Team Member Ready for Placement

Deanna is a Bachelor of Science in Office Administration degree holder. She enjoys listening to music, painting, and capturing the beauty of nature through her photography. She has already demonstrated a strong work ethic and enthusiasm for administrative work during her internship experiences. Her professionalism, attention to detail, and eagerness to learn make her a promising addition to any administrative support team.

Onboarding Training and Assessment

At Affordable Staff, we ensure that every team member not only masters administrative tasks but also gains a deep understanding of Australian business practices and cultural nuances. This preparation is vital for effective client support. Our training starts with real estate, providing a comprehensive overview of general administrative competencies, ensuring our trainees are versatile and capable of handling a wide range of administrative tasks.

The second phase of our training program focuses on Mortgage Broker Assessment. This intensive two-week course immerses trainees in document processing modules, where they learn to understand various types of documents and their roles in the loan application process. Trainees are trained in following naming conventions and editing standards, with their skills assessed through quizzes and individual tasks. They are also introduced to fundamental mortgage concepts and familiarised with commonly used tools such as CRM systems. Tasks include data entry and loan application management, offering a complete view of preparing a loan application.

We also emphasise communication skills, enhancing them through grammar checks, situational chats, and lender call simulations. By the end of this phase, our trainees will be proficient in handling mortgage-related tasks, meeting the high standards expected by our clients.

Affordable Staff Tools Training
Tools Training is a crucial part of our training program, ensuring our team members gain proficiency in essential software used in daily operations. Our team members are introduced to LastPass for password management, Outlook for email and calendar organisation, TechSmith for capturing and recording, Hubstaff for time tracking, Zoom and Teams for virtual communication, OneDrive for file management, and Trello for project management.

For those completing our Mortgage Broking Foundations course, we place a significant emphasis on Nexus CRM and BrokerEngine. Mortgage broking VAs spend considerable time honing their skills through practice and repetition using these tools, ensuring they become highly adept and efficient. Team members undertaking the additional two-week, high-intensity Mortgage Broking course will gain expertise in the following areas:

• Introduction to Mortgage Broking
• Document Processing Basics
• Hands-on Document Processing
• Document Editing Standards and Advanced Processing
• Broker/VA Communication
• Nexus CRM Training
• BrokerEngine Project Management
• Introduction to ApplyOnline
• Scenario-Based Training

This comprehensive approach ensures Deanna is well-equipped to handle a variety of tools and tasks, leading to increased efficiency and productivity in mortgage broking support roles. The extensive practice with Nexus CRM and BrokerEngine guarantees that our VAs are not only knowledgeable but also highly proficient in using these essential tools.

Additional Tools Proficiency
Prior to our onboarding training, Deanna had already learned and gained experience with the following tools and software:

• Advanced: Word, PowerPoint
• Practical Application: Excel, Canva
• Limited Experience: Outlook, OneNote, Teams, OneDrive, Trello, Hubstaff, LastPass
• Basic Knowledge: Publisher, Forms, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe XD, Pixlr

Additional Skills and Notable Experience
Deanna has completed two internship placements that helped build her foundational administrative skills. As a student intern at the city council secretariat office, she assisted in drafting and proofreading minutes of sessions, encoding approved ordinances and resolutions, updating indexes, organising office files, and sending emails. While at a local law office, she supported daily operations by photocopying, filing documents, and assisting clients.

These experiences allowed her to develop key skills such as:

• Drafting, proofreading, and document formatting
• Filing, indexing, and document retrieval
• Data entry and encoding of official documents
• Email communication and general administrative support
• Attention to detail, professionalism, and confidentiality

She has been working with AffordableStaff since August 2025 where she assisted her client with the tasks below:

• Email and Client Communication
  • Checking emails
  • Sending pre-settlement and settlement emails
  • Communicating repayment details to clients
  • Uploading supporting documents to lenders
• Loan Application and Servicing
  • Conducting Fact Finds
  • Checking and updating Broker Engine activities
  • Monitoring broker portals for loan progress
  • Preparing servicing documents and AOL/FLEX updates
• Document and Report Management
  • Organising and renaming documents
  • Generating Property Profile Reports
  • Saving and converting client documents
  • Uploading and maintaining client records
• Other Administrative Support
• • Creating publication materials in Canva
  • Performing post-settlement checks
  • Reconciling bank statements
  • Providing general admin assistance

Learning Ability and Work Proficiency
Deanna is a steady and thoughtful learner who shows continuous growth and determination. She follows instructions with ease, although she sometimes needs a little time to absorb new processes. Once familiar, she works independently with minimal supervision. She is highly organised, analytical, and diligent in her tasks. Her communication skills—both verbal and written—are strong, and she actively listens and engages when needed. Though she may initially struggle with anxiety, she maintains a constructive attitude and is quick to adapt and improve.

Interpersonal Skills and Personal Characteristics
Deanna brings a gentle and warm presence to any team. She demonstrates genuine attentiveness, responsibility, and thoughtfulness in her interactions. She collaborates well with others, contributing harmoniously and respectfully. Her keen interest in her work, combined with her brilliant initiative, resourcefulness, and versatility, reflects a strong sense of professionalism. While she is naturally reserved, her consistent effort, orderly habits, and ability to take on responsibility shine through.

Suitability
Deanna is greatly suitable for any general mortgage broking or general administrative position, and is also suitable for basic social media tasks.

Why Deanna is Suitable for the Role
Deanna is a highly promising candidate for the mortgage broking space, bringing together strong administrative foundations, proven communication skills, and a determined approach to learning. Her internship background showcases her ability to handle sensitive documents, follow procedures with care, and support office operations effectively. With her organised work ethic, attention to detail, and warm, professional demeanor, she is well-prepared to contribute meaningfully to any support role within the mortgage broking field.