Improving the career literacy of Australian students

Improving the career literacy of Australian students

[Introduction]: This roundtable is a joint initiative of TAFE Directors Australia and the Career Industry Council of Australia with sponsorship support from education.au

Career development is both a public and private good and the quality of career services can impact on national education, employment and social inclusion priorities1 and impact on . Globally and nationally there is a heightened interest by policy makers, educators, industry and the community in career development as a catalyst to support human capital development and to address some of the challenges arising out of the global financial crisis.

Clearly, the choices individuals make in relation to learning and work will have a direct impact on the quality and growth of Australia’s human capital. Career development services contribute to improvements in retention and completion rates; increase knowledge and understanding of education and employment opportunities; increase self-awareness and confidence in career decision making; and improve opportunity awareness and job-search skills.

Poor career choices do not serve the interests of the individual or the nation. For the individual the career choices made often determine “which aspects of their potentialities people cultivate and which they leave undeveloped”2.

The Federal Government has accepted recommendations in the Bradley Report and adopted a demand driven student entitlement system for universities from 2012. The Victorian Government has already introduced a demand driven system into vocational education and training. The efficiency and effectiveness of a demand driven system will be directly related to the quality of information available to students about careers, course offerings and pathways. The quality of career decisions being made by participants will be underpinned by the career management skills they have learnt to explore and inform their decisions.

Importantly, the timing of the roundtable coincides with agreement having been reached for States and Territories to progressively assume primary responsibility for the provision of youth career and transitions programs in a way which engages all school sectors and for the Commonwealth to retain responsibility for national career development3.

The stakes are high because of the impact of effective career development services on enrolments in post-compulsory education, retention and as a key strategy for addressing the issues arising from and mismatch between persistent unemployment and difficulties in recruiting in certain sectors.

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