National Career Policy and implications

“Toward 2020:   what WE do NOW will make the difference” 
-improving access to career services

Peter Tatham

Why are governments spending millions of dollars on career development to improve Australia's national career development system?  This  potpourri of career programs and services is becoming increasingly important to private education and training providers?  

Human capital is the  fundamental building block of growth in the knowledge economy – confirmed by the OECD – 

Intergenerational report – Current growth of the labour market is  Providing all Australians with access to effective and high quality career services is a necessary next step in meeting the challenges arising out of the demographic shift in Australia’s population. From 2014 more people will leave employment than commence. From 2014 to 2026 about 80% of employment growth will come from the working age population over the age of 50. 
Australia does not have networks or systems in place to provide the kind of career services needed for adult and mature age citizens to make decisions which will ultimately contribute to higher productivity and economic growth.  
There is no easily identifiable vehicle for delivery of career development across the lifespan. Career Advice Australia is not fully established, nor does it provide actual services to individuals, and its current focus is on ages 13-19 years.
  
The choices individuals effect the economic development of countries and the quality of life of individuals

I want you to think about the role of work (paid and unpaid in you life – work of course has many functions . 
Definitions of work – a set of activities with an intended set of outcomes from which it is hoped a person will derive personal satisfaction. It is not necessarily tied to paid employment. It can encompass other meaningful activities through which an individual’s career develops.  Work in some way is linked to notions of survival, identity, social interaction, development, contribution and life style amongst others. The importance of work varies from country to country and with social groupings.       
 
Career Development is a red hot issue 
Think about the time we are living in now – how would you characterise it  -  it is a time  of opportunity 
Ideas of work are changing  

It’s a great time for education 
“The  emergence of the global knowledge economy has put a premium on learning throughout the world.”

A strong national career development system is imperative 
A central organising goal for individual career management is the choice of and implementation of work in ones life. 

I will speak from the point of view of the Career Industry Council.  CICA represents 12 Associations and through them about 4500 career practitioners. CICA has a vision for a career development culture in Australia. 

THE GOAL
To consolidate and sustain the momentum of career development in Australia to build an international best practice career development and guidance system for our nation.

A system that provides access to quality career development support at multiple transition points across the lifespan; a system that includes existing and older workers; that is increasingly integrated and addresses the new health and financial education literacies; that builds bridges to our region; a system that embraces parents and industry as key stakeholders.

To position career development as part of the solution to the nation’s human capital, Third Wave Reform agenda.

Balance, Life Roles, Career Management
What do I have to offer?
Where do I want to be? 
Who needs what I have ?
Who will pay for it?

At adult years - this more like it 
Balancing plates 
Trying to work out strategies 
What to learn next – where to get information  - DOTS 
How to figure it out  - requires an adjustment in marketing – the strengthening of the individual to mange their future – employability and career management 

Introduction
Context 
CICA
Global issues, Career Development and Public Policy
Improving the national career development system to meet emerging trends

A definition
Career:
A lifestyle concept that involves the sequence of work, learning and leisure activities in which one engages throughout a lifetime. 

Career Development:
Services intended to assist individuals, of any age and at any point throughout their lives, to make educational, training and occupational choices and to manage their careers. 

Impacts 
Demographic shift 
Centrelink changes 
Technology – Mobile technology, wireless
Globalisation – largest economies China and India    
Skill shifts – skill set changing
New roles being invented 
Work choices
17.2% of children living without an employed parent
1/3 households one person 2026

Impacts on individuals
A clearer understanding of the labour market and how it operates 
Disabilities discrimination act
Disclosure issues
Employability skills 
Training employers – disability confident 

Career Industry Council of Australia 
Consists of 11 Associations and more than 4500 career practitioners
Developed Professional standards for Career Practitioners. 
Organised International Symposium on Career Development and Public Policy.
Contributes to national policy and discussion through representation. 
Economic benefits of career development paper
Is undertaking a scoping study and development of guidelines for career services and career information with funding from DEST.
implementation of a National Career Development Week (NCDW) June 4-10 2007
Is promoting and an expansion of career services across the lifespan 

Career Development is a public and a private good
Career development contributes to
Life long learning
Social equity
Labour market development 
Economic development

(COAG) National Reform Agenda 
Human Capital
“ the fundamental building block of growth strategies in the knowledge-based economy”  (OECD, 2005)

Smooth transitions from school to work/further study
Increase the proportion of adults with the skills/qualifications needed to enjoy active and productive working lives

“policy  needs to support people to take a lifelong view of their workforce participation. - career development policies are an implicit part of achieving this goal – including information, tracking, advice, labour market matching.” Helen Silver

What is happening in Australia? 
Career Advice Australia
International symposium 
Professional standards
Improving information in new formats
Programs to overcome skill shortages.
ANZSCO classifications -
National Careers week
Shifts in learning frameworks 
Review of HE and TAFE career Services
Incentives to keep working

National Reform Agenda
Learning to work report.
Blueprint trial.
Scholarship scheme
Lighthouse schools
Existing programs  - eg. Job Guide, The Real Game, Jobs Pathway.
Australian Technical Colleges
A National Institute for Leadership in Career Development

Standards for Career Practitioners
Agreed terminology 
Membership of the Profession
A Code of Ethics
Entry level qualifications 
Continuing Professional Development
A Competency framework which will accord with the AQF 

Problems of the national system
Language and jargon difficult to describe
Gaps in service delivery across the lifespan (eg limited services for adults)
Quality of service and access
Needs to interact more closely with problems that economies face
Need for closer links with employers 
A whole of government approach
Ensure services available throughout the lifespan
Increase accountability for service provision and cost effective program development 

Career development – what needs to happen
Strengthen career development services to meet the needs of students with a disability
Ensure accurate career information is widely available 
Support development of new and cost effective approaches that could be used widely
Create links with Career Associations
Support and collaborate in career related research and share innovative practice (eg WAM)
Embed career development in courses and ensure access to qualified career practitioners
Review what is missing from what you are doing 

THE GOAL
To consolidate and sustain the momentum of career development in Australia to build an international best practice career development and guidance system for our nation.

A system that provides access to quality career development support at multiple transition points across the lifespan; a system that includes existing and older workers; that is increasingly integrated and addresses the new health and financial education literacies; that builds bridges to our region; a system that embraces parents and industry as key stakeholders.

To position career development as part of the solution to the nation’s human capital, Third Wave Reform agenda.

Next steps 
Broaden services across the lifespan by: 
Funding a national institute for career leadership whose task is to develop practical evidence based responses to Australia’s human capital and demographic challenges. This centre would also have evaluation and accountability responsibilities. 
Strengthening the Career Advice Australia brand and creating a delivery mechanism utilising existing services and introducing new services to meet the needs of adults and mature age
Introducing a national careers  helpline.  
Strengthening quality