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.
