Corporate Mission: To be the leading provider of value for money training services to our Government and corporate clients in Australia.
Our Focus:
We provide training in the following areas:
Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Project and Visio
Time Management
Web Content Development
Writing Skills at all levels
Executive Assistants
Customer Service
Communication Skills
Personal Develpoment
Acorn's Philosophy:
Acorn's philosophy is based on:
1. Working closely with client organisations to provide solutions.
2. Nurturing long term relationships with clients to enable better understanding of their needs.
3. Providing value-for-money services.
4. Continued education to ensure latest ideas and trends are communicated to our customers.
Our Clients:
Being based in Canberra our main customers come from the public sector. Most APS and ACT agencies have used our services. We have customers in all states and territories.
Our People:
The people at Acorn believe training should be;
Professional - both presenters and materials
Relevant - meeting the needs of the attendees and the organisation
Well managed and administered - so it runs smoothly from start to finish
Cost-effective - providing a positive return on your investment
A rewarding yet relaxing break from the day to day pressures of the office.
Like to work with Acorn?
Acorn is interested in trainers who have their own workshops and would like us to market them.
We have a database of over 25,000 potential workshop attendees in Canberra and other capital cities. Acorn's marketing process has been successful with more than 20 external trainers.
Topics we are interested in include:
Communication Skills
Personal Development
Womans' Issues
Project Management
Writing Skills
Microsoft Applications
If you have a workshop you think we would be interested in, then please contact John on (02) 6217 7000.
Contact Us
Below are our phone numbers and email address.
We also have indicated our training rooms on the map. Please note that the training rooms are on the first floor and that there is no lift access.
John Gleeson has a Bachelor of Economics degree from Sydney University. He has been Managing Director of Acorn Training Services since 1995, a business initially started to undertake productivity training with Microsoft Outlook. This led to a full range of Microsoft applications training, with communications skills workshops then being added to complement the IT training. Acorn began training brokerage in 2003 and now runs 40-50 workshops a month in a public workshop program and also many in-house workshops, mostly for the Australian Public Service. John has previously run a successful restaurant, and has held sales, account and branch manager positions in the private sector.
Stuart Eling has over 25 years experience in Government/Public sector roles in telecommunications and IT; and has consulted privately for the last six years - locally, nationally and internationally. Stuart is a recognised specialist in the field of performance optimisation of IT systems and applications for business use and is a member of the IT Service Management Forum (itSMF) Council of Members (A.C.T. Branch). He has formal qualifications in Engineering, Professional Management, Project Management, Information Technology and Training. As a trainer, Stuart has delivered courses in IT up to Diploma level; to audiences including Youth at Risk, People with Disabilities, Women in Business and Small Business groups and has trained in formal roles since 1993.
Sue Willis is an HR professional with over 20 years experience in the Australian Public Service. Sue has worked both as an EA and in a number of management roles in the HR area. Over the last ten years she has delivered training across a broad range of topics including writing skills, presentation skills, public speaking and dealing with difficult clients.
Dr Irena Yashin-Shaw PhD, Founder and Director of Innovation Edge and Speaking Edge, is an award-winning speaker, innovator, facilitator, educator, author and consultant with experience across academia, government and business. With a PhD in Educational Psychology and a Masters degree in Adult Education, when it comes to helping people learn and develop, Irena understands what works and why. Clients consistently confirm that she has a talent for bringing out the best in people. When you work with Irena you can be completely confident that you are working with a total professional who delivers deep and significant learning, packaged in an interesting and enjoyable way.
Barbara E Miller is an organisational psychologist, trainer and professional coach offering a new approach to enhancing human performance through positive psychology to help clients reach goals in all areas of their life - work and personal.
Julian Edgar Dip T (Sec), B Ed, Grad Dip Journalism, trained as a secondary school teacher and taught in South Australian schools for eight years. He then became a full-time freelance writer and photographer, selling material to publications in Australia, the US and UK, before becoming founding editor of a national Australian print magazine. He has more than 12 years' experience as a Web Editor and has worked in both commercial and Australian Public Service roles. He is also a published technical book author.
John Gleeson has a Bachelor of Economics degree from Sydney University. He has been Managing Director of Acorn Training Services since 1995, a business initially started to undertake productivity training with Microsoft Outlook. This led to a full range of Microsoft applications training, with communications skills workshops then being added to complement the IT training. Acorn began training brokerage in 2003 and now runs 40-50 workshops a month in a public workshop program and also many in-house workshops, mostly for the Australian Public Service. John has previously run a successful restaurant, and has held sales, account and branch manager positions in the private sector. 
