Support Services
Mystery Shopping
Do you really know how well your staff are performing? What to increase sales and profits? Want to be known for Excellence in Customer Service?
Regular needs analysis on your store or centre will ensure that your levels of customer service, operational effectiveness and satisfaction remain high.
The National Retail Association can offer integrated, state-of-the-art solutions to suit your business, staff and customer – we want to work with you to make your business work!
For more information contact Bill Alexion on 1800 RETAIL or b.alexion@nra.net.au
Resource Development
From Store Induction Training to Senior Management Programs, the NRA is able to develop current and accredited training resources to meet the needs of your business. This service includes, but is not limited to:
- Customisation and contextualization of NRA resources to suit your businesses needs
- Development of training programs across all levels of Retail
- Development of enterprise specific Assessment tools
Nationally Recognised Enterprise Specific Training
Do you have specific training programs within your business that need accrediting. The NRA is able to provide a "mapping" service to turn your in-house training courses to Nationally Recognised training and leave the Intellectual Property rights with y our business.
Mapping of your materials is able to be performed across all levels of Retail and Hospitality. the NRA will identify any gaps in the program and work with you to bridge these gaps.
For further information on Mapping and Resource Development contact Bill Alexion at b.alexion@nra.net.au
Our Training Team
We believe there is no substitute for knowledge and experience, and our Training and Development team are an integral part of our quality delivery. All of our people have held retail, hospitality or business positions as relevant to their roles. This allows for a clear understanding of the needs and desires of our clientele and provides a training platform for Retailers by Retailers.
With unparalleled expertise and all team members holding current industry experience and training qualifications, providing the right solutions for our clients is what we do best. Our training team have the expertise to train and assess across all disciplines of retail - from senior management to support office and the shop floor.
An extensive background in the retail, services and recruitment industry allows us to provide the range of services you need to ensure the best solutions for our clients.
Paul Willis
General Manager
Paul joined the NRA in 2001 and has held various training and retail positions in the private sector over the last fifteen years. His experience in the retail sector includes a wealth of retail management experience gained through diverse roles held with major national grocery chains. Paul also holds previous experience in most levels of the hospitality industry. Paul holds a Diploma of Human Resource Management, a Diploma of Management and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104). He is currently completing a Bachelor of Business (Human Resources).
During his time with the association, Paul has coordinated, implemented and delivered a range of projects within the industry, ranging from working with the homeless and long-term unemployed to the development and delivery of change management programs at a senior executive level. Paul approaches training with a positive and creative outlook to assist clients and participants to achieve and maintain their life and business goals.
Paul has extensive experience in the set up and management of a national RTO including successful tendering of funding contracts, set up and compliance of AQTF standards and experience in leading a team to achieve required outcomes to meet and exceed industry and client requirements.
Leisa Jones
Vocational Training SupervisorPrior to her appointment with the NRA, Leisa had almost twenty years in the retail industry, where she owned a Florist shop, and managed several other businesses including a fashion boutique, and a gymnasium. Leisa continued in the retail industry while she studied at university, where she earned a Bachelor of Education in Secondary English and History. After teaching adolescents for several years, Leisa decided to move into Vocational training and completed her vocational training qualifications which now include Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104).
Leisa began with the NRA in 2003 as a trainer for the Mature Aged Program (MAP) in retail skills. After many successful outcomes with the Mature Aged Participants, Leisa began coordinating the Government-funded employment programs, such as MAP and
YAP (Youth Access). This involved development and customisation of training resources, scheduling of trainers and resources, recruitment of participants and providing Language, Literacy and Numeracy support.
As the Operations Supervisor, Leisa's role also involves tendering funding applications, developing training programs and ensuring that all resources and procedures are current by constantly upgrading and improving training material.
Karen McCauley
Systems Coordinator
Prior to joining the NRA, Karen gained vast experience within the retail industry. Karen was with Coles Myer for over 23 years undertaking various roles within retail management and learning and development, delivering management development programs and vocational education & training. Karen holds the qualification Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104).
As Systems Coordinator, Karen ensures all training and assessment delivered by the NRA meets the necessary compliance and quality standards as set by legislation and also by NRA policy. Karen leads this vital component of RTO Operations with responsibilities including:
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Quality assurance processes
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Coordination of AQTF practices
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Compliance mapping for newly customised, design and development training products
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Coordination of Administration requirements for all training activity including traineeships
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Ensuring Quality and compliance for implementation of new project and/or expansion activity
Sandra Perry
Liaison Officer - Experience Pays Awareness Strategy
Sandra returned to the NRA in February 2007 in the role of Liaison Officer for the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy (EPAS). Holds holds a wealth of industry experience with over 15 years of working in the Hospitality and Hotels industry's. Looking for a different angle of working with people, Sandra undertook her vocational training qualifications and has been working int he VET systems as a trainer and assessor for over 7 years. In this time Sandra has worked with various private and public providers. Now in the role of EPAS Liaison Officer, Sandra's primary responsibilities are:
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promoting awareness of the strategy
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providing a platform for retailers to gain insight into the worth of recruiting mature aged people
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disseminating relevant information and practices to allow for greater retention of existing mature aged people in the workforce and,
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platforming options for employers to retrain mature aged staff to allow them to remain current and employable.
Bill Alexion
Client Relations Manager
Bill recently joined the NRA in November 2007 and has held various positions in the private sector over the last 22 years, (Retail, Finance, Hospitality, Australian Apprenticeships, Registered Training Organisation), including running a franchise business which presented many challenges and gave Bill first hand experience of the challenges faced by business owners on a daily basis. Bill holds qualifications in Business, Accounting and Training and Assessment and is currently working towards his MBA via a Graduate Certificate in Business.
Bill's most recent experience was working with Australian Apprenticeship Centres, in that time he gained valuable experience dealing with many types of employers including Retail Employers. In turn he gave all employers valuable advice about the Funding and Incentives available to them to assist them to pay for all their training and development needs.
With the NRA Bills' role includes looking at the training and development wants and needs of Retail Business and assisting them to implement them in the most cost effective manner possible. Bill has extensive experience in dealing with local, state-wide and National employers that wish to implement training and development processes within their businesses.
Marlene Barratt
Strategic Development Consultant
Marlene has recently moved from the role of Traineeship Coordinator to Strategic Development Consultant. Marlene has been with the NRA for over three years and now provides strategic support in the development, customisation and design of various training and assessment projects, strategic government grants and assists with implementation of projects.
Marlene has significant experience in the retail industry with extensive management positions within supermarkets to include departmental managements roles, recruitment roles and vocational training roles before joining NRA.
Warwick Bricknell
Trianing Coordiantor - Victoria
Warwick has over 25 years in the retail trade, predominately within the FMCG industry. He began his working career as a Butchery Apprentice, and after qualifying continued as a butcher, progressing to butchery manager.
After a break from butchery Warwick returned, and soon found himself wanting to be involved in the training aspects of Meat Retailing, and Retailing in general. Warwick worked predominately for a large Independent Supermarket Chain in New Zealand, helping with the setting up and implementation of a Butchery Apprenticeship School, to ensure that their members had the skilled tradesmen they required.
He then moved to work as a senior manager for a large independent supermarket. Here Warwick was responsible for the day to day running of the market with a workforce of over 300 people. Warwick has been involved in the training and assessing of trainees within the retail sector for over 10 years, mainly working within workplace training and assessing the skills of trainees and apprentices. Warwick is qualified with TAA40104, and also New Zealand National Certificates in Adult Education, along with six National Certificates’ in Meat Retailing.
Sharyn Beer
Administration Officer
Performing the administration function for the team, Sharyn has recently completed her Certificate III in Business Administration to assist her to organise all resources, learning and assessment tools, enrollments and completions processes of all participants of NRA's training activity. Sharyn has previous experience in the hospitality that assist in a holistic approach to supporting the training team.
Emma Waller
Employment Coordinator
Emma joins the team with over 8 years experience in the vocational education and training industry. Most recently with an Australian Apprenticeship Centre. Emma draws on her experience from several areas of the industry including learning and development, industry training consultation and group training. Emma has vast experience in liaising with a wide range of clients and stakeholders assisting them with their employment and training needs.
As Employment Coordinator Emma’s primary responsibilities are to:
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Identify, source and secure employment opportunities for participants of government funded employment programs, including Mature Age Program (MAP), Prepare to Succeed (PTS) and Parents and Carers Employment (PACEE)
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Continuous liaison and support provided for participants of government funded programs both during and post course involvement
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Meet and liaise with potential and existing retail employers
Elishia Dixon
Employment Officer
Elishia joins the training team after promotion through other divisions of the NRA including reception, the Events team and acting Executive PA. Elishia has a great sense of teamwork and a positive outlook that is used to support the Employment Coordinator in sourcing and securing employment opportunities for our training participants.
Angie Bell
Visual Merchandiser / Training Consultant
With twenty years experience in retail selling, wholesale, and visual merchandising, Angie has provided solutions and results for hundreds of retailers along the Eastern Seaboard of Australia.
During her career, Angie has gained experience as a retailer, food merchandiser, timepiece merchandiser, musical instrument State Sales Manager, Visual Merchandiser / Display Artist and qualified trainer. Through the NRA, Angie has trained merchandisers for Canon Australia, the unemployed for Mission Australia and her advice for retailers has appeared on the Telstra website. Her work has taken her all over the east coast of Australia from Brisbane to Hobart.
This professional has a great understanding of how to fit in with retailers to work toward the common goal of improving their business and ultimately their bottom line and is passionate about improving the face of Australian retail. Angie holds the qualification Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104).
Haley Bevan
Visual Merchandiser / Training Consultant
Haley operates her own wholesale fashion agency in Queensland for a national fashion label. Combined with nearly 20 years in the retail, fashion and visual merchandising industries, Haley delivers a dynamic and realistic approach to training.
Haley has held numerous positions focusing on all aspects of the retail industry from sales assistant through to national stock controller, assistant national sales manager to national stores manager. From this, Haley possesses sound business leadership with skills in creating high performance teamwork results.
To this day, Haley is a sales driven person who thrives on the challenge of achieving over and above sales targets. This is due to Haley's ability to think outside the square. Haley holds the qualification Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104).
Gold Coast
Diana Healey
Training Consultant
For over 20 years, Diana Healey has led workshops and lectured on Stress Management, Motivation, Communication, Self-Esteem, Goal Setting, Visualisation and other life skills. She has worked as a journalist, a lecturer at TAFE, and trained staff for Gold Coast City Council, Seaworld and many large Retail organisations.
With a background in Retail, Diana has owned two retail stores. Her career as a training consultant with the National Retail Association goes back four years, during which time she has presented many retail courses. In conjunction with the National Retail Association, Diana now offers unique and dynamic Corporate programs, "Essential Energetics" and "Turn Stress into Success". She is qualified with the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAA40104).
Cairns
Pauline Johnson
Training Coordinator / Indigenous Liaison
Pauline Johnson has had over 15 years experience in retail & wholesale sales, including owning/operating a licensed post office, establishing and managing community stores in remote locations and a variety of fashion, gift-range and tourist outlets in both remote and urban locations.
Pauline has been involved in Training for 9 years, focusing on delivering to indigenous people, at risk youth and long term unemployed, in work sites as varied as the desert regions in Western Australia to Cape York in Far North Queensland.
Pauline’s approach to training is flexible and fun, whilst being culturally sensitive and looking to develop effective working relationships with the communities in which she works.
Pauline has been working with NRA since January 2008, based in Cairns and covers a large territory from Cape York to Townsville.
Sydney
Venise Damaskos
Training Consultant
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