Direct Edge, a corporate development unit of Central Queensland University, has announced a new partnership with New South Wales State Procurement in collaboration with Queensland Purchasing.

Direct Edge from next month will be providing New South Wales State Procurement with testing for Certification of government purchasing and supply employees. Twenty-eight face-to-face workshops are scheduled for February with rural staff trained via distance education.

The organisation has developed and administered the course testing for Queensland Purchasing since 1998, having assessed over 1350 Queensland government staff to date.

This eight-level certification system has been a pleasing development for the purchasing profession in recent years.

Manager of Direct Edge, Ricki Jeffery said the organisation had been running a successful pilot program with New South Wales for 18-months. A formal agreement was finalised and signed late last year.

“New South Wales has provided double the number of purchasing agents than we have been coordinating through Queensland Government. There is massive potential here for our organisation,” Mrs Jeffery explained.

There has been interest from as far afield as Ireland, South Africa and Fiji in the Central Queensland administered program.

Through Central Queensland University, Direct Edge also offers diploma, advanced diploma and bachelor degrees in purchasing and materials management. All programs are recognised by the Australian Institute of Purchasing and Materials Management (AIPMM).

For further information about the programs offered in purchasing and materials through Direct Edge phone 4923 2545 or visit www.directedge.com.au.