Course Components
A 4-part program for ICT and Accounting graduates…
The Professional Year / SMIPA program is a part time 12-month course (including breaks). It is designed for graduates in the areas of ICT or Accountancy and includes an industry specific 12-week internship component with a participating host company. Participants will experience practical hands-on learning with an emphasis on workplace preparation - culture, work place ethics and expectations.
The ACS Professional Year and Skilled Migration Internship Program - Accounting (SMIPA) consist of four modules covering:
Professional Pathways Australia has program intakes scheduled evenly throughout the year. Course work is offered at times that enable you to manage the program alongside your other commitments.
Business Communication Skills (BCS)
Core competency codes and titles in this module are:
- BCS-1: Participation in Meetings
- BCS-2: Everyday workplace conversations
- BCS-3: Oral Presentation for Informational Purposes
- BCS-4: Written Business Communication
- BCS-5: Business Text Analysis.
The aim of this module is for you to be able to reach a level of communicative competence required to participate appropriately in key communication practices common in business operations in the Australian workplace.
The Business Communication Skills module will assist you to:
- become more fluent, accurate and strategically competent speakers of English when communicating in formal and informal business and workplace situations
- develop competency in reading and writing a range of business/workplace texts
- gain an awareness of cross-cultural differences and how these affect business dealings, particularly in the Australian workplace context
- develop listening skills and strategies to comprehend authentic business/workplace conversations, discussions, meetings and interviews
- develop independent learning skills
- apply computer skills to workplace settings
- engage actively in learning inside and outside the classroom.
Australian Workplace Skills (AWS)
Core competency codes and titles in this module are:
- AWS-1: Prepare a CV
- AWS-2: Write a Business Proposal
- AWS-3: Interview Skills
- AWS-4: Facilitation Skills
- AWS-5: Awareness of Cultural Values
- AWS-6: Personal Skills Training.
The aim of this module is for you to be able to reach a level of communicative competence required to participate in familiar, social and business operations in the Australian workplace. The Australian Workplace Skills module will assist you to:
- produce a range of business documents including CVs, letters, memos and proposals
- demonstrate appropriate behaviour in a business context
- enhance your awareness of cross-cultural practices and how these relate to the Australian workplace
- learn strategies for collaborating effectively as part of a team
- organise and participate appropriately in workplace meetings
- prepare and practise for a prospective job interview
- learn and use techniques to plan and manage a project
- engage actively in learning in and outside the classroom.
The Professional Internship
Understandably the most anticipated component of the program, the Professional Internship directly engages you in an Australian host company, where you will practise and implement the work-ready skills you’ve acquired in BCS and AWS. Highlights of the internship component include:
- full time engagement and collaboration with professional work teams
- direct insights into and hands-on experience of the daily business dynamics
- intensive exposure to an Australian workplace culture
- immediate contact and liaison with a professional supervisor
- continued access to our placements consultants who monitor your progress
- real life opportunity to participate in a professional and corporate culture
- full employer referencing on completion of the internship.
It is expected that all interns will fully participate in this component as it represents the culmination of the Professional Year/SMIPA program. During orientation, interns will be fully informed about CV preparation, appropriateness of qualifications to placement, the company interview and selection processes.
Click here to see what our students have to say about their internship experience.
The Professional Element
ACS Professional Year
The Professional Element component for the ACS Professional Year focuses on IT Governance, Ethics and Strategic Business Framework. It is completed online and is designed to assist you in developing your knowledge of the ICT discipline as a practicing professional. The skills covered are acutely relevant and applicable to the tasks you perform in the internship. This component is undertaken during the internship.
SMIPA
The Professional Element component for SMIPA involves direct engagement with industry and the accounting professional bodies through talks, training sessions, seminars and networking opportunities. These occur during industry event weeks and are designed to help you consolidate the skills you require for participation within the Australian workplace.