A sales page can make any course look good. No single course is best for everyone. Put these seven questions to any provider. A good one answers them all on its website, before you reach the checkout.
Who made the course, and for which country?
Look for a real organisation with a business name and contact details. Then check where the course was written. Workplace rules and everyday terms change from country to country.
A good answer The provider says who they are and that the course is made for Australia.
Can I try a real lesson before I pay?
A trailer or a topic list tells you very little. One full lesson shows you how the course is written and whether the examples feel like real life.
A good answer At least one complete lesson is free to read, with no card details needed.
Is the reading level right for me?
If you must read every paragraph three times, you will give up. If it is too easy, you will get bored. Read a sample page at your normal speed and notice how it feels.
A good answer The provider states the reading level, and the sample makes sense on your first read.
How will I be assessed?
Some courses only record that you opened each page. Others test what you learned with quizzes, tasks or a final assessment. A certificate means more when you had to pass something to earn it.
A good answer The course page says what you must do to pass.
What do I get at the end, and is it accredited?
Nationally recognised training comes from registered training organisations, such as TAFE. Many useful courses are not accredited, which is fine when you only want the skills. It is not fine when a job, a licence or further study asks for a set qualification.
A good answer The provider says plainly whether the course is accredited and names what you receive when you finish.
What help is there when I get stuck?
Everyone gets stuck at some point. Help might be a support email, a forum, a live class or a guide built into the lessons. Check whether it costs extra.
A good answer The course explains how to get help, and you can read that before you sign up.
How long does access last, and what does the refund policy say?
Access can last a set number of months, as long as you keep paying a subscription or for life. Then read the refund policy of any provider, in full, before you buy.
A good answer The access period and the refund policy are written down and easy to find before the checkout.
What does a clear lesson read like?
Question three is easier with a sample. This one comes from Timesheets and Rosters, the free demo lesson in the Numbers & Money course by Worthy Courses.
Rosters can look different depending on the workplace. Some are printed on a noticeboard, others are shared through an app. Regardless of the format, you need to check:
- Which days and times you are working
- Whether anything has changed since the last roster
- Whether you need to swap or cover a shift
If your roster changes, always confirm the change in writing. A quick text message to your manager saying "Just confirming I am now working Thursday 10am to 3pm instead of Wednesday" protects you both.
Mistakes on timesheets are one of the most common causes of pay errors. If you forget to record a break, your hours look longer than they should. If you write the wrong finish time, your pay will be wrong. Checking your timesheet before you submit it takes less than a minute and can save you a lot of hassle.
The whole lesson sits on the Worthy Courses demo page, free to read.
Which online courses could I look at?
These five were judged on what each one covers, how it is sold and whether it leads to a recognised qualification. Our own course is at the top, and we are telling you so. Your seven answers may point to one of the other four instead.
How does Worthy Courses answer the seven questions?
We make Worthy Courses in Australia, so put the same seven questions to us.
Try the free demo lessons: one real lesson from each course, no account needed.
Lessons are written in plain English, at a Grade 6 to 9 reading level, so they make sense the first time. Learn at your own pace, on any device. Each module has a quiz, and the course ends with a scored final assessment. Pass it and you earn a verifiable certificate of completion you can show an employer.
Corso is the AI coach built into every lesson. He shows you around at the start, steps in when you are stuck, a couple of times a session at most, and after an assessment points you to the lessons to review first. You can rename him, choose he, she or they, or switch the character off and keep all the help.
A single course comes with access until you finish it, and the packs of 3 or all 9 courses come with lifetime access. As with any provider, read the refund policy before you buy.
See all 9 coursesQuestions people ask
Any course
What is the best online course in Australia?
That depends on you. The right course teaches what you need at a reading level you are comfortable with and ends with a result you can use.
Worthy Courses
Is this course accredited or nationally recognised?
No. It is not a nationally recognised qualification and it is not accredited training. Worthy Courses is not a registered training organisation. Pass the final assessment and you earn a Worthy Courses certificate of completion.
Any course
Does a higher price mean a better online course?
Not always. Price shows how a course is sold, not how well it teaches, so put the seven questions to it first.
Worthy Courses
Will this course get me a job?
No course can promise that, and we do not. It teaches practical skills you can use in a job search and at work.