Tag: Employment Hints and Tips

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Career Counselling: – How to access FREE Career Counselling during pandemic – Defence Spouses/Partners

Is your partner or spouse in the Defence Force; learn how you can access free Career Counselling and Employment Assistance Services during COVID through Defence

Are you a partner or spouse of a Defence member?

Would you like to access FREE Career Counselling and Employment Assistance Services through Defence during the pandemic?

Great news!

It is possible for you to access free Career Counselling and Employment Assistance Service through Defence and make use of any down time you may have – at no cost to you.

So How Does This Free Career Counselling and Employment Assistance Services Work?

First and foremost your spouse or partner must be a Defence force member and meet the PEAP Eligibility Guidelines (click on link it will take you to them); once you have assessed if you are eligible it is simply a matter of contacting me (on 1300 300 557 or info@bluripples.com.au) to discuss your individual needs; I will then prepare a detailed PEAPS Quotation in accordance with Defence requirements and forward this to you for submission to the Defence.

There are two options for payment: –

  • Pays me directly and the submit a reimbursement to Defence;

or

  • Wait until Defence processes and approves your application and they can pay me directly (so you are not out of pocket in anyway).

Once the Defence has approved the nominated services you will have 6 months to undertake the nominated services.

What Career Counselling and Employment Assistance Services can I access?

Through this program you can access a range of Career Counselling and Employment Assistance Services including:-

  • Development of a personalised resume and/or resume coaching
  • Identification of transferable skills
  • Employment options and job placement advice
  • Job search techniques and strategies
  • Development of online employment profile (e.g. LinkedIn)
  • Application and preparation of selection criteria
  • Preparation and presentation for interview; and
  • Other professional employment services (to be discussed prior to applying through the department)

to find out more about the program and services you can access through the PEAP program view the current PEAP Application documentation through our website.

But what the about the Corona Virus – Do I have to physically come to see you?

NO, whilst many clients love to come to my office for a face to face chat; it is possible to work with you from anywhere in Australia or around the world for that matter via telephone or Zoom – see there are lots of options available – so lets work together and see which is the best one for you.

Hmmm maybe I should wait until this is all over until I access the Career Counselling and Employment Assistant Services

That is your call at the end of the day, I believe in free will, but let’s for one moment look at this from a different perspective.

Why now: –

That is an easy question to answer: –

  • It is a free service to you – it will not cost you a thing if you put the application in and wait for the Defence to pay me directly; they will stay in contact with you and tell you if it is approved and paid – just as I will
  • You are more likely to have a little bit of extra time now to focus on you – if you are in isolation for two weeks or if we all go into lockdown for a period of time you will have the time to speak to me and work through the process if you have the approval already
  • There is no physical face to face contact – you and your loved ones are perfectly safe – although Skype and Zoom over the ability to see each other face to face via web camera if you have this available to you
  • Act now while there are plenty of Defence employees to review and authorize the PEAP quotation (normally up to 30 days), is the virus takes the authorization process could be longer and or if the virus spreads it is possible divisions or areas maybe shut down– it is possible
  • Get in while you can – whilst the government is handing out stimulus packages at the moment there are no guarantees that when things settle down that programs like this maybe stopped in order to recover from the economic impact; if you wait you may miss out
  • Stay ahead of the pack; find out what your strengths and development areas are utilise this knowledge to develop a career and/or academic plan to move forward while others are waiting for this to be over; then grab the opportunities when they become available – during or after the pandemic.

Looking for more information – check out our Defence Career Counselling and Employment Assistant Services page;

or

Read a few recent testimonials from spouses/partners of Defence personnel; as you can see from the testimonial below many Defence clients are very happy with their PEAP Program outcomes.

Resume Writing Services PEAP Program

In closing, may I take this opportunity to wish you and your family safety, health and wellbeing during this difficult time.

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.

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Counselling Careers – Employment Opportunities and Trends

Earlier this year, one was approached by the Australia Counselling Association (ACA) to produce a range of employment related data for new and existing Counsellors focusing on Counselling trends and employment opportunities.

At the time one spent over 40 hours researching and compiling national employment trend and labour market statistics to produce responses to 15 questions and of ones own accord designed and presented a PowerPoint presentation to complement the QnA. The three slides in this PowerPoint presentation are outlined below for your reference:-

  • Employment Opportunities by AQF Level
  • Remuneration Scales by AQF Level
  • Where are the Jobs?

Counsellling Employment Opportunities by AQF Level
Employment Opportunities by AQF Level – Find out what direct and alternative employment, job, opportunities are available with your Australian qualification – Copyright – Blu Ripples Career Counselling and Consulting Services 2018

Counselling Remuneration Scales by AQF Level
Remuneration Scales by AQF Level – How much can I make in Counselling industry – find out from Diploma through to Doctorate level qualifications – Copyright – Blu Ripples Career Counselling and Consulting Services 2018

Where are the Jobs - Counselling Careers
Where are the Jobs – A quick reference guide to finding Counselling roles in the Australian Labour Market; Copyright – Blu Ripples Career Counselling and Consulting Services 2018

Together with responses to 15 written questions which would form the basis of a webinar-video interview where one was interviewed by the ACA Liaison Officer.

Whilst the above video interview and documentation was produced and received positive feedback from the ACA Liaison Officer one was recently told, that the ACA would not be using this research and data as they were now focusing on individuals seeking to establish private practice.

Given the vast amount of time, research and work that went into this project one perceives this to be a waste not to share this information with individuals seeking to explore a Career in Counselling and/or for new and existing Counsellors whom seek to establish their professional baselines and identify potential employment and growth opportunities within the counselling industry.

Employment and Labour Market Analysis

Upon reviewing the above you will note the first slide – Employment Opportunities by AQF Level highlights a range of direct and indirect pathways for individuals with either: –

  • Diploma
  • Bachelor
  • Post Graduate
  • Masters; or
  • Doctorate

level qualification.

Whilst ideally most graduates would like to work in the industry as an employee or private practitioner there are no guarantees that this will occur and thus one has included examples of occupations (jobs) with a direct or alternate pathway based on academic learnings and key transferable skills.  For example, a common alternate pathway for counselling and psychology graduate is Human Resources as there are a number of roles that you can apply your skills to including Organisational Development, Learning and Development, Recruitment and Selection just to name a few.  Thus, if you are struggling to find a “Counselling” position utilise this slide and think outside the square a little and consider alternatives.

Finally, with respect to this slide and the Remuneration Scales by AQF Level for those of you who are unsure as to the definition of AQF it refers to the Australian Qualification Framework.  The AQF commences at Level 1 – Certificate 1 and advances systematically to a Level 10 – Doctorate qualification.

For additional information pertaining to AQF Levels please click here

Counselling Questions and Answers – Exploring Counselling as a Profession

For those who would be interested to read the 15 questions one responded to with respect to the ACA’s questions pertaining to employment trends.  Please click on the link below: –

Exploring Counselling as a Profession

Please note additional information was provided in a 30-minute video when the ACA Industry Liaison Officer interviewed Katherine earlier this year, however permission for the ACA to utilise this video has now been withdrawn by the author.

In closing, if you are: –

  • Considering a career in Counselling
  • A new or experienced Counsellor seeking career development guidance; and/or
  • Seeking a specialist Career Counselling or development referral for your client or employee
  • Are seeking employment opportunities, trend and remuneration information in an alternative industry or occupation; and/or
  • Would like a copy of the aforementioned PowerPoint slides e-mailed to you

please do not hesitate to contact the Katherine on 1300 300 557 or alternatively via info@bluripples.com.au

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.