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Welcome - Gitana Consulting & Training Services

Welcome to the official website of Gitana Consulting & Training Services.

Our Mission and Values

Gitana Consulting & Training Services provides up-to-date, professional and inspirational training and consulting services to meet high quality service delivery in the disability sector throughout Queensland. As a result of our training programs, staff discover that they want to continue with their learning, as well as wanting to take responsibility and engage in better outcomes for the organisation.

To achieve this, we adhere to the values of establishing and maintaining trustworthy and respectful relationships with people who seek our services. This means that we have a commitment to these people, and that we will 'go the distance' with them. We also aim to:

• develop people to their fullest potential and capacity foster a positive working environment
• adjust our leadership styles to meet the needs of the people we serve
• build and support committed and effective work team / s
• empower others to serve both the internal and external client
• provide feedback that assists people to grow
• continuously pursue self-development

The results for organisations speak for themselves! If you would like to hear directly from our customers about the results they are achieving, please contact us on 07 32943500 or via email Kathy Buckler

Kathy's story:

Kathy is dedicated to assisting individuals enhance their own skills and knowledge which they can implement in their own work with others, as well as advancing the quality of support that is provided to people with disabilities. She established Gitana Consulting & Training Services in 1996, and subsequently achieved Registered Training Organisation (RTO) status in 2003 to provide accredited Certificate and Diploma level courses to people working in the disability sector. In addition, Kathy regularly conducts a range of non-accredited workshops, training & in-service sessions for all staff levels, and continues with providing consultancy services with government and non-government organisations on topical matters.

Kathy's professional career began when she commenced her role as a project officer for Qld Health in the early 1990s. The variety and complexity of issues which she was required to manage in this role provided the foundation for a clearly defined appreciation of conducting project and change management work in subsequent roles. From Qld Health, Kathy moved to the (then) Department of Families, Youth & Community Care for three years as a Resource Officer in the disability and community & youth programs. Appreciating the many issues associated with change management work was highlighted during the 'Health Promoting Hospitals' pilot project she undertook. She routinely incorporates the learnings related to appropriate and inappropriate change management practices into all subsequent consultancy and training projects.

While Kathy was conducting a number of large-scale community consultations related to improving service delivery in south-western Queensland in the late 1990s, she also completed Bachelor of Social Science studies which included double-majors in Counselling & Mediation, and Human Resource Management. She had already achieved Mediator status with the Justice Department in 1996, and was able to expand her knowledge and skills with mediating as a result of obtaining this degree. She frequently calls on her mediator experience e.g. when working with individuals in complex matters, and also during consultation work.

Simultaneously throughout her worklife in the 1990s, Kathy had also been developing an innovative lifestyle arrangement for her daughter, who had sustained significant acquired disabilities in 1983. When her daughter moved into her own home in 1994, it was at a time when there were no other role models to follow in Queensland (or Australia, to the best of Kathy's knowledge). In 2000, Kathy & her ex-husband assumed responsibility for the management of the arrangement, with Kathy also implementing an Australian Workplace Agreement for the staff at this time. In March 2004, a number of people celebrated the 10-year anniversary with her daughter in her home.

As a result of Kathy's strong commitment to supporting her daughter's valued and quality lifestyle, as well as from her consultancy and training work, Kathy's studies for her Master of Organisational Development & Training qualification (April 2006) included, amongst a number of other subjects, specific research into the issue of what happens for people with catastrophic injuries when their compensation funds have expired. Kathy used this research to convene a 'Think Tank' with government, private sector & NGOs to examine this topic in October 2005. She is now undertaking PhD level research into the impacts of compensation fund expiry on the long-term support needs of adults with traumatic brain injuries.

Kathy's contact email is kathy@gitana.com.au

The following statement reflects Kathy's personal mission:

'Vision without action is merely a dream, action without vision merely passes the time, but vision with action can change the world'

Accredited Training Services

Gitana Consulting & Training Services is registered to deliver accredited training & assessment activities associated with the following:

• CHC30302 - Certificate III in Disability Work
• CHC40302 - Certificate IV in Disability Work
• CHC30408 - Certificate III in Disability
• CHC40408 - Certificate IV in Disability
• BSB51107 - Diploma of Management

People who are interested in these courses may complete specific units or the complete qualification. This may be done by completing assessments that include on & off-the-job components. The time frames for completing assessments are worked out with you when you commence. We generally conduct training in the work place, at times and days that suit both the employer and people doing the training. We also do individual training sessions for people who decide to enhance their knowledge or for other reasons, as well as for individuals who are supported by their organisation. There is considerable flexibility with how this is done.

If you have previous work and life experience, recognition of prior learning (RPL) is actively encouraged & practical assistance is offered to help complete the requirements for units this way. If you have completed accredited units with another registered training provider, Gitana Consulting & Training Services formally recognises these qualifications & statements of attainment. When you commence your course or units, we will ask for a copy of what you have obtained from the other training provider / s, and then compare unit codes to ensure direct credit can be provided.

Another aspect of the accredited courses is that we mentor training participants throughout their course. There are numerous opportunities to explore other topics and issues that relate to the units and the course generally.

For more information, please don't hesitate to contact Kathy on (07) 32943500 or kathy@gitana.com.au . In addition, summaries of units and courses are located on the Articles page.

NPN 30928

Non-accredited training courses

Gitana Consulting & Training Services regularly conducts a number of non-accredited courses & in-service sessions to individuals & organisations. These courses & sessions can be tailor-made for specific requirements e.g. of organisations & individuals. We also provide training on a range of topics such as:

• specific issues contained within the Queensland Disability Standards (1-10)
• interpersonal communication in the workplace (suitable for staff, supervisors, managers, management committee members, etc.)
• planning for the future
• mediation skills development
• team dynamics

These can be provided as short in-service sessions, more comprehensive training programs, or as the basis for specific organisational development activities e.g. evaluations, needs analysis, reviews, change management practices, etc.

Contact Kathy on (07) 32943500 or kathy@gitana.com.au  to discuss your training needs further. Kathy can also provide references for organisations where she has already conducted training services on a range of topics.

Consulting Services

Over the past nine years, Gitana Consulting & Training Services has conducted a number of projects and services to clients requiring consultancy support throughout Queensland. Examples of consultancy projects and services include:

• Investigations into staffing matters e.g. complaints, grievances, issues resulting in staff dismissal & also presentation of reports to the Industrial Relations Commission
• Reviews of services e.g. specific supports to people with disabilities; overarching organisational reviews
• Establishment of Australian Workplace Agreements e.g. for individuals being supported by community organisations (NOTE: these agreements have been phased out under Labour Government Fair Work requirements)
• Large- and small-scale community consultations e.g. on specific topics of interest to large organisations; exploratory research prior to formal establishment of services
• Needs assessments e.g. determining training needs for staff working for large organisations and associations; exploratory assessments for individuals prior to establishment of support services
• Analysis of data acquired from various interventions
• Facilitation of topics (including sensitive issues and concerns) e.g. for organisations working towards accreditation, or looking towards establishing accurate responses to future needs
• Research on topics of particular interest to the organisation e.g. background information to assist with internal decision making for future direction of the organisation; research into best practice and up-to-date standards for development of policies and procedures
• Evaluations of projects and programs e.g. for a range of health-related topics

Consultancy services range from 1-2 days over a 1-2 week period, through to projects ranging from three to six months, or up to two years in total. Each consultancy project is developed to meet the requirements of the client, and involves considerable flexibility with method and scope.

Research Interests

As a result of her passionate commitment to lifelong learning, as well as being keen to progress improvements, Kathy has conducted research into several areas since 2003. These areas include:

Training field:

In the training arena, Kathy explored the ways in which managers / owners / directors of RTOs need to examine their own beliefs and actions regarding ethical management ractices. This research was conducted early in 2004 (see NCVER report on the 'articles' tab).

Impacts of compensation fund expiry on adults with traumatic brain injury:

In the latter stages of 2006, Kathy commenced PhD studies with The University of Queensland, with her research focusing on the impact of compensation fund expiry on the long-term support needs of adults with traumatic brain injuries.  This study involves adults with catastrophic brain injury, their families and supporters, service providers and government-level policy developers.

This interest commenced as a result of meetings to review Kathy's daughter's long-term financial requirements beyond the lifespan of her compensation funds. Kathy quickly realised that this issue would be very applicable to many other people who have been compensated for their disabilities from 1990 to the current time. Early exploratory research into this issue indicates that there are no defined strategies in place within government or the non-government sector to cope with people when they continue to require support beyond the lifespan of their compensation funds.

From August 2009, Kathy has commenced gathering data for her research.  She has conducted focus groups and key informant interviews with government-level policy developers and community service providers who have an interest in this topic.  The next phase involves interviewing adults with traumatic brain injuries and their family members. 

Results of this research will be posted on this site as the project progresses.

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