Manager – Scott Meechan
Growing up Scott was a ‘city-guy’ and was always torn between becoming a Police Officer or a Teacher. It was a choice that wasn’t easy, however this eventually led to Scott attending Policing Studies.
At the end of the completing these studies, Scott was posted to Brewarrina, a very remote town of NSW. When Scott first heard of this, he had no idea where it was until he found out he was going to the ‘back o’ Bourke’ with Bourke being the closest town of 100km away. From where Scott lived, it was over 750km away, and the best part of a nine-hour drive (with no breaks). You are wondering if Scott choose to go there, and the answer was “no”.
Scott completed 3 years at Brewarrina, and despite, the large culture shock he enjoyed the experience, learnt a lot, was respected in the town, learnt and adapted to the country side of living, and, got accustomed to country music (much to his surprise).
Whilst making good use of his time, Scott completed his Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, continued his university studies and commenced several Diploma Courses in Business. Through this, Scott began working part time for an online Registered Training Organisation. Whilst not Policing, Scott would be providing online support to students completing the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, along with Certificate IV and Diploma Business Courses with this organisation.
Scott found a love for training, and this saw him become involved in the compliance side of the organisation whilst still maintaining his training role. In Scott’s eyes – he had the best of both worlds. This led to Scott completing the Graduate Diploma of Adult and Vocational Education.
Whilst in Brewarrina, Scott commenced his own business, and provided the delivery of face to face courses in the areas of First Aid, and Child Protection which he would often deliver when he went back to Sydney to see family and friends.
Towards the end of Scott’s time in Brewarrina, he met his partner. Over the next 18 months Scott found himself travelling back to Brewarrina for visits where the relationship continued to grow. Scott’s partner has now finished her time in Brewarrina as a Teacher (a coincidence?) and is now teaching in Sydney.
After Scott’s time in Brewarrina, he moved back to his home town, and commenced Policing there. Here is was back around family and friends. During this time, Scott commenced several contracting jobs from other Registered Training Organisations, which involved many aspects of Compliance and the writing of Assessment Instruments. Scott assisted RTOs in making their obligations for audits, conducted numerous validations of assessments and, wrote Assessment Instruments for the Certificate III in Fitness.
Given the passion for adult learning, Scott allied with Chris and made a decision to start their own RTO together.
Chris and Scott have a focus of providing flexible study to students. The focus of their operations are to ensure that all students are well supported, as Scott has shown in his experience, distance is not a barrier to effective education and learning.
Qualifications
- Master of Investigations
- Graduate Diploma in Adult and Vocational Education
- Bachelor of Policing
- Associate Degree in Policing Practice
- Diploma of Leadership and Management
- Diploma of Business
- Diploma of Business Administration
- Diploma of Vocational Education and Training
- Diploma of Training Design and Development
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- Certificate IV in Small Business Management
- Certificate IV in Work Health and Safety
- Certificate II in Emergency Medical Service First Response
Currently Studying
- Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning)
Training – Chris Gribble
Chris’ working life began as an office clerk in a large farm implement manufacturing company in Dalby Qld. After a year he began an apprenticeship as a fitter and turner in the same company and successfully completed his indentures four years later.
Looking for an adventure he then travelled to Israel to work on a Kibbutz. He primarily worked in the farm section of the Kibbutz producing turf for many of the major tourist and residential developments in Israel at that time.
On his return to Australia he began working at the local Dalby Hospital and completed his training as an enrolled nurse. He then worked at Baillie Henderson Hospital in Toowoomba for a year.
Chris completed several years of Bible College training and worked as a teacher and then Dean of Cornerstone Bible College in Emerald, Qld. He moved to Charters Towers in North Queensland to commence employment as a church Pastor with the Churches of Christ and Baptist Churches. During this time he also worked as a Nurse, Newspaper Photographer, School Teacher, Chaplain and a variety of other jobs to augment his role in the church.
Chris’ interest in education was developed through his studies at the University of Southern Queensland where he completed a Bachelor in Further Education and Training. Chris moved to the Gold Coast in 2002 and completed his Masters in Education (Online Learning) that year. At this time he began applying some of the ideas formulated during his studies to the development of a Cert IV in Christian Ministry. A number of students were engaged in individually adapted learning that sought to provide learners situated learning within their community of practice.
In 2007 Chris moved to Toowoomba with the aim to develop an applied spirituality in the workplace. He became a builder’s labourer working on site with the purpose of developing a holistic mentoring model that produced positive learning outcomes for the business.
In 2010 Chris spent 6 months teaching Business and English in China. This was an adventure and educational experience for the whole family. Chris and the family returned in February, 2011.
In 2014 Chris began a 6 month leadership course with the Centre for Courage and Renewal in Austin, Texas. He will complete this in April 2015. One of his recent learning influences has been the work of Parker Palmer who founded the Courage and Renewal Academy and authored the work, The Courage to Teach. This experience has inspired Chris to recommence his Phd studies in 2015.
Educational Background
- Masters in Education (Online Learning)
- Graduate Certificate in Theology
- Bachelor in Further Education and Training
- Diploma in Theology
- Diploma of Vocational Education and Training
- Diploma of Training Design and Development
- Diploma in Counselling and Groupwork
- Diploma in Business (Frontline Management)
- Enrolled Nurse
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- Certificate III in Human Services
- Certificate III in Fitting, Turning and Machining.
Currently Studying
- Masters of Business Administration
