GCCA | Graduate Careers Council of Australia

Graduate Careers Australia

ergo - Number 91 June 2003

Career Industry Consortium Australia (CICA) – A World First

The establishment of the Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA) has created a national peak body of Australian career practitioner organisations. CICA is the first career organisation of its type in the world and the Queensland Guidance and Counselling Association (QGCA Incorporated) is a founding member.

The formation of CICA came about as a response to the need for national leadership in the career development field in Australia. This leadership could not be any one organisation, because of the variety of constituents each body has to represent.

CICA is still very much in its formative stage and in its brief history the members have worked toward drafting a constitution and becoming an incorporated body. The first election of office bearers for the Council was conducted recently; these office bearers are:

• President: Judith Leeson (Australian Association of Career Counsellors Inc)
• Vice-president: Marijke Wright (Australian Association of Career Counsellors Inc)
• Secretary: Mike Geeves (Career Advisers Association of New South Wales Inc)
• Treasurer: Julie Howell (National Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services Inc)

CICA has already developed links with Commonwealth government departments such as the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) which provided funding for CICA’s establishment, clear evidence of its belief in the need for such a body. CICA’s involvement with DEST has also resulted in representation of the industry on national committees including the myfuture Advisory Committee and the Transition from School Taskforce, thus enabling career practitioners to have a voice in policy development.

The purpose, vision and goals of CICA as expressed in its Constitution are as follows: Purpose – The Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA) is the national representative body of career practitioner organisations. Vision – CICA will promote a career development culture within the Australian community. CICA will work to:

• consult and collaborate with relevant stakeholders
• enhance collegiality within the career industry to achieve agreed goals
• facilitate strategic liaisons with stakeholders and policy makers
• develop community awareness of the concept, benefit and value of career development
• promote professional standards and practice within the career industry
• enhance relationships within the international career development community.

The provision of career development services has received significant attention in recent years at both a national and international level. For example, Australia recently participated in an international study conducted by the OECD to map career development services. Such high level interest in the career industry has been brought about by irreversible changes in the world of work and the realisation by governments in many countries that there are social and economic benefits to be derived from the provision of career services. However the career industry has not always been consulted in relation to government policy development, and it is hoped that through close working relationships with government departments and committees, CICA will be well placed to represent the needs of a broad range of client groups and the careers profession.

The most immediate benefit to association members is a reciprocal arrangement whereby they may attend the professional development activities of other member organisations of CICA for member rates. In Queensland, the member organisations are the Queensland Guidance and Counselling Association, the Queensland Association of Student Advisers and the Australian Association of Career Counsellors. Many people have already taken advantage of this reciprocal arrangement.

Editor’s note: The Graduate Careers Council of Australia is a member organisation of CICA.