Professional Empowerment Program

 (PEP)

1 May 01 - 31 August 01

Some steps could involve: Involve all parties (whether together or separately) - encourage them to express their side of the story and feelings associated with it. Focus on behaviours that are not working or that are not appropriate - avoid 'labelling' people or their personalities. Provide honest, constructive feedback where necessary. Focus on finding solutions, rather than getting stuck in blame. Work together to find solutions and ways to implement these. Review these strategies periodically to find out if they are successful. If not, revisit the situation (going through similar steps to above if necessary again) and find more appropriate solutions.

I am unable to answer this. You might want to  contact your library re suitable books/ articles.

Yes it is possible BUT would be through someone giving you the HR responsibility and letting you grow up through the organisation - it can simply be being in the right place - right time and you would need a mentor often to increase your skills. You have to realise that when going for new jobs you would be against other candidates with qualifications. 

We need a lot more people like you - specialists in areas of growing demand who also want to work with people. Your decision to undertake the Masters is a smart move and you may be able to develop your interest in people management by choosing electives in leadership, HR, and training and development. Units is ecommerce and learning would also open up further career opportunities in training and development roles in ecotourism and industry. Other career opportunities include roles in major corporations that are mindful of their environmental impact - mining, forestry, agriculture, petrochemicals, ports and manufacturing.

5 What are the long-term benefits of further study in the workplace for women and men?

Further study has many advantages . Firstly it gives you the chance to acquaint yourself with recent developments, relevant literatures and debates in the field. It allows you to stand back and listen and think - a rare luxury in the workplace. Further study provides the opportunity for re-skilling which can result in greater mobility in the changing workplace. Some of the most valuable networks I have formed have been with mature age students undertaking further study.

Her training and discipline should enable her to assess a wide range of other options, a lot would depend upon her personality and disposition as to the types of jobs she should pursue. She needs to assess her drivers , likes dislikes and find help (which can be as simple as free advice on the internet to paying 5k for indepth support).

See answer provided to Q7

A number of universities provide one week plus residential leadership programs. To identify those that are tailored to issues females may face in business one should contact those organisations focussing on female issues...there are many. The small business units run by many state governments may be able to provide information on leadership programmes for small business...

It appears you have taken the first steps in exploring options by enrolling in the rural leaders course. Well done. I would now enquires at your closest TAFE College or University to what is on offer in tourism - courses are available from certificate to diploma to degree to masters levels . It will depend on your prior qualification to what you might enrol in. Equally you need to consider how much time you wish to devote to study - explore options of studying by distance mode. If you have access to the internet why not explore some of the options by looking up the Universities or Tafe Colleges nearest to you.

Any Senior Managers who would like to offer advice and information to women wanting to climb the corporate ladder can email me here: Email Director   

It is difficult to provide names of people without their consent. Many companies/institutions have "mentor programs" for women but all participating have agreed to make that commitment. I am happy to have an initial discussion if in fact it helps with your research and suggest contact with some senior women in the ATN WexDev Program ( Womens Executive Development Program of the face ATN universities) 

ATN Women's Executive Development Program (ATN WEXDEV) is a strategic career development program designed for senior women on the academic and general staffs of five Australian universities.

We live in a world where a commitment to lifelong learning is to be encouraged. Whether returning to the labour market or maintaining currency,  the factors that need to be taken into account are, developing and enhancing generic skills - communication, organisation, customer service etc and specific skills relating to a given area of work. 

Women re-entering should be given an understanding of how their background can be utilised by talking to people currently working in the area before assuming the need for study or specific courses.

It is never too late. Some of the best positions I have taken have been in my forties. I suggest that you sit down and carefully list your strengths and weaknesses in skills and abilities / what have been your achievements/ track record - use a trusted colleague to assist (it can be confrontative but useful). 

Then think about what areas/professional jobs that interest you - and areas in which you would not wish to work. Think laterally . Now put together a CV. Start searching in your own organisation - there may be opportunities right under your nose. Seek out people to talk to in areas that interest you - what do they do, is it rewarding, is there scope for promotion etc. Talk to people in the areas of interest in other organisations. Let friends and colleagues know you are looking for a career move - and what interests you. Examine newspapers for advertisements in areas that you have identified - be positive when you look at these. Do not say " I could not do this job" - ask yourself "Could I do this job". Apply for jobs to give you experience in interviews - and do not get too disappointed if you miss out on a few.......it gives you confidence. Lodge your CV on the Internet - e.g.Monster and with Recruitment groups such as ours  (TMPW). Good Luck.

Some suggestions on how you could build your own practice and work in healing:- You could advertise your services in the local paper for a competitive fee and build up a clientele from home or perhaps from a community venue, if the centre charges a small fee eg neighbourhood centre. You could visit people's home for counselling/healing if you feel safe and comfortable with this. Make your qualifications/ services and experience known to your local health providers eg hospital/medical centres. They may want to refer clients to you or keep you in mind for future casual work. You could make an appointment to meet owners of existing practices and ask them if they would be interested in taking you on. This could lead to a partnership or you may be able to work for yourself and negotiate an arrangement whereby you use their facilities and secretarial services. Check out what possibilities are open to you on the internet. There may be other providers who are offering an Internet version of counselling for a fee !!!??? Our  advice to you is to believe in your self. Keep in mind your strengths. You have come through a great deal. That itself is an achievement. Now that you are clear about your life direction, take things in your stride. It is going to be extremely tough raising 3 children and working. But handle one thing at a time. Focus on the small steps to get to the big picture and be gentle on yourself.

I would suggest you contact your local Tafe for short course offerings in the first instance. If you wish to undertake a longer course then browse the web for university diploma / degree courses and research content of the curriculum to suit your needs.

As much as we plan to have a "balanced life" it seems that once we are back in the workforce the demands of the job take over ( even after a meditative weekend). Yet some people seems to have the knack of organising their life and days so that there is time for activities, family and friends. It seems that they are excellent "time managers" with a determination to work to set hours. In some workplaces this is not possible - the pressures of deadlines and competition between workers overtakes the commitments.

These are answers your university should provide. Have you spoken with your lecturers/ supervisor? You have a Careers Centre - have a chat to them - they will know what recruiters are looking for. There is no general answer to your question, although I would think that the private sector would give more weight to your Honors degree in your area of study. I believe work experience after your first degree will position you well in the work force and you will then get a good idea if a MBA would enhance further career prospects.

If there is a chance to attend a "Time Management" training program - GO! This will give you time to step out of your current situation and look at how you manage time.  If this is not possible I suggest you make some set times in the day to handle matters. Mark out times in your diary for reading and answering emails (do not answer them as they come in), return phone calls and prepare correspondence. Doing these tasks in "blocks" helps you manage time and tasks. 

Handle paper only once asking yourself the question " what is the worst thing that can happen if I do not attend to this?" Try not to see everything as urgent - is may be urgent for the client - it may not be for you.  Sometimes it is handy to list all the things you do over a few days and then review how you manage time. This way you can identify areas for improvement. Find time to discuss the matter with a trusted supervisor or colleague. They may be experiencing similar problems and be able to help with solutions.

You always take a risk calling a bluff - I once suggested that if a staff member could do better she should go as I could not match the offer............she admitted that she in fact had no other place to go .........

I would suggest that you review what tasks you undertook when you accepted the initial package. If they have significantly increased you have a good basis for renegotiating. I am also unsure as to how long you have been in the job but would wait for at least 6 months and a performance review before looking for an increase in remuneration. It does not help to compare yourself to "unqualified work colleagues" - they may have far more experience, and a proven record of achievement , although not hold your paper qualifications. Be careful not to use this as a measuring stick........it is really the outcomes you achieve that will be the measure of your success. 

Also : * Network with other HR professionals and benchmark against their salaries and tasks - enquire about job vacancies and check out what other companies offer

* Find a trusted work  colleague and find out what works best in your company ..........

* Check out the tmp website for information - www.eresourcing.tmp.com  

Tax implications - once you have negotiated a new package run it past your  tax adviser - most larger companies give packaging advice.......free or at a cost.

I would suggest that once you have received work for the day/week/month you block out a number of hours in your diary to complete the task and make sure you do it in this time, undisturbed if you can. Do not jump from one task to another. After a final proof of your work put it aside or send it on immediately - DO NOT REVISIT IT AGAIN! I find that making some dot points initially, on the key elements required gives me a framework around which to prepare the report.  Also remember when you prepare "briefs" - do as the work says - be brief!  I hope this helps with your time management - but persist for some weeks until it becomes second nature.

IT is growing rapidly and will have a long term presence, the buzz word is Data base administrators and Analyst programming and network support. It is hard to say what you may like but programming could be creative and use your analytical skills. A graduate diploma in programming can give you graduate level role to get in and they will teach you the best software.

The first step is to decide if you are going to work as an independent consultant or as part of a group. If you want to be independent you need to go through all the steps to establish a small business. Start with a SWOT analysis as part of your business plan - what have you to offer, what's the demand, what will people pay, how strong is the competition, what's your niche, how will you enter the market, what capital must you outlay etc etc.

If you are going to work with an established group, network to see who is doing what, find a group with a strong match to your values and where your capabilities will extend their capacity - to do more of the type of work they already do and /or to extend the range of work they can do. If you set up your own business you'll need skills in small business, sales & marketing, business planning and finance, communication, project management and your specialist technical skills. If you work for a group you'll need your specialist technical skills plus teamwork, time management and communication skills.

If you are on workers compensation there should be a counsellor/worker attached to your case who should be able to provide guidance to alternative opportunities. This will have to be very carefully weighed up against your injury, even when considering working from home. I suggest you speak to the person managing your case in the first instance.

I am unable to find " Mentoring Programs" in Canberra but would suggest you contact Uni Canberra or the Public Service organisations to see what they offer.

Is this fear of taking the next step irrational? I wonder whether men ever think like this.

It all depends on what you wish to do in the future. If you wish to engage in contracting in the future, then yes, keeping that technical side of your career fluid. If on the other hand, you are happy where you are and want to stay for some time then I would have thought a GM role would be a good step forward. It appears you have naturally moved toward this position but the longer you are away from the her technical work the harder it will be to return to it in the future. Have a good chat to management and see how they view your long term contribution in the company structure.

You need to consider whether you see your future as a technical expert or as a manager. If you are happy to continue with the type of work you are doing which seems to involve a lot of different types of writing, I think you could consider further development of your writing to develop the highest expertise in this area. If you are interested in a management role, you need to think about the area of communication management in which you would further develop your current activity of providing advice, but that which would add depth to your understanding of strategic communication. The literature in this field shows that people choose public communication careers as a technician to begin with and that many will want to continue in this role. There is a different type of satisfaction to be gained and there are certainly more challenging opportunities in management as a communication strategist. These people can work in-house or they can consult for large and small clients. An acknowledged leader in this field of education is UTS with the MA in Communication Management. If you would like to read more about this field I would recommend, "Excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management" edited by James Grunig and published by Lawrence Erlbaum in 1992. It shows what an exciting area this can be.

I think that in this day and age, effective management of the business database with targeted (and non-intrusive, or junk mail) use of emails is crucial. This needs to be backed up with a good website which provides some freebies in the form of articles, regularly updated resources or industry assistance.. This strategy needs to be complemented with regular, high profile public engagements such as speaking at industry conferences, writing for an industry journal,and/or taking an executive position in an industry network such as a business council. I find it is a quantum leap to move beyond personal referrals. All of my business comes from people who know me and their referrals. I still think that this is ultimately the best possible strategy. Client referrals are the best marketing and absolutely priceless. They need to be rewarded too!

This is a dilemma because the career in private sector public relations will be dependent on you having experience in all aspects of this role. I think you should explore the communication opportunities in the public service as your first option. Taking a senior policy officer position now might provide a chance to check out what else is offering that will use the communication strategy skills you have and which you sound interested in developing. You could also explore the possibilities in the association head offices that exist in Canberra but these would need to be large enough to have other staff doing the more technician roles. The good news is that the communication strategy positions will be better for your career in the long run. It is just a matter of finding them.

A number of different approaches could be used, depending on the style of interview and level of formality. A good informal approach is to ask "what's the funniest thing management has ever done" -this can open up a most revealing bag of worms and lead to a conversation that lets you explore management style without using the term. 

A more formal approach is to talk about different management approaches - participate, devolved, hierarchical - and ask which best describes the culture.  Most medium and large size organisations have multiple management styles, thus another approach would be to ask about where different managers/departments sit on a management continuum.

I would suggest you get your name on list of companies who tender for overseas projects. IDP Education Australia, GRM, SAGRIC, OPCV just to name a few. Many have websites where you can lodge your CV directly.......and be matched against projects. They also have contact numbers so it is worth ringing and having a chat about possibilities, options and interests.  The AusAID website also has some useful information in relation to consultancy work and you can also register with them. 

Keep an eye on the Weekend Australian - I have noticed recently calls for people to register for consultancy work with a number of the commercial arms of universities.  You may also wish to go into the ADB, UN and World Bank websites with online project activities.  Good luck.

This question is a difficult one. You may find an answer if you  contact some women's groups (e.g. the Women's Department in Victoria and see what advice they can offer.)

The Victorian Women's Dept URL is: http://www.women.vic.gov.au/owa/owasite.nsf You might also like to try the Australian Women's Intra Network which lists Women's organisations. The Address is: http://www.isis.aust.com/win/  and http://www.vicnet.net.au/women/ 

See answer to Question 42

This is a challenging question to answer.......any change involves risk. 

If you have itchy feet then possibly you are ready to move on but I would ask if it has to be with this company. Perhaps there are other opportunities without moving to a geographically isolated area? It might be prudent to check out your options in the local environment first. 

I would suggest that to move simply because it might provide a "stepping stone to corporate roles" may not be wise - particularly if it is to a isolated region. Ask your self the following questions - does the work interest you? Would you be committed to make it work or serve out your time so you could seek the next promotion? do you need networks of friends and colleagues to support you in your work and personal life ? are you looking for an adventure at this time of your career and you are happy to cut your loses should they occur........and so it goes.

It is often useful to make two lists - the positives and negatives. I would suggest you speak to some one who is working in this region. Ascertain both what the challenges and rewards are of the job as well as the lifestyle. .....visit the area if possible and get a feel for the community. Whilst you may feel that at this point it offers future opportunities remember , there are never any guarantees.........

What career advantages does an MBA offer? Does it help accelerate your career into a leadership role? (especially if you have comparatively little work force experience like myself) Does it offer career advancement to those interested in promoting "social bottom line" of either of government / community sectors or the fledgling area of corporate community involvement?

I would suggest that you look a bit broader than the MBA before you make your decision what to study. I am unaware of your current qualifications but it may be that a Grad Diploma or Masters in another area may be of more interest or more appropriate to future career aspirations. Why not search the websites of the universities and then follow up with course coordinators or the post great section of the institution. Also enquire from your HR section re preferred qualifications for promotion.

Studying whilst you are parenting can be very rewarding as it keeps you in touch with professional developments and provides an interest outside the home. I would suggest you enrol in a course that offers you both a chance to study from home but also network with others through the occasional tutorial, online chat, weekend lectures etc......this can make the program more stimulating and provide networks of people who may be in a similar situation to yours.  When you re-enter the workforce any study you have undertaken adds weight to your CV.

Good luck.

Believe it or not, there IS life after downsizing! What you do from here depends on your personal and business priorities. You could choose to stay in the corporate sector, seek employment in the public sector or go into business for yourself. Each option has its own rewards and challenges. Using a coach, mentor or someone whose brain you respect (!) spend some time exploring what kind of life you want to be living five years from now. Consider such aspects as hours of work/leisure/family, ie how you want to be spending your time; what sort of income you believe you would need to sustain this; who you want to be spending time with; what level of autonomy you want in your work - and a thousand other aspects your 'brain' will ask you about.

This process is essentially about taking stock and thinking strategically about where you want to head. Most people make quick decisions based on immediate needs, eg maintaining income, without thinking about a medium to long term set of goals. Many women choose to begin business for themselves because they value the opportunity to work for someone who trusts and respects their professional worth - I'm one of them! There continues to be a wealth of opportunity in the HR consultancy sector for those willing to establish a professional service. Many small businesses are realising the worth of paying attention to the needs of their staff and few have specialist expertise in the area.

Whichever path you choose to take, find a way to present your unique worth - the points of difference which make you an ideal candidate for your next step. Look for the reasons others turn to you. If HR is your area of expertise, you probably have a lot of useful feedback about your strengths already. Use the information others provide to help chart your course. And lastly, have FUN doing it - after all, if you're planning your future, who wants to be dull for the next five years and beyond!

Specialist or generalist? This is a question which many women face given the diversity of their lives - daughter, sister, mother, friend confidante, grandparent etc etc - all alongside staff member, team leader, small business owner, senior manager, executive director etc etc etc. This issue is one which many women face, as often careers and lifestyles have demanded the capacity to adapt to changing circumstances. If you've taken a generalist path thus far, you must have done so for a reason - is it the diversity? The challenge of developing new skills? The need to maintain interest in your work? Work has been hard to come by so you've had to do whatever came up? The key question really rests at - is it because you ENJOYED it?! Or, to phrase it differently, have you worked in a variety of media because you WANTED to?

When you can sort through your answers to these kinds of questions, you'll be closer to knowing whether your concern about 'lack of respect' in a specialist area is valid. Being a generalist can put you in a highly influential position. You are able to make links across a variety of aspects of a single project, you can bring focus to areas which need attention and you have a broad understanding of how a project fits together. In short, you have the big picture. Being a generalist puts you in an ideal situation to manage projects. Your strengths become the ability to envision strategies across the whole of the project and, I imagine, provide links to those specialists who can carry out particular tasks within it. What you do, is make your generalist knowledge your specialism.

Give yourself the acknowledgement that as a generalist you have a range of skills & knowledge which others don't - once you do that, generalism will seem less of a lame duck and more of the beautiful swan who keeps everyone else in the pond afloat!!

On the other hand, if you prefer to take a specialist path, all you have to do is ask: which one? (I wish you luck with that!)

My suggestion would be to initially seek out HR people in the mining industry and find out company requirements for working in HR - you possibly already have connections here or if not current ones I suggest you simply call the HR section and speak to management. If the engineering/technical background is a priority then perhaps a Diploma from TAFE or University may be adequate. Some employers may require a Grad Dip or a Degree. On the other hand many companies train professional people within the industry "in-house". You should also check out the level at which you would begin your HR career. This might be the deciding factor at the end of the day. Once you have some of this information at hand then you can select a suitable course to meet your needs and resources. Most institutions hold "information days/nights" or you can simply call and ask to speak to the Business Faculty Information Officers. Why not start browsing the web to see what courses are available.

Many TAFE Colleges run "small business" courses. I would immediately enquire at your nearest college and find out what is on offer. These courses do not need to be award courses........If you are receiving a benefit you may be eligible for some supplementary grant to help you establish yourself.....some years ago there were a number of initiatives supporting women wishing to establish small business ventures - they may still exist. Many people have started catering businesses from home. Many have folded. Unless you have a plan for sustainability (and backup for emergencies) it can be hard going. Speaking to people who have established similar businesses may also be useful. Look in the yellow pages, pick out a few names and give them a call - people are often flattered when they are asked how they developed a successful business.

There are many call centres in Australia. Recruitment firms often have agreements to recruit for call centre staff and some companies recruit their own (eg. Banks). You may like to go into the Monster, Seek, Career One websites and see what information you can find in relation to call centre vacancies. Saturday newspapers often have advertisements for call centre staff so keep an eye out for those also.

There is a book From Backyard To Boardroom – Bullying , 1998 Millenium Books, ej Dwyer Alexandria NSW, editors Paul McCarthy Michael Sheehan and Willliam Wilkie.

They have just published another titled Bullying - Causes, Costs and Cures   Paul McCarty, Miachel Sheehan, Susanne Wilkie and William Wilkie, editors. This is a publiciation of Beyond Bullying Association Inc PO box 196 Nathan Queensland 4111 fax (07) 3875 3887.

The Anti-Discrimination Commission of Tasmania has produced a volume of papers on bullying - these are available from the Anti-Disrimination Commission GPO Box 197 hobart 7001 Tasmania,  Mark it to the attention of Santi Mariso - at I think $38.00 plus postaage (probably about 2.00).

Also, have a look at the following website:  http://www.workplacebullying.co.uk/targetind.html

Have you tried networking with fellow postgrads who may be able to offer some assistance as to what strategies they are using? This may boost your own self-confidence as you won't feel that you are on your own.  If you are really determined to finish your research project and can battle through on your own, then keep at it. This will of course mean more time on your part to find the resources outside the institution.  Perhaps the Internet may be of use in accessing information or networks/organisations that are aligned with your research interests. However, if you feel that this is not getting you anywhere, then perhaps you need to consider applying to another institution. This time around you will know what to look for to see if the institution is suitable. 

If you believe in your product then promote it honestly to the best of your ability. If your product is genuinely good then you will find that it will sell itself by word of mouth, perhaps not in the short-term, but in the long-term.  By networking with other professionals, you will be able to find the people who may have an interest in your product or who may know others who might be interested in it.  You might also like to have a look at the article by Robyn Henderson on this site in relation to networking. See: http://www.leadershipforwomen.com.au/leadingissues/sept1.htm 

I think this is definitely a key area which NGO's and women's activists are striving to achieve. The situation varies depending on the type of industry you are looking at.  A number of Papers have also been written on this issue. You might like to have a look at the Commonwealth Dept Office of the Status for Women to see the research they have done in this area. The websites of the states' women's departments are also listed on this page under State and Territory Government Links: http://www.leadershipforwomen.com.au/links/index.htm 

Are you enjoying the Management and Marketing Degree? You will find that most Managerial positions will allow you to incorporate your passion in training and development of your staff.  If you want to continue with the double business degree, you could when employed in a Management position undertake short or formal courses to give you the skills and knowledge to train and develop your staff.   As you already are aware, doing the double business degree will certainly stand you in good stead. You could also check out the various subject offerings that are available within the double degree relating to your training interests.  The decision to choose which degree you want to do is yours. You need to ask yourself what do you plan to do with your degree and which career direction do you want to pursue in the long-run. 

Networking within the community setting will be a good start. Some communities also have council websites through which you can promote your profile.  Demonstrate your skills/expertise within the community and this will in itself prove that you are capable of what you are aiming to offer others.  

There are some excellent books that can teach you how to negotiate in such situations. A good start is the Women's Power Handbook by Joan Kirner and Moira Rayner.  There is an article published on this site entitled EFFECTIVELY NEGOTIATING SALARY PACKAGES that might also help. You will find it in the PEP Article Index.

In relation to your own circumstances, if you believe that you are being treated unfairly and that whilst your employer is in agreement, he/she feels powerless to help you and listen to your request for a raise, then you could consider getting help from external sources such as the Union or guidance from the Industrial Relations offices.  The decision is yours. If you indicated to your employer that you cannot tolerate the workload without the additional remuneration, would your employer take your request seriously?  In any case, think very carefully of how far you are willing to go before negotiating.  A lot also depends on your relationship with your employer and his valuing of your skills and expertise. Another issue at play here is your employer's perception of Mr X. Mr X may not after all act the way your employer thinks he might. If there is concrete evidence to show otherwise then the situation also develops into one of bullying. 

The best way may be impossible... namely to discuss your training with her and to draw up a schedule. If this is not possible, you might like to draw up your own schedule and discuss it with her. There are a number of good, basic and comprehensive HR texts - your new course should be able to recommend some. Rodney Clarke's Human Resources in Australia is one.

You're starting with the right issues. The government has agencies in each State that provide advice on small businesses and there are a wide range of books available. See http:/www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au

You have at least three options but none of them are very exciting....one is to discuss the situation with a senior person at the university - someone you trust and who is knowledgeable in terms of providing advice - a dean, head of school or someone in HR. At best they may be able to help with a solution, at worst they will confirm your concerns and at least you will know the truth and can decide if you want to pursue any sense of discrimination further. Secondly you could change your own view about contract work and accept it for what it is and make the most of it while it lasts. This is tough as many young people are not worried by the uncertainly of contract work and manage their careers by job hopping, while older people find the lack of security and career immobility frustrating. Finally you can look for opportunities to work full time for the State. While you will loose some of the stimulation of your dual roles, you will achieve the security you want. 

Mentors are certainly fashionable at present and they can be of great assistance, but they are not fairy godmothers. Let your supervisors and colleagues know you want to move into management, ask for their feedback about your current skills and ideas about how to develop them. Seek out projects and assignments at work and in voluntary capacities that will let you develop, practice and demonstrate management skills. Find a manager you admire and see if they will mentor you. Systematically build your management repertoire and in time, you should be well prepared and positioned to gain the role you want. I'm sure you'll have lots of fun along the way.

Congratulations on your current role, it sounds like a great achievement. There is only so much you can do in preparation to achieve the permanent appointment - excel at things that matter to the organization, stay close to members of the Board/Governing body and understand their priorities and concerns, be outward focused in terms of the future and opportunities for the organisation, collect feedback from key players about your performance and show how you have addressed issues where there was scope for improvement.

Think through the things that have brought you lasting pride and pleasure over the years, make a list, discuss it with friends and colleagues and then think about opportunities/jobs that would let you be doing these things. For example, you may have a propensity to help others - look for roles where you can do this and leverage your substantial knowledge of issues facing Vietnamese or immigrant women in Australia. On the other hand, if you are an entrepreneur, look for business opportunities that leverage your skills. IT skills never go astray, so if you like information technology, develop a reputation for putting it to good use again in areas leveraging you specialist skills. If you want a funny read that will jolt you out of a narrow approach to careers, try the last two chapters in Blur by Stan Davis and Christopher Meyer. 

Given their "look into it" has not yielded results, are you able to "look into it"? Can you find a project or assignment that needs doing and that you can undertake as part of work. Alternately look for opportunities outside work - perhaps a policy project with your relevant professional association or a special interest group. I don't know your scientific discipline, but there is a lot going on around sustainability etc that might yield some exciting opportunities.

Would I have to move into a more generalised management role in the non-profit sector to use my strategic communication abilities? If so, would an MBA help? Does the government sector expect strategic thinking from it's communication departments?

Every sector benefits from strategic communicators and if you've hit a brick wall where you are, it may be time to look for a role with a better match to your ambitions. Further qualifications may help, but they don't guarantee anything. I'd see what's available and what type of skills and experience people want before you enrol in another course. An MBA may be the best choice, but post grad studies in multi-media, Customer Relationship Management Systems or in other quite different areas may be what's needed.

I would approach the Australian National Art Therapy Association, PO BOX 303, Glebe, NSW 2037I for advise on how to set up as an Art Therapist. Their website is: http://anata.synflux.com.au/  You might also like to consider further study in this area. Edith Cowan, University of Western Sydney and La Trobe University offer courses in Art Therapy.  As far as promoting your services, you could approach existing private practices as well as public and private agencies offering art therapy such as hospitals, family welfare agencies, nursing homes, rehab centres, women's health centre's etc. You could start with your local area and build up a profile. The Internet is an excellent avenue to promote yourself through by either linking with existing art therapy organisations or community oriented websites.

Some other Useful internet websites which may help you with general information are: http://www.sofer.com/art-therapy/ and For Art Therapy Journals see: http://home.ican.net/~phansen/pages/ATjournal.html 

Sounds exciting. If you know your market niche and have planned the business, you may not need additional qualifications other than for professional development and networking purposes. However if you want to formally provide counseling services you would be wise to qualify if only to make sure you can cover yourself for professional indemnity, that or refer counseling work to a suitably qualified contractor. In terms of motivation and debriefing - experience is invaluable and a psych background provides a theoretical framework. PS If you haven't done it already, don't forget to do your homework re setting up a small business - http://www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au