Mature Study

There are many services and resources available to assist people plan their career. These services include:

Refer to the following worksheets to assist you plan for tertiary study:

• Worksheet 1 - Identifying employment goals and related courses 
  (worksheet 1 as text 35KB or worksheet 1 as PDF 88KB)
  

• Worksheet 2 - Finding a course that is right for you
  (worksheet 2 as text 27KB or worksheet 2 as PDF 85 KB)
  

• Worksheet 4 - Understanding your study requirements
  (worksheet 4 as text 63KB or worksheet 4 as PDF 94KB )
  

• Information Sheet 2 - Planning ahead for successful support
  (information sheet 2 as text 35KB or  information Sheet 2 as PDF 90KB)

Most tertiary institutions have career services to assist students and potential students identify courses and career pathways. These services are offered to current students free of charge.

See career services at tertiary institutions for further information on these services.

Centrelink has Career Information Centres located across Australia. The centres provide a wide range of material on careers, courses and financial assistance available to students. Visitors can also talk to staff about apprenticeships and traineeships. Resources available at Career Information Centres include printed and video information on thousands of occupations and tertiary courses. Some centres offer career counselling services and run a wide range of workshops. To find out more information and the location of your nearest Career Information Centre contact Centrelink on 13 1021.

Career counsellors assist clients identify study options that meet their interests, goals and strengths. They also provide guidance on career pathways that stem from different tertiary courses. Most universities and TAFE offer career counselling services for students and potential students. There are also private career counsellors that will help you define your career goals and a develop a plan of how to meet those goals. Private career counsellors charge for their services. Many large recruitment agencies also provide career services. The advantage of career counselling is that it will assist you make informed decisions regarding tertiary study and where it will lead.

To find out about career counselling services offered by university and TAFE log onto their website and search under 'career services' or contact the tertiary provider. The services offered by private career counsellors can be located in the white pages under 'career coaching'.

There are many excellent publications designed to assist readers identify their career and employment goals and to explore courses that meet those goals. Many publications are interactive and include worksheets, scenarios and case studies. Publications are stocked in most bookshops under the 'career' section. University and TAFE bookshops also stock a wide range of career advice and planning publications. Speak to your career counsellor about recommended publications and browse your local bookstore. The internet also lists popular publications and ratings given by other readers.

The internet is an excellent resource to assist you plan your career. The web has a number of career based websites designed to identify a persons skills and interests and courses that may interest them. Refer to career weblinks for a list of career planning websites.

CRS Australia runs free career planning sessions for registered jobseekers. These sessions are designed to assist participants identify their skills and interests and to match their natural abilities to potential jobs. The sessions also enable participants to identify training and education opportunities and to establish a job seeking plan. The sessions are open to first time job seekers, people returning to work after a long break and experienced workers looking to enter a new field. The sessions are run by trained career advisers are held at 176 locations across Australia. To find out more about these sessions contact CRS Australia or Centrelink.