Graduate Careers Australia
Graduate Grapevine - Number 11, Winter 2008
17th Annual Conference in Tassie
The first thing that strikes you about Hobart is the maritime climate: cold one minute, colder the next. The locals welcomed the deluge not only of career counsellors to the city for the 17th National Career Conference, but also the rain that we (apparently) brought with us.
Organised by the Tasmanian division of AACC, now the Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA), as ratified at the AGM, the conference theme of ‘from island to global’ featured prominently throughout the three days. The conference was opened by the Honourable Minister Brendan O’Connor MP, Minister for Employment Participation, who spent time talking about, not surprisingly, the shortfall in skilled workers. Government was well represented at the conference with DEEWR opening day two as well as providing opportunities for delegates to contribute to sessions on ‘career conversations’ throughout the concurrent workshop schedules.
The conference team pulled together an enjoyable and educative conference. The first keynote was successfully delivered by Vivienne Brown, Head of Policy and Strategy from Careers Scotland, who admirably coped with a power failure (possibly to give fuel to Jim Bright’s keynote on the final day), and resorted to Billy Connolly jokes to fill in time. Vivienne’s keynote provided an overview of how globalisation issues are affecting the UK, Scotland in particular, and outlined some key government policies that are being implemented to address these issues. In particular the move by UK schools to provide more flexible curriculum with the intentions of students becoming:
- successful learners
- responsible citizens
- confident individuals
- effective contributors.
Policies include building in workplace- and community-based learning into school programs. An interesting advance which provoked much interest among delegates as to what moves in this direction may occur in Australia.
Highlights of the conference were the research streamed sessions. Peter McIlveen (Manager of University of Southern Queensland’s Careers & Employment and Immediate Past President of NAGCAS) presented his investigations into the qualitative research process of autoethnography (immersing oneself within theory while looking at one’s practice in an autobiographical manner). Peter wants this process to be included as a method within the field of vocational psychology.
Sally Anne Barnes and Alan Brown gave their unique perspective on e-portfolios and their use in the UK to support the national vocational and professional program, Learn Direct. Learn Direct provides educational resources as well as career coaches throughout Britain, supporting vocational and professional programs. Career Coaches are provided with significant training, and e-portfolios are used as a tool to help in supervision practice of practitioners.
Standout workshop presentations were delivered by Sharon Crozier and Mary McMahon. Sharon’s session, ‘Climb Every Mountain’, addressed how we as practitioners can assist our clients to gather relevant information about themselves as they strive to find their passion. Sharon’s approach utilises more traditional theoretical models (eg. Holland, Super and Krumboltz) in a narrative/constructivist framework. Mary’s session, which followed her inspiring keynote address, focused on practical ways of helping clients to find themes in their life narratives that allow them to elaborate and construct their career stories.
Socially the program took great advantage of the local eateries, with a mystery dinner planned at three different restaurants on night two. An invitation from the Honourable William Cox, Governor of Tasmania, to Government House for drinks and nibbles prior to the conference dinner was an experience I am sure few of the delegates had previously had (or will forget).
The final comment: an enjoyable three days, a wonderful city, great company and fabulous seafood and wine.
Alan McAlpine & Greg Thorne, QueenslandUniversity of Technology
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