Find Out What Qualifications You Could Be Eligible For Through RPL
Got questions, but not ready for a skills assessment?
Project management is a fast-growing industry in Australia. Not only is it growing as a specific discipline, it is also an essential skill in a large range of jobs and industries.
Project management roles are available in an increasing range of sectors, from mining, construction and engineering, to business, IT and finance. Project management roles are also growing in our government sectors, from defence and law enforcement to emergency services.
We offer Project Management qualifications attained through Recognition of Prior learning (RPL) at a range of levels to meet the entry requirements for Project Management roles at a variety of levels.
Our Project Management qualifications include:
In this report you will find:
The interesting feature of project management is that it is becoming both a universal skill and a specialist skill.
In occupations and companies across the spectrum, employees are being asked to oversee projects. These can range from small scale, simple projects, such as identifying a new photocopier service for a company to overseeing large scale, complex projects – like the construction of facilities for the Olympic Games.
At Churchill Education, we have seen clients come through with both a universal, lower level project management skill set and a higher level, specific skill set. And yes, one of Churchill’s Alumni really was overseeing the project management of a significant part of an Olympic Games.
The difference in complexity of these projects is of course reflected in the level of qualification awarded. But make no mistake, project management is an essential skill to successfully completing a vast array of roles across all sectors.
And increasingly, project managers are regarded as a central element in most organisations, particularly when it comes to change management – something very important in a rapidly changing business landscape.
Forecasts predict that Project Management positions will number more than 120,000 by 2022, with up to 8,400 new job openings over the next five years according to Job Outlook.
Internationally Project Management is forecast to grow 33% by 2027.
The average annual income range for Project Managers is $100,400 – $170,00. For Program Managers it is $154,000 – $262,000. Over 54% of Project Managers are 35-54 years of age.
In all industries and regions of Australia, there are a range of opportunities for project managers, as project management skills and experience are in increasing demand.
Project management roles can be found in any industry.
Some key examples include:
According to Forbes, there are four emerging trend in Project Management:
Trend #1: Projects will increasingly be impacted by artificial intelligence and data technology
Trend #2: Project managers will need broader skills
Trend #3: Customised / hybrid Project Management methods and approaches
Trend #4: Increase of diversity in project management teams
Project management skills are highly transferrable and in demand in a range of Australian industries.
Project management positions are required by many large and small companies, in a range of industries, from mining and construction to business and IT. Project management skills are also highly valued in a number of public sector departments including defence, police, emergency services, government investigations and health.
Employers are looking for project managers that are:
Useful project management skills include:
We read a range of advertisements for roles that required some project management responsibilities. When hiring for roles that are exclusively project management focused or roles where a component involves running projects, there are some key soft skills that consistently rise to the top of the list:
So, when you are responding to advertisements for these types of positions and sitting in an interview, be ready for some examples of how you have effectively managed projects to completion. Think about how you brought people together and overcame problems through your ability to plan, pivot and persist.
Qualification Requirements
Formal qualifications are not necessarily mandatory for entering the project management industry. However, job advertisements largely require the successful applicant to hold formal qualifications in Project Management and also Program Management. Statistics show that more than 60% of Project Managers hold a Diploma or above.
What is the Certificate IV in Project Management Practice about?
At the Certificate IV level you are someone who is able to work autonomously, and apply project management skills in a variety of contexts. You are likely to be a member of a project team, responsible for undertaking certain components of the overall project delivery. You are in a support role, not responsible for the overall outcome. You are adept at using project tools and methods to support the aims of the project.
There are no pre-requisites to enrol in the Certificate IV in Project Management Practice. It is comprised of nine units of competency – three of which are core units (compulsory) and six elective units (which allows some range to match your experience or interests to particular units).
The core units focus on the ability to apply project management techniques, manage timelines and adhere to project management quality standards.
Elective units include a wide range of topics including budgeting, human resources management, IT, communications, risk assessment, procurement, stakeholder engagement, contract law, WHS policies, data management, data analysis, data presentation, cyber security, environmental sustainability, governance and policy implementation.
Examples of Position Titles relevant to Certificate IV level work:
What is the Diploma of Project Management about?
At the Diploma level you are someone who is able to apply project management skills in a leadership capacity. You may have managed projects in a number of contexts and industries. You have experience at the management and leadership level, and are responsible for project objectives. You have well established project management knowledge and a range of specialist, managerial and technical skills. You use your skills to plan, implement and review your own work and that of a team.
There are no pre-requisites to enrol in the Diploma of Project Management. It is comprised of 12 units of competency – eight of which are core units (compulsory) and four elective units (which allows some range to match your experience or interests to particular units).
The core units focus on the ability to manage all elements of a project, including scope, timeline, quality, budget, HR, IT & Communication, risk and integration.
Elective units can be selected from a range of management topics including managing IT systems, building innovative working environments, continuous improvement, stakeholder engagement, governance, sustainability, data management, Work Health & Safety and team leadership.
Examples of Position Titles relevant to Diploma level work:
What is the Advanced Diploma of Program Management about?
At the Advanced Diploma level of your career, you are someone who applies specialist skills and knowledge, combined with program management experience across a range of sectors.
A program is a set of connected projects. A program manager is responsible for the outcomes of multiple interrelated projects and the teams that undertake these projects. At this level, you are an individual who uses initiative and skill to design, plan, direct and lead a range of functions, with responsibility for individual and team performance.
You use well developed communication and reasoning skills to analyse a variety of information, and share your knowledge with team members. You use conceptual and creative skills to solve complex problems.
There are no pre-requisites to enrol in the Advanced Diploma of Program Management. It is comprised of 12 units of competency – four of which are core units (compulsory) and eight elective units (which allows some range to match your experience or interests to particular units).
The core units focus on the ability to execute a program, engage stakeholders, implement governance and manage benefits. Elective units include a wide range of topics including monitoring, evaluation and reporting, finance management, organisational change, developing emotional intelligence in teams, managing a flexible workforce, program delivery, risk analysis, collaborative alliances, developing contracts and community practices.
Examples of Position Titles relevant to Advanced Diploma level work:
We help people from all over Australia turn their project management experience into Project Management qualifications and the question we are always asked is what evidence do I need to produce?
The list of evidence required varies depending upon the level of project management you are completing in your work.
But a simple starting place is to think of the evidence for your RPL application just like managing a project:
What is your role in the project?
Are you responsible for completing a part of a project – perhaps representing the component your team has to contribute to a wider project? Or are you the Project Leader, coordinating the whole project and reporting up to a project sponsor? Or perhaps you are the Project Sponsor and the whole project will fall at your feet in terms of ultimate accountability.
What action do you take in the project?
What do you plan? How do you monitor it? How do you control on the project? How do you report on the project?
What documents did you prepare for the projects you work on?
Gather up some examples of your projects and this is a great start. Don’t forget to lay your hands on the old project management faithful if you can – the Gantt chart!
As always, we will guide you on the full evidence you will require once we have established your eligibility through our free preliminary assessment.
It makes sense that a career in Project Management focuses on acquiring Project Management qualifications. But what other qualifications are also valued in this field?
In preparing this report, we spent considerable time reviewing online job advertisements and position descriptions to see what other skills and qualifications employers are looking for.
The specialist complementary skills and qualifications we often found mentioned were:
From there, it helps to align the qualifications to a similar level that sits with your Project Management qualification.
If you are at Certificate IV level in Project Management, then you could consider adding some academic recognition of your skills and knowledge in one or more of the following qualifications:
For Project Management positions in business and people management:
From there, it helps to align the qualifications to a similar level that sits with your Project Management qualification.
If you are at Certificate IV level in Project Management, then you could consider adding some academic recognition of your skills and knowledge in one or more of the following qualifications:
For Project Management positions in business and people management:
For Project Management positions requiring specialist / technical skills:
If you are at Diploma level in Project Management, then you could consider adding some academic recognition of your skills and knowledge in one or more of the following qualifications:
For Project Management positions in business and people management:
For Project Management positions requiring specialist / technical skills:
If you are at Advanced Diploma level in Program Management, then you could consider adding some academic recognition of your skills and knowledge in one or more of the following qualifications:
For Project Management positions in business and people management:
For Project Management positions requiring specialist / technical skills:
References