Developing strong digital literacy skills is essential for success in your studies and future career. This page provides you with quick-start guides and resources to help you master the key Microsoft Office applications you'll use throughout your course.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications is a fundamental employability skill across almost all industries. Whether you're creating professional documents, delivering presentations, analysing data or collaborating with teams, these tools will support your learning journey and prepare you for the workplace.
Quick Start Guides
Microsoft provides free downloadable quick-start guides that give you the essentials you need to get up and running quickly. These one-page reference sheets are perfect for beginners and experienced users alike.
Access All Quick Start Guides
📥 Download Microsoft Quick Start Guides https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/topic/downloadable-guides-6bd3eb82-0a0f-43cc-a4d2-c9f4e7ebdf39
This collection includes quick-start guides for all major Microsoft Office applications.
Mac Users
🍎 Microsoft 365 for Mac Quick Starts https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/microsoft-365-for-mac-quick-starts-5bccb480-0e5b-4b51-b072-66d3793ccad8
Mac-specific guides to help you navigate Microsoft Office on your Apple device.
Essential Applications for Your Course
📝 Microsoft Word
What you'll use it for:
- Creating professional documents and reports
- Formatting assignments and written assessments
- Collaborating on group projects
- Building your resume and cover letters
Key skills to master:
- Document formatting and styles
- Headers, footers and page numbering
- Tables and lists
- Track changes and comments for collaboration
- Mail merge for personalised documents
Get Started:
Word Quick Start Guide: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/word-for-windows-training-7bcd85e6-2c3d-4c3c-a2a5-5ed8847eae73
Word Video Training: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/word-video-training-7b4c7e81-3e50-426b-a6c5-4d953b1afc4c
👥 Microsoft Teams
What you'll use it for:
- Attending online classes and webinars
- Participating in group discussions
- Collaborating on team projects
- Submitting assessments and receiving feedback
- Communicating with trainers and classmates
Key skills to master:
- Joining and participating in meetings
- Using chat and channels effectively
- Sharing files and collaborating on documents
- Screen sharing and presenting
- Meeting etiquette and professional communication
Get Started:
Teams Quick Start Guide: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/microsoft-teams-video-training-4f108e54-240b-4351-8084-b1089f0d21d7
Teams Meeting Tips: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/meetings-in-teams-e0b0ae21-53ee-4462-a50d-ca9b9e217b67
📊 Microsoft PowerPoint
What you'll use it for:
- Creating presentation assessments
- Delivering professional presentations
- Showcasing project outcomes
- Building visual communication skills
- Developing engaging training materials
Key skills to master:
- Slide design and layout
- Using themes and templates professionally
- Inserting images, charts and multimedia
- Presenter view and delivery techniques
- Creating handouts and notes
Get Started:
PowerPoint Quick Start Guide: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/powerpoint-video-training-40e8c930-cb0b-40d8-82c4-bd53d3398787
PowerPoint Design Tips: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/video-apply-and-change-a-theme-c5cf2337-48cc-45e5-b5f9-fcf4e5cc9d3b
📈 Microsoft Excel
What you'll use it for:
- Organising and analysing data
- Creating budgets and financial reports
- Building charts and graphs for assessments
- Managing project timelines and schedules
- Performing calculations and data analysis
Key skills to master:
- Basic formulas and functions (SUM, AVERAGE, IF)
- Creating tables and formatting data
- Building charts and graphs
- Sorting and filtering information
- Using Excel for business analysis
Get Started:
Excel Quick Start Guide: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/excel-video-training-9bc05390-e94c-46af-a5b3-d7c22f6990bb
Excel Formulas Tutorial: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/overview-of-formulas-in-excel-ecfdc708-9162-49e8-b993-c311f47ca173
Additional Learning Resources
Microsoft Support Centre
📚 Microsoft Office Training Centre https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/training
Access comprehensive training materials, video tutorials and step-by-step guides for all Microsoft Office applications.
Tips for Success
✅ Practice regularly – The best way to learn is by doing. Use these applications in your everyday tasks.
✅ Start with the basics – Download the quick-start guides and master the fundamentals before moving to advanced features.
✅ Ask for help – If you're struggling with any application, reach out to your trainer or use the Microsoft support resources.
✅ Explore templates – Microsoft offers thousands of free templates for documents, presentations and spreadsheets that can save you time.
✅ Stay updated – Microsoft regularly updates its applications. Check for updates and explore new features.
Need More Support?
If you're having difficulty with any Microsoft Office application or need additional support with digital literacy skills, please don't hesitate to contact:
Student Support: studentsupport@nationaltraining.edu.au
Assessment Reminder
Many of your assessment tasks will require you to demonstrate competency using Microsoft Office applications. Familiarising yourself with these tools early in your course will help you:
- Complete assessments more efficiently
- Produce professional-quality work
- Develop workplace-ready digital skills
- Build confidence in your technical abilities
Quick Reference Links
All Microsoft Quick Start Guides: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/topic/downloadable-guides-6bd3eb82-0a0f-43cc-a4d2-c9f4e7ebdf39
Microsoft 365 for Mac Quick Starts: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/microsoft-365-for-mac-quick-starts-5bccb480-0e5b-4b51-b072-66d3793ccad8
Microsoft Office Training Centre: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/training
Remember: Building your digital literacy skills is an investment in your future career success. Take the time to explore these resources and develop your proficiency in these essential workplace tools.
Download your quick-start guides today and start building your Microsoft Office skills!
📥 Get Started Now: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/topic/downloadable-guides-6bd3eb82-0a0f-43cc-a4d2-c9f4e7ebdf39
This resource is provided to support your learning journey. All links correct as at 31/10/2025. For technical issues with Microsoft applications, please refer to Microsoft Support or contact Student Support for assistance.