16 January 2020

Cremorne finance specialist, Margaret Scott, was inspired to use her spreadsheet skills to develop a travel app showcasing the best views in the world, and studied a Certificate IV in Guiding with TAFE NSW to develop strategies to leverage it, followed with an online Certificate III in Travel with TAFE Digital in 2019.

Ms Scott first developed ‘Views On Top’ for iPhone, and in 2019 launched the app for Android to respond to consumer demand.  The app showcases over 850 destinations in 450 popular locations, across 85 countries.

The TAFE NSW graduate said, “I qualified as a chartered accountant in the 80s and spent 19 years in audit, insolvency and consulting, including a three year stint in London which I loved for all the travelling opportunities it gave me.”

Ms Scott has subsequently held a variety of senior roles in the financial services sector and works at one of Australia’s major banks.

“I’ve long believed it’s a good idea to get a qualification in the area you’re working in and am proud to be able to quote ‘GAICD AGIA SFFin FCA BEc’ after my name.  When I was developing Views On Top, I looked for relevant courses to expand my knowledge and how best to leverage the app, hence my TAFE studies,” she said.

“We’re regularly adding new view destinations recommended by users and from my research to Views On Top, with the over-riding objective being to showcase ‘quality’, not ‘quantity’,” enthused Ms Scott.

Destinations in Views On Top range from iconic city towers and buildings, rooftop bars and restaurants, to mountain tops, castles, adrenalin activities and more. The app finds destinations near wherever people are or plan to visit, and gives insights into what people will see, when places are open and how to get there.

Ms Scott has been a keen traveller since her 20s, visiting around 35 countries so far.  “My most interesting recent project was designing an itinerary for a motorhome trip in Iceland with my daughter, when we travelled 3,000km around the island,” she said. “I loved that the itinerary helped answer a Certificate III in Travel assignment!”

Studying online with TAFE Digital suited Ms Scott’s work / life commitments and she particularly enjoyed the flexibility of studying at night, over weekends and in her lunch breaks, to fit into a hectic schedule.

“I really enjoyed studying the Galileo system and now have a much greater appreciation of the complexities of international ticketing and airline routes than I did before,” she said.

There’s no holding Ms Scott back as she looks forward to visiting destinations featured in Views On Top she hasn’t been to yet, while researching more places to add to the app from upcoming travels. 

Links to download the Views On Top app:

iPhone: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/views-on-top-panoramic-views/id863058490?ls=1

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.viewsontop

Visit www.tafensw.edu.au/digital to explore the range of online courses available for enrolment in 2020.

Media contact: Bonny Gunn, TAFE Digital Media and Communications Business Partner. M: 0417 134 048