CAREERS EDUCATION
IN PRIMARY SCHOOL?
Presentation for parents
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Challenging outmoded career strategies
Developing a strong career development culture in schools we need to
consider the following ideas
Traditional
Contemporary

Just-in-time career information

Acquisition of skills that support lifelong learning and
continuous career development supported through a range
of school programs

Career decisions made at crunch
points

Experiential activity, personal career planning and skills
development nurtured throughout the schooling process

Career knowledge is provided
explicitly towards the end of the
secondary school experience

Career development is a process that is life-long and is
explicit throughout schooling. Emphasis is on planning,
possibility thinking, transforming information, focussing on
the journey yet keeping options open.

Career outcomes are exhibited in a
successful transition from school to
further education, training or work.

Career outcomes are explicit and articulated throughout
students experience at school, building their resilience and
aspirations that endure after exiting school to a successful
life/work choice
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Did you know?
• 5 year olds can talk about the job
they want when they grow up.
• 6 - 8 year olds have already begun
to narrow down the number of
occupations they are prepared to
consider in the future.
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Did you know?
• Students from preschool to Year 12
have the capacity to understand career
development?
(Miles Morgan Australia (2003). Australian Blueprint for Career
Development: Draft prototype, P. 87.)
• These research findings suggest we
are missing a valuable opportunity to
influence and enhance the career
development of our students if we do
not begin career education early.
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Why is it important to start early?
Children may engage more deeply in learning if
they …
1. can see how education is connected to a
successful future
2. connect what they are learning in school to realworld situations
3. discover the variety of jobs available to him or her
and are able to imagine themselves in an
occupation
4. develop work-readiness skills
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
SCHOOL
TO WORK:
2006-2010
LOOKING
FORWARD
A Developmental
Model
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
BUILDING CAREER
FOUNDATIONS
… In the Early Years by
encouraging the use
of age-appropriate
activities and play to
explore the structure
and function of the
working world.
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
DEVELOPING CAREER
PERCEPTIONS
… in the Middle Years by building solid
foundations for good career decision
making by…
– Exploring the range of opportunities in the world of work – online
and face to face!
– Engaging in authentic learning eg Enterprise learning, Real Game
simulations
– Reflecting on personal interests, attributes, values and abilities to
develop personal learning goals and aspirations
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
EMPLOYMENT RELATED SKILLS IN THE CLASSROOM
Self-management
Ability to take the responsibility for setting and achieving personal goals
Initiative and
enterprise
Ability to seek/take advantage of opportunities
Learning
Ability to achieve new skills and/or knowledge
Communication
Ability to express and understand information
Team work
Ability to work effectively with others to get things done
Planning and
organising
Ability to coordinate and prioritise tasks and resources
Problem solving
Ability to identify problems and develop solutions
Technology
Ability to use appropriate technologies to complete tasks
Cross-cultural
understanding
Ability to respect diversity and act without discrimination
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Personal Attributes – Attitude!
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Loyalty
Commitment
Honesty and integrity
Empathy
Assertiveness
Trust
Enthusiasm
Reliability
Personal presentation
Common sense
Positive self-esteem
A sense of humour
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
• A balanced attitude to work
and home life
• An ability to deal with pressure
• Motivation
• Adaptability
• Flexibility
• Resilience
• Determination
• Self-reliance
• Flexibility
• Engagement
• Connectedness
Career Education
K-12 continuum
What Kurri Kurri Learning Community has to offer:
Student Wellbeing
• Values Education – Respect,
Responsibility, Care, Honesty, Fairness,
Doing Your Best
• Cooling Conflicts and Word of the Week
• The Keys to Success and the You Can
Do It program
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Curriculum Initiatives
• The Real Game Series for Stages 3 and 4
• Career Perspectives written into COGs
units to support sustainability and
consistency
• Goal setting for all students K-6 followed
by 3-way conferences to support learning
discussions, Authentic Assessment in
Stage 5
• Thinking Careers 5 – 8 a reflective journal
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Excursions
• TAFE Worldskills excursion for Stage 3
• University orientation and information day for Year 6
• Careers Quest for Year 9,
• Careers Fun Day K-6
• Stage 2 Community Walk
….and many more
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
The Keys
• Through our You Can
Do It program which
is run K-12, we teach
the children the 5
Keys to Success.
• This program gives
students the tools to
help them to manage
and excel in all
aspects of life.
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
The Real Game
Play is the operative word for this program. The Play Real Game is activityorientated, experiential, exploratory and just plain fun. To gain a realistic
understanding of adult life, education and work, students embark on a
journey into the adult world.
In simulation, participants take on adult work roles, earn and spend money,
choose a home and create a town - all right in the classroom! Parents,
families and communities play a central part in the program.
Supporting students to develop confidence in selfmanaging their career and transition planning
 Assisting students to process information about
work, education and training options
 Supporting teachers to make explicit links to
vocational learning across a range of curriculum areas

NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
The High Five Principles
… from the Real Game Series
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CHANGE IS CONSTANT
LEARNING IS ONGOING
FOCUS ON THE JOURNEY
FOLLOW YOUR HEART
HELPING HANDS
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Career Discovery
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Explore
Learn
Experience
Achieve
Succeed
It is suggested that the new careers will
require you to be "learning a living"
rather than simply earning a living.
Mary McMahon
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Reality Check!
School and Work
How similar are they?
I have to wear a uniform.
I am expected to be punctual.
I am expected to have a positive attitude.
I am expected to treat my supervisor with respect at all
times.
I am expected to follow instructions.
I have set tasks I am expected to complete.
I have deadlines to meet.
I am expected to treat my co-workers with respect.
I have set times for lunch breaks.
I am expected to attend each day for a set time.
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
School
Work
To think about………
Today, employers expect young
people to have a positive attitude and
to be “work ready”.
This means they want young people
to have learnt specific skills (eg. being
on time, following instructions,
showing respect etc) before they
come to work for them.
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
How can you help?
• Listen to your children about what interests them and where they
see themselves in the future
• Discuss your work experiences with them
• Explore all the opportunities for future learning. ie. Year 12,
University, TAFE, apprentice positions etc
• Ask them about what they are doing in their classroom and include a
link to a career question
• Be open minded
• Remember the High Five Principles
• Provide opportunities to develop responsibility
• Refer to www.schooltowork.com.au
KEEP THE DISCUSSION GOING!
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au
Encourage
your
children to
dream and
believe in
themselves
NSW Department of Education & Training
NSW Public Schools – Leading the Way
www.det.nsw.edu.au