Professional Year for Accounting Graduates

Overview

Holmesglen is pleased to be able to offer the Professional Year program to Accounting graduates: The Skilled Migration Internship Program for Accountants (SMIPA). This program is approved by the accounting professional bodies: CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Australia and the National Institute of Accountants and conforms to the requirements of the Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) as a recognised pathway to obtaining points toward migration to Australia.

General Skilled Migration visa applicants will be awarded 5 point for the completion of Holmesglen's approved Professional Year.

Teaching methods comprise face-to-face classroom teaching and discussion groups; work experience placement; case studies; role-plays; group discussions; video conferencing; and industry/recruitment sector guest speakers.

Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer

Students may be able to shorten the length of their chosen course by measuring skills acquired through work, life experiences or qualifications obtained from formal studies or training. AQF qualifications and statements of attainment issued by another registered training organisation will be recognised by Holmesglen.

RPL Booklet

Course Fees

For 2012, tuition fees are $11,300.

How to Apply

• Directly to Holmesglen

Course Structure

The SMIPA program is developed to enhance the employability of the accounting graduate in the Australian workplace. The main outcomes of SMIPA should enhance the graduates ability to apply the technical and generic business skills needed in the workplace.

Stage 1: Orientation

In this preliminary session, participants will accomplish the following:

• Overview of the SMIPA course
• Understanding of the mentoring/coaching programme to be provided
• Overview go the work placement components/responsibilities
• Overview of the recruitment scene in Australia
• Attendance/participation requirements of the course
• Attend a presentation by representatives from the three professional accounting bodies.
  

Stage 2: Professional workplace skills for accountants

This will involve a formal training component whereby the following outcomes are achieved:

Verbal/non-verbal skills

• Including developing skills in communication, chairing meeting, discussions, effective telephone skills, and clearly articulating key issues in a business/accounting context.

Written communication

• Including writing effective business correspondence and drafting emails.

Group dynamics

• Including working effectively in teams, developing interpersonal skill with colleagues and clients and other stakeholders.
• Exploring/recognising cultural difference/expectations and adapting behaviour accordingly.
  

Business environment

• Including identifying organisational structure /Australian management concepts and practices, Australian business protocol and etiquette.
• Understanding the accounting function within the broader organisational function.
• Undertaking ethical decision making.
• Occupational heath and safety procedures.
  

Integrated ethical training/decision making

• Including identifying ethical standards/code of behaviour required by accounting professionals in the business environment.

Career planning and employment

• Including identifying the trends in the Australian Job Market (accounting profession), interpreting job advertisements, resumes, application writing and interview situation role-plays.
• IELTS Preparation.
• The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a test of English language proficiency, developed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate.
• Throughout the Professional Year Program we will also conduct IELTS Preparation courses which will provide Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing language proficiency skills needed to gain an IELTS score of 7, the minimum requirement to join a professional organisation. The advanced preparation course content will provide useful strategies/techniques and practice tests to help you approach all sections of the test confidently.
  

Stage 3: Work experience component
The work experience component of the program will provide a total of 240 hours exposure to the workplace within the accounting sector.

The learning outcomes/skills that will be developed through an integrated and practical approach include:

• Relevant workplace environment identified (supervision, company  and Australian business meeting etiquette, project/work reporting, dress, etc)
• Roles and responsibilities definition
• Relevant technical work activities
• State/federal legislative requirements identified and complied with.
  

Provider will monitor/report on progress of participants.

Support, assistance and advice will be provided during this practicum component of the program with a structured Mentor Coaching Program. During this practicum, participants will be assigned to a mentor from within the organisation.

Stage 4: Conclusion of program
In the concluding phase of the program, participants/facilitator/mentors will be involved in the reviewing progress, achievements and providing feedback on the performance in order to highlight strengths and challenges.

In addition participants who have successfully completed the Professional Year course will be issued with a certificate from Holmesglen Institute in conjunction with the representatives from the respective professional accounting bodies.

A 10 week IELTS preparation course is offered free of charge to students who do not have an IELTS score of 7 on entry to the course.

Assessment

Assessment will be integrated into the course design and take place after the completion of a unit of work. It will be structured to reflect the following types of assessment; formative assessment; integrated assessment; and site-based assessment (conducted in the workplace). Examples of assessment tasks undertaken by participants will include research report writing; oral presentations; case study/company profiling; compiling portfolio on workplace processes/procedures; completing workplace documentation; writing business correspondence; role-play/scenario presentations.

Career and Further Study Opportunities

On satisfactory completion of the course, students will be eligible for the Professional Year Certificate that is endorsed by the three accounting professional bodies.