Magda Gierlicka prepares for next career step with WiseTech Academy

When Magda Gierlicka returned to work after a three-year break, she turned to the flexibility offered by WiseTech Academy’s online education platform to complete her TLI50816 Diploma of Customs Broking.

Magda was already working in the logistics industry when she moved to Australia from Poland eight years ago with her husband and young son. Seeking to expand her career options she started studying for her Diploma of Customs Broking, however, she put her study on hold with the arrival of twin babies. Three years later she returned to work and was ready to finish her studies. Given the need to juggle her job and three young children, she opted to transfer and complete her study with WiseTech Academy as the online course structure provided the flexibility of on-demand materials instead of lectures at a set time, combined with accessible industry experts as tutors.

“I undertook the Diploma of Custom Broking with WiseTech Academy as I would like to move forward in my career. To get a role with more responsibilities, I need to be a licensed Customs Broker and the diploma is a prerequisite for that,” explained Magda.

Completing the Diploma will allow Magda to attain her customs broker license* through Australian Border Force. Once licensed, she will be able to complete barrier clearance functions, and with experience, qualify for more senior roles in the international trade sector.

Magda says the benefits of flexible online learning were highlighted when just after she signed up for the course the COVID-19 pandemic started, and Magda’s office moved to 100% work from home.

“Online learning was a great fit for me, as I could work at my own pace at the time of day that suited me, especially as I was studying during the pandemic. While I didn’t need to travel into the office, I did have to juggle home schooling and lockdowns. But I got an incredible amount of support from the WiseTech Academy tutors and it was easy to ask questions on the online discussion forum.

“I really liked the structure of the course. I could choose how many modules to do at one time. And when I started a module, I received all the learning materials and assignments at the beginning, which you can view on any device, so I knew what was expected of me and could plan for it. This meant that as I studied, I could think about how it applied to the scenarios in the assignment. It was also really useful to be able to work and study at the same time as I could see how what I was studying would apply in the real world. It meant that not only did I have access to WiseTech’s industry experts, I could also ask the brokers I work with. Actually, I think this is the best way to do it,” Magda said.

Magda thoroughly recommends the logistics industry to other females. “It’s such a broad industry with a huge range of roles including operations, transport, business development and custom broking – many are even in the same company. And the pandemic helped many logistics companies to rapidly embrace paperless processes and remote working, the flexibility of which is particularly helpful if you are a parent with young children,” she said.

*The Customs Act 1901 (Customs Act) provides that only the owner of goods or a customs broker licensed by the Comptroller-General of Customs for the Department of Home Affairs can submit an import declaration to enter goods for home consumption. Most importers of goods choose to engage a customs broker to act on their behalf because of the complexity of the laws governing the importation of goods into Australia and the potential financial and other implications of lodging an incorrect entry. More info.