Highlights of 2010: Paradigm Infinitum's Year in Review
With the year coming to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on the events of 2010. While we have continued to deliver corporate training and our flagship “LEAD” Programme, this has also been a year of expansion and change for Paradigm Infinitum as we have moved into accredited training, new products and international business facilitation. Some of the highlights include:
February 2010: Year of the Tiger International Business Ball
As part of its non-profit efforts, Paradigm Infinitum held its annual Ball to celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of the Tiger 2010 International Business Ball at Landmark Restaurant, Sunnybank. The evening was a wonderful success with a turnout of almost 230 people, including many distinguished guests and VIPs, business people from across the spectrum, members of the professional community, community leaders and many friends at the event. The event was a fundraiser to raise money for critically injured Station Officer David Galvin, a former Paradigm Infinitum LEAD programme participant and Queensland Fire and Rescue Service officer.
The highlight of the evening was a keynote speech by Professor Clive Palmer, mining mogul and the richest person in Queensland. The event attracted dozens of special guests and leaders, including 24 Australian politicians, amongst them the Hon John Mickel MLA, Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and John-Paul Langbroek MLA, the leader of the Queensland Opposition.
All profits raised were donated to the Dave Galvin Appeal. Dave sustained serious spinal injuries in late 2009 and is now paralysed. Dave is also a technical rescue officer, a scout leader, a husband and father. Overall approximately $7,500 was raised for Dave to help in a small way to ease the financial strain on his family and make his life more comfortable. The profits were formally presented to Dave and his family in November.
April 2010: Paradigm Infinitum Achieves RTO Status
Paradigm Infinitum was successful in its application for Registered Training Organisation (RTO) status, under the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF). Paradigm Infinitum is now able to offer nationally Recognised Training leading to qualifications that are recognised by the Australian Government. Paradigm Infinitum's offerings are is pitched at the higher end of the AQTF and is one of the few training organisations in Australia to offer Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma level qualifications (in Organisational Learning and Capability Development).
aradigm Infinitum offers qualifications from the Public Sector Training Package and the Business Services Training Package. The qualifications in Paradigm Infinitum's scope are:
- BSB60407 - Advanced Diploma of Management
- BSB60907 - Advanced Diploma of Management (Human Resources)
- BSB70107 - Vocational Graduate Certificate of Organisational Learning and Capability Development
- BSB80107 - Vocational Graduate Diploma of Organisational Learning and Capability Development
- PSP51104 - Diploma of Government (Management)
- PSP60504 - Advanced Diploma of Government (Management)
July 2010: AMI Project Completed
In 2009 Paradigm Infinitum was funded by the Australia-Malaysia Institute (within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) to undertake a research project “New Media and the Informed Citizen”, investigating new media’s impact on Malaysian politics. The research project included a report, and an international symposium (held in July 2009), supported by a bi-lingual website. In July this year, the project was completed, with the report (in both Malay and English) delivered to the AMI. The Malay version of the website was also launched in July this year. Paradigm Infinitum is currently awaiting approval from the AMI to release the report.
August-December 2010: First Intake into the Vocational Graduate Certificate
In August, Paradigm Infinitum commenced its pilot programme 'Leading through Mentoring and Coaching' to a cohort of learners within the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS). Completion of the course satisfies two units of competence within the Vocational Graduate Certificate in Organisational Learning and Capability Development.
The aim of this course is to develop mentoring and coaching skills among participants in order for them to successfully mentor and coach others. It is unique programme in that learners are actively mentored and coached by their facilitators as they undertake a workplace based mentoring and coaching project. Through this course and their project, participants learn and practice the skills necessary to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate workplace based mentoring and coaching. The course also examines coaching and mentoring through a wider organisational perspective, developing the skills necessary to lead learning within the organisation.
October 2010: Ministerial Visit by Malaysian Trade Minister
On the 1st of October 2010, the Malaysian Minister for International Trade and Investment, Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohd visited Brisbane for a Business Roundtable with potential investors in key target industries. Paradigm Infinitum CEO and Senior Consultant, Kiong Chan, was invited to co-chair the Roundtable with the Minister.
As the first official visit by the current Minister to Brisbane, it was a greatly anticipated occasion. The meeting was attended by twenty Australian businesses, and included green technology companies, medical services, aviation firms, universities, and call centres, among others.
November 2010: MSCEIT (Emotional Intelligence Ability Testing) Accreditation
Paradigm Infinitum General Manager and Senior Consultant Shona Leppanen-Gibson took part in a two day workshop to become accredited in the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT). Unlike other Emotional Intelligence tests, the MSCEIT is not a self-report, but rather an ability test. Shona was very privileged to have been trained by US-based expert Dr David Caruso himself (co-developer of the MSCEIT and co-author of “The Emotionally Intelligent Leader”) as one of the facilitators for the workshop.
Finally, we would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year ahead in 2011. Our thanks to our former students, clients, and our many supporters who continue to offer us encouragement to strive for the best. From our family to yours, our best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season.