Career Counselling and Development – Co-Design Workshop – Sydney, Nov 2019

Sydney Co-Design National Skills Commission Workshop

Co-Design National Skills Commission Workshop –Sydney 2019

Federal Career Counselling and Career Development Initiatives

As you may recall in the Federal Budget this year (2019) the government announced that it will be launching a National Skills Commission as part of a federally funded skills package.

As a Professional Member of the Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA) I was extended an invitation to participate in the Sydney Co-Design workshop for the Commission and Skills package.

Career Counselling and Career Development – Co-Design Workshop

Over a two day period industry professional shared their perceptions and experiences with the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business with regards to our expectations and the objectives of the National Career Institute, National Skills Commission and Skills Organisation through a variety of brainstorming activities.

In addition to the above, insight was gained into key vocational employment growth sectors over next 5 years been:-

  • Aged and Disability Carers – 69.2%
  • Child Care – 27.6%; and
  • Waiters – 21.%

with the other top 7 sectors ranging from 10.5% to 18.8% growth.

As a result of attending the workshop, key career knowledge was obtained that will be invaluable helping clients in exploring Vocational Education Pathways over the short to medium term.

Learning Outcomes for Co-Design Workshop

The Co-Design workshop also provided a golden opportunity for me, as a qualified Career Development Specialist whom lives and works in a regional area; for instance it enabled me to share information in relation to the specific challenges and needs not only for industry but regional community areas and members.

Indeed it will be interesting in due course to hear the findings and recommendations from the national workshops and how we as participating professionals and individuals contributed to the shaping and molding of the National Careers Institute, National Skills Commission and Skills Organisation.

In conclusion, Blu Ripples was proud to participate in the event and also be able to provide meaningful career guidance, insight and perspective to our clients.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katherine is the Founder of Blu Ripples a specialist Career Counselling and Consulting practice located in Port Stephens NSW. Katherine is a nationally registered Career Development Specialist and Counsellor; is a Professional Member of the Career Development Association of Australia, Member of the Australian Counselling Association of Australia and Australian Association for Psychological Type. Katherine has worked in private practice since 2003 and prior to that worked in the corporate sector for a period of 12 years predominantly in Human Resources and Administration.

Mental Health In Career Development – Guidance for Career Development Practitioners

Understanding the Fundamentals of Mental Health in Career Development
Learn why it’s important as a Career Development Practitioner to understand the fundamentals of Mental Health and how you can meaningfully support your clients

In early 2017, one proposed as a then sitting member of the CDAA NSW Committee a webinar entitled Mental Health in Career Development.

Drawing on ones’ experiences and qualifications as a nationally registered Counsellor, as well as conducting extensive research with individuals with diagnosed mental health conditions in ones’ local region, together with research from various journals and articles one developed a comprehensive and meaningful webinar outlining: –

  • Mental Health in the Career Development Industry – A need to understand the fundamentals
  • What is a Mental Health Disorder or Illness
  • Top 3 Mental health Conditions in Australia including definitions, statistics, risk factors, signs and symptoms
  • Role of Stress
  • Our role as Career Development Practitioners – Best Practice
  • Impact of Mental Health Conditions on an individuals’ career – what to look out for
  • Tips and strategies from individuals with Mental Health Conditions
  • Mental Health Signs and symptoms forms for adults and minors
  • Resources and Referral Information

As a Career Development Practitioner, it is not our job to diagnose a client with a mental health condition, that is the role of the clients’ doctor, specialists and/or mental health practitioners.  However, as Career Development Practitioners we do have a duty of care to all clients to ensure that no additional harm is done to our clients whilst they are utilising our services; and to ensure that we act ethically with respect to the administration of psychometric instrumentation.

Thus, it is ones’ opinion that it is important for all individuals in the Career Development industry to understand the fundamentals of Mental Health in order to effectively facilitate our clients, identify signs and symptoms of Mental Health Conditions, to know when and how to refer clients to ensure due diligence is carried out and that career strategies engaged are effective, meaningful and ethical in accordance with the needs of the client, industry guidelines and regulations.

In fact, one would go so far as to state that tertiary providers should incorporate fundamental Mental Health modules into their Career Development courses to ensure that all graduating practitioners have a basic understanding prior to entering the workforce or commencing their own private practice.

Well Katherine, that’s a very interesting perspective but it doesn’t affect me or my organisation!

Well, one is here to challenge you and to say Think Again!

The Medical Journal of Australia (Aug 09), Mindframes and the Black Dog Institute identifies the Top 3 Mental Health Conditions in Australia to be:- Continue reading “Mental Health In Career Development – Guidance for Career Development Practitioners”

Career Development Professionals – Sorting the Chaff from the Wheat

Career Development is a large umbrella or net that draws together a myriad of Career Services occupations and brands them together in one category with the purposes of facilitating and empowering a client in the exploration, development and management of their career over the course of their career life cycle.

WHAT OCCUPATIONS FALL UNDER CAREER DEVELOPMENT ?

There are a multitude of Career Service occupations that fall under the Career Development banner including: –

  • Career Advisor
  • Career Coach
  • Career Consultant
  • Career Counsellor
  • Career Development Expert
  • Career Development Practitioner
  • Career Guidance Officer
  • Career Management Consultant
  • Employment Counsellor
  • Guidance Officer
  • Job Developer
  • Placement Co-ordinator
  • Vocational Counsellor
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellor
  • Work Experience Co-ordinator

As illustrated above, there are many occupations that fall under the umbrella of Career Development; which in ones’ opinion can potentially cause clients a great deal of stress trying to determine who is the appropriate service provider for me.

SOURCING CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICE PROVIDERS

Continue reading “Career Development Professionals – Sorting the Chaff from the Wheat”

Reinvent Your Career Expo (Sydney) 2015 – Career Counselling Expos, Tradeshows and Events

Katherine Foster (Blu Ripples Founder) will be Volunteering at the Sydney Reinvent Your Career Expo 17-18 Oct 2015
Katherine Foster (Blu Ripples Founder) will be Volunteering her Career Counselling and Development Services at the Sydney Reinvent Your Career Expo 17-18 Oct 2015 @ the CDAA Stand

 

 

 

 

 

Blu Ripples is proud to announce that Katherine Foster will be volunteering her services at the Sydney, Reinvent Your Career Expo from Continue reading “Reinvent Your Career Expo (Sydney) 2015 – Career Counselling Expos, Tradeshows and Events”