Career development as a partner in national building Australia: origins, history and foundations for the future

Despite examples of vocational guidance practice being evident in Australia since the mid-1800s, there remains a spasmodic and patchwork approach to practice across the country. Repeated international, national and State reviews emphasise the vital nature of a systemic national approach to career development, however authors repeatedly lament the lack of a sustained focus on career activity as a major national priority. There is no broad comprehensive historical reckoning in Australia since this early period. Career development theory and practice in Australia has been forged in...  [+] Show more

Despite examples of vocational guidance practice being evident in Australia since the mid-1800s, there remains a spasmodic and patchwork approach to practice across the country. Repeated international, national and State reviews emphasise the vital nature of a systemic national approach to career development, however authors repeatedly lament the lack of a sustained focus on career activity as a major national priority. There is no broad comprehensive historical reckoning in Australia since this early period. Career development theory and practice in Australia has been forged in partnership with developments in an international context. This book adds to the body of knowledge on career development as a field in Australia and internationally. It provides new understandings about the historical development of this field of knowledge, and in particular the challenging and cyclical nature of its policy history.

Edited excerpt from publisher's blurb.

The chapters are as follows: Career development in Australia: connecting to an international history (pages 1-27); Vocational guidance (pages 29-57); Career education (pages 59-93); Career assessment and career information (pages 95-125); Career counselling (pages 127-140); Career development in post-school settings (pages 141-163); Two steps forward, three steps back ... (pages 165-208); Development of a profession: the career development professional in Australia (pages 209-233); Contributions to Australia and the international field (pages 235-262); Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose (pages 263-297).