what is a professional organiser?

A Professional Organiser is someone who creates customised solutions to help others get organised. They help their clients find balance, restore order and maximise their resources. They provide ideas, information, structure, solutions, tools and systems which increase productivity, reduce stress and lead to more control over individual resources.

Most Professional Organisers offer a hands-on service and offer their services on a consultancy basis.

The organising industry has experienced rapid growth in Australia and New Zealand over the past two years and has generated a massive amount of interest from newcomers. It's a rapidly growing industry. There are already several industry associations around the globe:

• The National Association for Professional Organisers (NAPO) U.S.A.www.napo.net
• Professional Organizers in Canada (POC) Canadawww.organisersincanada.com
• Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers (APDO) UK
  over 80 members, operating since 2004www.apdo-uk.co.uk
• The NBPO was formed by a merger of two associations The EPO (European Professional Organisers - started in 1997) and the NPO (Dutch Professional Organisers -started in 1998). www.nbpo.nl
• Büroorganisation Büroordnung Netzwerk Deutschland (BooND) was formed in 2003 with members from Germany, Austria and Belgium. www.BooND.de

...and what do they do?

Professional Organisers can assist in a wide variety of ways-

• Workplace organising may include: design of filing systems, purging, de-cluttering and organising, paper management, procurement of office supplies and equipment, space planning, processes and paper/work flow, information and records management, archiving and storage, procedures manuals, and moving/relocations.
• Domestic organising may include: storage design and organisation, spatial planning, purging, decluttering and organising of space and storage, errands and personal shopping, storage solutions, coordination of repairs and maintenance, styling, interior design, organising of collections, memorabilia and photographs, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, family rooms, coordination of disposal of goods, donation of unwanted goods and preparation of homes for a sale.
• Time management, project and task management, goal setting.
• Event/meeting/travel planning and co-ordination.
• Digital organising including design of systems, archiving and management of information.