Avidity Training and Development is a registered training organisation (RTO) operating in Tasmania and offering 20 qualifications, from Certificate I to Diploma level, including in business, leadership management, community services, health support services, hospitality and retail.

Since opening in 2009, Avidity has helped thousands of students grow and reach their full potential, like Alysia Woodhall.

After 15 years working as a machine setter, Alysia was made redundant. She had no other qualifications and limited options. Life was scary until Alysia chatted to a trainer at Avidity.
With strong support from her trainer, Alysia pursued her dream career change and enrolled in Avidity’s Certificate II in Community Services program. She became a part-time volunteer in an aged care facility while studying part-time. After graduating she quickly landed a rewarding position in her chosen field and went on to study a workplaceundertake a traineeship  incompleting a Certificate IV in Disability.
‘I now feel like I can do anything I really want to,’ says Alysia. ‘I’ve never felt so confident and proud in my life.’

Alysia’s story is very familiar to Avidity, says Director Simon Wiggins.
‘We provide a range of services, focusing on improving the health and wellbeing of students,’ says Simon. ‘Services include face-to-face training of nationally recognised qualifications to disengaged members of our community or the long-term unemployed. We support students to develop personal confidence, career plan and navigate the world of work.’
‘We work with partners to identify outcomes and vocational education training (VET) plans to meet those outcomes,’ says Simon. ‘We’re solution focused which helps us remain sustainable.’

It’s no surprise that Avidity holds several accolades, including Employer of Choice, Best Micro Business in Australia, and Tasmanian Training Award for Small Training Provider of the Year. Most recently it won the 2017 Small Training Provider of the Year Award at the Australian Training Awards. This award recognises an RTO delivering less than 50 qualifications and demonstrating excellence and high-level performance in all aspects of VET.

Winning the award brought many benefits to Avidity, including increased confidence in the integrity of the VET industry and recognition of staff and their important work. ‘It validates the hard work we put in,’ says Simon.
As an Australian VET Alumni member, the team at Avidity understands that VET is an integral part of the nation’s training system. ‘It’s a different but not a lesser path,’ says Simon. ‘It provides real careers.’

‘Avidity is a positive feeling of wanting to push ahead with enthusiasm and dedication—to be avid. This is what we want our graduates to feel,’ says Simon.

To find out more about how you can gain real skills for a real career through a VET qualification, visit www.myskills.gov.au