From industry expert to educator

After more than 30 years working in training and education, Stan still finds the greatest reward in helping others realise their potential and build rewarding careers. At Chisholm Online, he supports students completing the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE), guiding them through their learning journey as they build the confidence, skills and knowledge needed to become trainers and assessors themselves. Throughout this process, Stan helps experienced professionals transform years of knowledge and experience into rewarding new career opportunities.

Over the years, he built expertise across leadership, professional development and vocational education. Along the way, he realised the most rewarding part wasn't learning new skills himself, it was helping others do the same. “I've trained in many countries, every state in Australia, across several industries. When you know it, you must share it,” Stan says.

That philosophy is one of the reasons Stan is so passionate about the TAE. Many of the students he works with arrive at a point in their careers where they've built years and sometimes decades of industry experience. Whether they're looking for a career change, a new challenge or a way to share their knowledge with others, the course helps them turn their experience into practical training and assessment skills.

For students balancing work, family and other commitments, studying online provides the flexibility to learn on their own terms. While some people assume online learning means studying alone, Stan says students are often surprised by the level of support available. From technical assistance to group sessions and one-on-one guidance, support is available throughout the entire learning journey.

One of the aspects of the role Stan enjoys most is watching students grow in confidence. Over time, he sees them become more comfortable with training and assessment concepts, more engaged in discussions and increasingly confident in their ability to support the learning of others. What may begin as uncertainty often develops into genuine capability and self-belief. “You can hear it in their tone and their confidence. They're starting to use the terminology in the right context and ask questions they wouldn't have asked when they first started,” Stan says. It’s these moments of transformation that continue to motivate him.

Beyond preparing students for roles in training and education, the qualification helps develop a broad range of transferable skills. Students graduate with stronger communication, presentation, mentoring and problem-solving skills, along with practical experience supporting learners.

While many go on to become trainers and assessors, Stan says the qualification can also open doors to areas such as instructional design, compliance, quality assurance and courseware design, making it a highly versatile qualification.

For Stan, seeing students apply those skills and achieve their goals is one of the most rewarding parts of the role. “Nothing more rewarding in the role than sending an email to a student saying, ‘This completes your studies. Congratulations’,” he says. It's a moment that represents months of hard work, persistence and growth and the beginning of an exciting new chapter for many graduates.

For anyone considering studying the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Stan encourages them to explore their options, ask questions and think about what they want from the next stage of their career. “The first step is often the hardest, but once you start, you'll be surprised by what you can achieve,” he says.