CELEBRANT TRAINING

The aim of this topis is to ensure that by the end of four hours, groups of celebrants will have had an opportunity to write a ceremony (including rituals), and planned and delivered their ceremony in accordance with a brief provided. Celebrants will learn from each other, and identify what works and what to avoid.

OPD 3-2011

Common Errors & Advice from BDMs in Australia – 1 hour

The aim of this professional development activity is to make registered marriage celebrants aware of the various common errors their BDMs have identified when receiving registration documents from celebrants.

BDMs have embraced this opportunity to contribute to this topic in an endeavour to “get the message across”.

Although several BDMs face the same sort of problems, some issues are unique to an individual State BDM.

The issues BDMs have identified are often not found in the Act, Regulations, or Explanatory Material, but are about the “little things”, this topic will clarify some misunderstandings that many celebrants have. The advice from BDMs will also assist in marriages being registered a lot quicker if marriage celebrants carry out the correct procedures once they know what they are doing incorrectly.

AssentTECS have also added some tips to assist the celebrants improve their skills and knowledge in a variety of ways.

OPD 4-2011

Simplifying your service agreement - 2 hours

Invoicing, Fees, Protocols

The aim of this professional development activity is to provide registered celebrants with an opportunity to consider the advantages of:

• Client Service Agreement – advantages of

• What to include / how to set out

• Legal aspects

• What to do if clients do not want to sign an agreement

• In-depth Questions and Answers regarding many aspects of a Client Service Agreement

• Invoicing correctly

• What to include, when to provide to clients – GST

• Fees - (All celebrants want to talk about fees)

• Cannot price-fix (breach of Trade Practices Act)

• No set fee – up to individual celebrants

• Protocols

• Some do’s and don’ts for celebrants

• Opportunity to share feedback from guests and other celebrants – some very interesting,

learning experiences

• Common courtesy

It is expected that celebrants will be very interested in learning how to draft a Client Service Agreement and to ensure that their invoicing procedures are in accordance with good business practice. Protocols include feedback from both celebrants about other celebrants, and from guests about celebrants. Not all light-hearted, but includes valuable lessons for celebrants.

OPD 5-2011

Marketing your celebrant business – 2 hours

The aim of this professional development activity is to:

• Provide celebrants with information about marketing strategies

• Different sorts of advertising channels

• Exhibitions

• Yellow pages

• Bridal shows

• Local papers

• Business cards – what information should be included

• Networking as a marketing tool

• How to attract clients

• How to sell self and service

• Communicating effectively - how to get your business noticed

• Giving value for money

This topic allow celebrants to discuss advertising methodologies they currently use – what works and what doesn’t

OPD 6-2011

Risky Business! (How celebrants can minimise risk) – 3 hours

The aim of this professional development activity is to:

• Remind celebrants of their responsibilities according to the Code of Practice

• Reinforce the different ways that celebrants may breach the Act and other legislation, including penalties

• Importance of having sufficient professional indemnity insurance, plus separate public liability insurance if

they run a business from their home

Topics covered include:

• Good record keeping

• Statutory Declarations – correct form, completed properly

• S.23B void marriages

• Forgery/Identify fraud – importance of sighting correct documents

• Possible crimes under the Crimes Act

• Conflict of Interest

• Copyright

• OHS issues

• Second Marriages/Surprise Weddings – penalties

This activity incorporates role plays to demonstrate how risks can be minimised.

OPD 7-2011

Presenting and Delivering Professional Ceremonies – 3 hours

(Public speaking & etiquette)

This is an in-depth professional development activity which aims to ensure;

• Celebrants know how to present themselves professionally (including personal grooming and etiquette)

• Understanding of OHS requirements

• Professional delivery of ceremonies

Delivery of this topic includes;

• Public speaking skills,

• Looking after one’s voice

• Printing the ceremony,

• Care of PA and use of microphone

This topic includes group work and role play by participants.

For details, check out their website AssentTECS

Contact Vlady at vlady_celebrant@yahoo.com.au, ring her on (07) 3283 8567 - Mobile: 0415 324 982 or write to her Vlady M Peters, Civil Marriage Celebrant, PO Box 394, Redcliffe. Qld. 4020. Australia.