GCCA | Graduate Careers Council of Australia

Graduate Careers Australia

ergo - Number 95 June 2004

2004 AACC Conference - Careers at Work

The annual Australian Association of Careers Counsellors’ conference was held from 14-16 April at the Twin Towns Resort in Coolangatta, Queensland. With an attendance of well over 300, the conference provided a wonderful opportunity to network with people interested in different aspects of career planning and development, counselling and employment. Delegates came from all backgrounds, including secondary and tertiary education, private practice, government and the Job Network.

The Minister for Employment, the Hon. Mal Brough, opened the conference with insightful thoughts regarding the changing workforce in Australia, for example, there will be 170,000 new workers entering the workforce this year which is more than is projected for the entire decade in the 2020s. As many readers will already know, we are also facing a much high number of mature-age workers either re-entering or seeking to stay longer in the workforce over the coming years. All of this leads to the increased importance and relevance of career guidance and development.

Set against this backdrop, the conference geared up to assist those in attendance to work with their clients operating in a changing Australian and global workplace.

Numerous keynote speakers and workshop sessions covered a range of themes including:

• Career as story: Using life themes in counselling – Professor Mark Savickas, Northeastern Ohio University, USA
• Temporary work and new careers – Professor Kerr Inkson, Massey University, NZ
• Forging links between organisational and occupational career counselling – Professor Norm Amundson, University of British Columbia, Canada

I found the international panel discussing indigenous career issues and activities enlightening. Speakers from Canada, New Zealand and Australia detailed career planning and development issues specific to working with indigenous clients in their respective countries, as well as working with and lobbying government and industry to achieve their organisations’ aims.

The conference was abuzz on the final morning as The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson was in attendance to announce the Government’s $4.5 million funding boost to assist in building professional standards and career opportunities for careers professionals. Full details of the funding package can be found in the Minister’s media release at:
www.dest.gov.au/Ministers/Media/Nelson/2004/04/n678160404.asp

The audience was pleased to hear of the commitment to careers and the injection of funds was a sure sign that ‘the train is in’ – a common theme regarding the current profile of careers education and development throughout the conference. It seems that now is the time to realise the ‘possibilities’ and cement the importance of career development and lifelong learning initatives in this country.

The Minister also announced the recipients of the 2004 Australian Careers Service awards. Congratulations to the deserving winners:

• Winner – Scotch Oakburn College, Tasmania
• Runner-up – Mary MacKillop Catholic Primary School, Birkdale Queensland

GCCA/ gradlink was proud to participate in the conference as a materials sponsor. We also enjoyed the opportunity to conduct a workshop and to have a trade stand across the three days, as it was a chance to meet new faces and catch up with old friends.

Thanks are extended to the AACC Conference Organising Committee for their tremendous efforts in coordinating such a well-run and informative conference. This is a key event in the annual careers calendar, and I encourage our readers to attend next year’s conference in Canberra. Further information can be found on the AACC website – www.aacc.org.au