National

The Future ready: a student focused National Career Education Strategy was endorsed by the COAG Education Council in February 2019. The strategy focuses on improving career education in schools by building teacher and school leader capability, supporting parents and carers in their role in these conversations, and encouraging collaboration between industry and schools. Information and resources are available from the Future Ready Career Education website for schools and government, parents and carers, and employers and community.

myfuture is Australia’s National Career Information Service, managed by Education Services Australia (ESA). This government-funded resource is designed for use by students, teachers, career practitioners, parents and carers. myfuture offers unbiased career information that assists with career planning, career pathways and work transitions by providing information for students’ career development and additional resources for those who support or influence career choices. myfuture is recommended by the Victorian, Tasmanian and South Australian governments.

The National Careers Institute, established 1 July 2019, forms part of the government response to the recommendations of Strengthening skills: expert review of Australia's vocational education and training system, that was announced as part of the 2019-20 budget. The review recommended improving the quality and resolving the fragmentation of career information and services.

The Your Career website was announced on 1 October, 2020 and provides information about study or work options based on tailored careers information and highlights support programs available to help. The website has been developed by National Careers Institute for public policy purposes using a number of information sources. The My Skills website was the national directory of vocational education and training (VET) organisations and courses, enabling consumers to search for, and compare, VET courses and training providers. The My Skills functions are now part of the Your Career website.

Publications in VOCEDplus

• Australian blueprint for career development
• Future ready: a student focused National Career Education Strategy
• National Careers Institute consultations and co-design: background paper
• Real skills for real careers: there are many ways to succeed: strategy outline
• Strengthening skills: expert review of Australia's vocational education and training system [Joyce review]
• 'This is what we heard': National Careers Institute co-design consultations

► Other resources

• Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow

New South Wales 

The NSW government website includes Jobs and career guidance for people in NSW who are thinking about changing their career, have lost their job, are returning to work after a break or are looking for their first job. It provides information about different career paths, training options and how to get financial support. The resource links to relevant Commonwealth and New South Wales government websites for more information.

The New South Wales Department of Education K-12 Career Learning Framework aims to support students with access to quality career related learning. The framework is intended for senior leaders in schools who have the responsibility for career learning strategies, curriculum leaders, careers advisors, transition advisors and teachers, and local employers, businesses, industry and other individuals that are working with schools to contribute to career experiences, pathways, employability and enterprise education. The department resource also offers information about:

• Career and workplace learning - careers and transition advisors, post-school options, jobs for the future, and school executives. This section also includes an overview of vocational education and training and the Career and Workplace Learning Plan.
• Curriculum support - entrepreneurial learning, work studies and work education curriculum, professional learning, schools to work, and workplace learning.
• Professional learning - careers advisor professional learning, transition adviser training, transition support training, careers adviser mentoring program, targeted professional learning.
• School to work - Launch your Career, Ready Arrive Work (RAW) program, Rural and Remote K-12 Career Education Initiative, and Student Pathways Plan.
• Workplace learning - keeping students safe, guides and forms, Models of workplace engagement, Work placement coordination program, and work experience.
• Universal resources - universal support is available through a self-service approach using the Universal Resources Hub (URH) and MyPL for professional learning.

Publications in VOCEDplus

• Nurturing wonder and igniting passion, designs for a future school curriculum
• NSW Government review of tertiary pathways

► Other resources

• School to Work Program [overview reports 2016-2019 available]
• Senior Pathways Strategic Plan 2020 – 2022

Victoria 

Skills and Jobs Centres are open to all members of the community and offer free career, employment and training support services. The centres can assist people who are looking to enter the workforce, start training, or re-skill, and to employers to meet their workforce needs. The services provided include careers advice, help with job searching and preparing resumes, apprenticeship and traineeship advice, assistance using the Victorian Skills Gateway, referral to welfare support and financial advice, assistance in using existing skills to align to a new job or to undertake new training (Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)), information on employment trends, areas with a shortage in skills and employment opportunities, assistance with career and training plans, and identifying training qualifications that could be undertaken to make a successful career transition. Skills and Jobs Centres are at all Victorian TAFEs and universities that deliver vocational education and training.

Youth Central is the Victorian government website for young people aged 12 to 25. For parents, the Department of Education has a Career and course exploration with your child resource. Jobs Victoria provides services to support jobseekers, which includes personalised support.

In 2017, a review was completed on career education in government schools. Initiatives and investments directly responding to the review in three key areas are: start early, connect to work, and make career education a priority. Initiatives for schools include My Career Exploration resources for year 7 and 8 students; My Career Insights which gives year 9 students access to an online career discovery tool and career counselling, and My Career Portfolio, an online resource for years 7 to 12 students.

Work-based learning opportunities for school students include:

• The School to Work program provides opportunities for work experience, structured workplace learning (SWL), school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) for non-government school students, workplace visits and industry tours, and life skills programs and work-readiness activities. Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) are funded by the Victorian government to deliver the program. 
• Head Start apprenticeships and traineeships - students completing a SBAT receive career planning advice, a plan for their pathway into a priority industry career, and support from a Head Start co-ordinator.
• Trade & Tech Fit is a career expo for female and gender diverse students that highlights opportunities in traditionally male industries.
• Tech Schools provide students with hands-on, high-tech STEM programs and work-based learning opportunities.

Publications in VOCEDplus

• Inquiry into Career Advice Activities in Victorian Schools
• Review of career education in Victorian government schools: key findings
• Transforming career education in Victorian government schools: connecting today's learning with tomorrow's jobs

► Other resources

• Transforming career education

Queensland 

The Queensland government Changing careers page provides advice and links to Commonwealth and Queensland government resources on choosing a new career, finding job vacancies, current industry job trends, career advisors and counselling, losing your job and recognition of prior learning.

The Gateway to Industry Schools Program builds partnerships between schools and industry with each project led by industry organisations which develop and implement tailored school engagement activities in line with their industry's key skills and workforce priorities. Students participating in the program are exposed to a range of learning experience to assist them in their career choices and pathways to employment. The eleven industry sectors involved in the program are: Advanced manufacturing, Aerospace, Agribusiness, Building and construction, Community services, Health, Hydrogen, Information and communication technology, Minerals and energy, Screen and media, and Tourism and hospitality.

► Other resources

• Career education

South Australia 

The My Training section of the Skills SA website includes the facility to search courses, explore career opportunities, occupation trends and jobs in high demand, and has brief overviews of apprenticeships, studying VET in school, and support to study.

The Career Education and Pathways Strategy aims to raise the perception of VET as an attractive alternative to university; increase the number of young people transitioning from school to employment, further training or higher education; improve VET and school retention and completion rates; and prepare young people for the jobs and careers in South Australia.

The Student Pathways website supports school enrolled students to explore VET pathways, and find work experience and career exploration opportunities. The build a CV and participate in the World of Work (WOW) challenge initially introduced with the website have been replaced with MyCareerPortal.

Publications in VOCEDplus

• Careers SA framework: delivering high quality career development services for South Australia
• VET for school students: repositioning VET within secondary education in South Australia
• What should I study?: an exploration of the study choice process of Year 12 students
• What should I study?: project outcomes and recommendations

Western Australia 

The Department of Training and Workforce Development's Jobs and Skills WA Jobs and Careers resource offers a wide range of advice for job seekers and career changers. The career planning section of the website provides information and resources to help users focus on their career planning and what steps to take towards their goals. Career Connect is a Facebook group, connected to the Jobs and Skills WA Facebook page. The group brings people together to share information, advice and resources to support people in their job search and career planning plus great information about jobs in WA. The group is free to join, and open discussion and participation are encouraged.

There are fifteen Jobs and Skills Centres (JSCs) located throughout Perth and in regional areas across WA that offer free help and support, including advice about training or career planning. Recommendation 1.9 of the Report on the Review of Skills, Training and Workforce Development - that the capacity and coverage of the Jobs and Skills Centres (JSC) network be increased to ensure services are available to guide people on new career options and job application preparation - was supported by the government. The review made the observation that quality career advice and support services would be needed for the significant number of people impacted by COVID-19.

Publications in VOCEDplus

• Report on the Review of Skills, Training and Workforce Development

Tasmania 

Skills Tasmania offers a resource for learners and jobseekers. The resource provides information about vocational education and training including Skills Tasmania Endorsed Training Provider Course Search, the benefits of vocational education and training, the VET courses available, providers and funding, apprenticeships and traineeships, restrictions and entry requirements, and recognition of prior learning.

The Careerify website is produced by the Career Education team from the Years 9-12 Learning Business Unit in the Department for Education, Children and Young People to support career education in schools including supporting parents. It provides guidance on exploring career options and how to make decisions around school subjects, vocational training, further education and the world of work.

Publications in VOCEDplus

• Preparing rural and regional students for the future world of work: developing authentic career focussed curriculum through a collaborative partnership model

Northern Territory 

The Retrain and upgrade your skills information page provided by the Northern Territory (NT) government includes finding a job and local service provider, how to find a careers advisor, where to get advice on training, jobs in demand in the NT, and how to find out about upcoming business workshops and events.

The NT government Career advice for school students page states students can get help at school with career options and practical work experience with a local employer. Career advisors and Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (NTCET) coordinators can provide assistance and information on subject selection, work experience, vocational education and training (VET), apprenticeships and traineeships, university and higher education, career options, and career pathways. Appointments with a career advisor can be made at their school.

Australian Capital Territory 

The ACT Education Directorate assists schools in the implementation of career, transition and VET services and programs including: Workplace Learning programs; Transition services and programs; Pathways Planning; The Canberra CareersXpo; VET pathways - Vocational Learning Programs (previously known as Vocational Learning Options); and VET and Australian School-based Apprenticeships.

In 2015 the ACT Education Directorate designed the Pathways website to allow students to reflect on who they are, identify their interests, set goals, practice decision making and develop a plan. Pathways was designed to be used by young people with the support of their teachers, careers advisors, youth workers, community service case managers and other adults who support young people to plan for their future. The website was decommissioned at the end of 2023.

Publications in VOCEDplus

• Progress report on the review of vocational education and training in ACT public schools and longitudinal study of school leavers
• Review of vocational education and training in ACT public schools: future directions
• Vocational education and training for secondary students in ACT public schools: ACT Education and Training Directorate response to future directions

► Other resources

• Review of VET for secondary students in ACT public schools