Admin assistants are the unsung heroes of the office, quietly steering the ship.

Danielle B., 36, from South Australia, always recognised this.

“It’s been a dream of mine to do admin since I was younger.”

Danielle enrolled in Duke’s Administrative Assistant Skill Set course, getting closer to her dream gig, step by step.

“I love the way Duke does their courses, and I’m gonna come back to do the whole Cert III!”

Overcoming Barriers and Achieving Goals

Danielle has had to work extra hard to get where she is today.

She’s tried other admin courses in the past, but they lacked the support she needed to succeed and she ended up stopping them.

“I actually have an intellectual disability. And I’ve found Duke better for me than any other trainer in terms of achieving my goals and getting my certificate.”

To keep her going until she finishes her course, she’s picked up a short-term job at McDonald’s which, since she’s not a huge fan of working there, has motivated her even more to find admin work.

And although she isn’t finding the course ‘easy’ per se, she says the challenge is what keeps things interesting.

“Honestly, it’s not easy, but it’s something that I still enjoy.”

What Danielle Likes About Duke

Danielle really appreciates the speedy student support services offered by Duke.

“I feel like you can’t fail, because you’ve got the call coach option right there in the course. You can just give them a call if you get stuck.”

“Even though they say a coach will call you the next day, every single time I’ve needed help, the coach has called me that very day.” 

And when she’s needed a little push, the Duke team has been there for her – with gentle encouragement, not with penalties. 

“I like how the team gives you a call as soon as you’re falling behind a bit, and you don’t get penalised for it. They give you enough time to get it done.”

Next Steps Towards Her Career and Advice for Others

Danielle’s got her eyes on the prize. After she’s finished her Skills Set course, she plans to move straight into the BSB30120 Certificate III in Business (Administration) before finding a job in the industry.

Danielle advises others in her position to do their research before enrolling in a course, ensuring it’s what they want to do. 

For her, personally? The experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s been a wake-up call for me. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to see if the industry is right for them.”