers:

  • Conflict and its causes
  • Dealing with conflict
  • Resolving the conflict

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PDSHRM009                 

Module rationale:

Diversity—what is it and why do we care?

Diversity—the differences between individuals.

Differences between people relate to culture, race, nationality, gender, ethnic group, age, personality, cognitive style, education, disability, background.

This module covers:

  • Diversity
  • Colleagues and customers
  • Legislation
  • Implementing workplace diversity plans

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PDSPER004                   

Module rationale:

Stress is part of life. It is the force that motivates us to achieve even small things. It stimulates us to act. If you want to look at it in a slightly more negative form, stress is an unavoidable consequence of life. Yet there is both good and bad stress

This module covers:

  • Understanding stress
  • Excess stress reactions
  • Managing work to prevent excess stress
  • Managing stress reactions

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PDSHLT001                    

Module rationale:

Manual tasks (or manual handling) are any activities involving the use of muscular force (or effort) to lift, move, push, pull, carry, hold or restrain any object, including a person or animal. Manual tasks are also those that involve repetitive actions, sustained work postures and exposure to vibrations.

This module covers:

  • Manual tasks
  • Following the rules
  • Safe manual handling

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PDSHRM006                  

Module rationale:

Mentoring can involve a formal or informal arrangement that generally has a relatively long-term focus on personal growth and learning. Mentoring relationships might apply in a variety of situations and offer a wide range of learning, support and guidance.

This module covers:

  • Scope and boundaries of the mentoring relationship
  • Solving Problems and making decisions
  • Planning
  • Feedback
  • Finalising the mentoring process

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PDSCUS007

Module rationale:

Having established a business, a retailer would want to do things that will ensure that it survives by applying various strategies to maintain profitability. An important factor that contributes to business viability is the development of effective store security and processes that minimise theft/ losses.

This module covers:

  • Store security
  • Minimise theft
  • Managing stock to minimise loss

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PDSD_NHWY

Module rationale:

Networking involves making efforts to meet people and make contacts with people you have something in common. The main purpose of networking is to develop relationships with others for mutual advantages.  Networking can provide you career advice, leads, business referrals, suggestions, useful information, ideas and emotional support.  Successful networking leads to business opportunities.

This module covers:

  • Establishing relationships
  • Opportunities for networking
  • Sharing information about networking
  • Professional networks and associations
  • Maintaining business relationships
  • Reaching your goals
  • Communicating with your networks

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PDSCUS009

Module rationale:

A function is a formal or informal social gathering, activity, event or ceremony, which has significant importance. Your role in organising functions is to clearly identify clients’ needs. You can then design the function—products and services around those identified needs.

This module covers: 

  • Planning the event
  • Resources and set-up
  • Options and ideas for event concept, theme and format
  • Operational and service practicality
  • Present proposal
  • Facilitate effective event planning
  • Issue event orders and prepare and distribute operational documentation
  • Prepare invoices and obtain feedback

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PDSHRM007

Module rationale:

Performance management is the process of communication between manager and employee that results in mutual understanding of what the employee has achieved over a set period of time and what they need to do during the next period of time. This includes setting performance objectives and standards.

This module covers:

  • What is performance management?
  • Position descriptions and KPIs
  • Performance appraisal methods and meetings
  • Provide regular feedback
  • Recognising and dealing with performance
  • Performance and skills gaps and planning for improvement

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PDSPER001                   

Module rationale:

Each employee needs to know what is expected of them, when it is expected and the standard to which they are required to work. They can then develop personal work objectives, prioritise their work and incorporate prioritised tasks into personal schedules.

This module covers:

  • Planning and complete a work schedule
  • Factors affecting objectives
  • Tools for scheduling tasks
  • Monitor own work
  • Seeking feedback on performance
  • Reporting variations
  • Knowledge and skill development

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PDSCUS006

Module rationale:

The web is a good sales medium. An online selling site has, if well set up, the reach and effect of catalogues, phone orders or face-to-face contact, all working in unison.

This module covers:

  • Your web preference
  • Customer service
  • Measuring success

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PDSMGT006

Module rationale:

A project is a temporary endeavour to create a unique product, service or result. It has a definite start and a definite end along with a unique purpose. Every project should have a well-defined objective and hence output a unique product, service or result.

This module covers:

  • Defining project management
  • Project scope
  • Project plans
  • Defining activities
  • Planning tools
  • Time management
  • The critical path
  • Project budgets
  • Monitoring the project
  • Cost management
  • Record keeping

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PDSHLT003

Module rationale:

Risk management is the total approach to the protection of an organisation’s assets, environment, and the achievement of the organisation’s goals or objectives. It is a logical, systematic method of identifying, analysing and treating, monitoring and communicating hazardous or potential risk situations associated with the activities, function and processes of business.

This module covers:

  • Risks involved in business operations
  • Identifying risks
  • Analyse and evaluate risk
  • Auditing the success of risk controls

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PDSCUS006                  

Module rationale:

The web is a good sales medium. An online selling site has, if well set up, the reach and effect of catalogues, phone orders or face-to-face contact, all working in unison.

This module covers:

  • Your web presence
  • Customer service
  • Measuring success

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PDSHRM001

Module rationale:

The recruitment process takes a lot of time and money. This means that you need to find an excellent member of staff the first time rather than someone who needs to be replaced.

This module covers:

  • Identifying staff requirements
  • Screening and assessing candidates
  • Interviewing and checking references
  • Staff selection

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PDSMGT007

Module rationale:

Strategic planning refers to a set of procedures and concepts that result in a cohesive plan to shape and guide what an organisation (or other entity) is, what it does, and why it does it. (Bryson 2004)

This module covers: 

  • Strategic planning
  • The SWOT analysis
  • Mission and vision statements
  • Planning and control performance

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PDSMGT001

Module rationale:

Management and leadership are not the same thing. Managers are organisers who focus on operations. Leaders work with others to encourage them to use their own initiative and improve their skills so that work is completed to the highest standard. These distinctions are important and need to be recognised in the workplace. Good supervisors are both Managers and Leaders.

This module covers:

  • Planning work
  • Management, leadership, and supervision
  • Leading and supporting
  • Conflict at work
  • Training, coaching, mentoring
  • Communication at work

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PDSMGT002                  

Module rationale:

When we hear the word team, we automatically associate it with our favourite sporting team, but teams also exist in most workplaces. A team is a group of people who work together to achieve certain outcomes. Teams develop and become productive in different periods of time depending on their working environment and the stimulus they receive. Understanding how teams develop and applying that knowledge is key to business success.

This module covers:

  • Work teams
  • The team leader
  • Developing a team
  • Team culture

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PDSCOM003

Module rationale:

The service you provide to those who communicate with you over the telephone should be of the same high standards as that provided in face-to-face interactions. Good customer service is dependent on the effective communication. Telephone communication involves sending and receiving messages - speaking and listening.

This module covers:

  • Creating an outstanding image
  • Protocols
  • Challenging calls
  • Effective outbound calls
  • Handling pressure

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PDSPER002                  

Module rationale:

A key to making effective use of time is understanding what you want and what you need to achieve. You cannot manage time - time happens. You can, however, manage the way you use the available time.

This module covers:

  • Identify your objectives
  • Plan to achieve objectives
  • Performance
  • Prioritising
  • Scheduling
  • Strategies
  • Managing interruptions
  • Effective meetings

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PDSHRM004                  

Module rationale:

Managers and supervisors who are involved in the delivery of training must be aware that prior to designing and developing any training plans, programs or courses, it is necessary to identify who needs to be trained, how they should be trained, what they need to know and what level of training is necessary. Incorrectly targeted training is unproductive and a waste of time and money.

This module covers:

  • Training plans, skills audits, training needs analysis
  • Learning preferences
  • Designing and delivering a training program
  • Evaluating training

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PDSHRM002

Module rationale:

Before organisations can even begin to formulate a workforce plan, they need to get an accurate picture of the workforce they currently have. Organisations need to analyse their workforce to determine areas where there might be excesses or shortages. It is then possible to consider the strategic plan and assess the HR needs of the organisation over a longer term.

This module covers:

  • Workforce requirements
  • Staff turnover
  • Support workforce planning objectives
  • Monitor and evaluate teams

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