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Career Educators are the Light on the Hill – with examples

Being a career educator is the best job in the world.

The expert knowledge and guidance of career practitioners is powerful.

We make a difference. 

251 Maslow Pyramid Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock

If you are a fan of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs  you can happily map your potential impact on the ladder to self actualization for your students. 

That’s the amazing, satisfying, powerful job satisfaction that we get.

We know our Why.

We know how important our work is as ride the tsunami of emerging pathways from school.

We are the trailblazers.

Changing how we think about change | by Ash Buchanan | Benefit Mindset | Medium

As with all trailblazers, we have work to do until people see our role as illuminators for the future. We need to work to be the light on the hill, to quote one of Australia’s greatest Prime Ministers, Ben Chifley.

The light on the hill - Wikipedia

We have a great objective – the light on the hill – which we aim to reach by working the betterment of mankind not only here but anywhere we may give a helping hand. If it were not for that, the  Labor movement would not be worth fighting for.

Wikipedia Ben Chifley

There are outstanding practitioners in Western Australia who believe the Career Education movement is worth fighting for. They are the light on the hill. 

They are trailblazers of world best practice who apply sound research findings to their day to day work as career educators across government, Catholic and independent schools.

Three of the many trailblazing West Australian examples are:

IDEA

Co-Founders IDEA

The Innovation Design Entrepreneurship Academy was founded by Rebecca Loftus and Nicole Gazey who say:

It’s not just a different model. It’s a different culture. 

You can check out what they are creating at IDEA HERE.

The Studio School 

Another example that has stepped outside the existing system to forge a new way of operating is The Studio School which opened this year under the umbrella of All Saint’s College. All Saint’s already had a substantial enrichment programme. 

The Studio School

The Studio School is creating a learning ecosystem that extends beyond traditional school parameters. 

You can check out what they are doing HERE. 

Cyril Jackson’s Partnership Model

An early trailblazer was Cyril Jackson’s Partnership Model.

Cyril Jackson partnership model

Discover More

There are outstanding teachers in all disciplines in Western Australia, but great teaching doesn’t lead students to make great career choices. 

Career Educators are the light on the hill that students and families need. 

I will identify more great models of great career education in a new section in my newsletter called Career Educators In Focus. 

Subscribe to In Focus Careers News

Bev Johnson Director, In Focus Careers
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In Focus Careers April Issue: Connecting you to trends, people and ideas for the future

In March, UWA, Curtin and Murdoch universtities told career educators about their new courses and priorities for 2022 and beyond.

You can find highlights of those presentations in the April issue of In Focus Careers.

The big trend this year is towards more student centric services. All universities  highlighted the new facilities and services that are available to future students. 

Early Offers

All universities agreed to wait until 4 April to open their doors to early offers in 2023 but, in March, only Curtin had clarified that they will be directing applicants straight to TISC. 

Middle School Programs

Universities are providing more opportunities for middle school students to explore a wide range of career opportunities through a range of emerging programs. I will continue to report on the new programs as they are announced. 

Open Day Changes

COVID has impacted on the open day schedules at each university. I have put a table of the changes into the April issue. 

Career Conversation Schedule

The WA Education Department has launched a comprehensive schedule of career conversations designed to help families to understand the career options for WA school students. You can find links to these presentations in the April issue. 

Subscribe to In Focus Careers News

If you would like your school or organisation to have career information for West Australians delivered to you each month you can subscribe here:

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Pathways from High School – Video presentation for West Australian Senior Students

The content was just what our Year 12’s needed, and the timing is perfect.
This 30-minute Pathways from High School presentation with video is a great alternative to the face-to-face presentations as it can be shown to students and families, at any time.

Students can even take a copy home and watch it with their parents!!

Don’t be ridiculous!!

3 Pathways

It shows 3 different case studies. 

Pathway 1: Judy the academic superstar

Judy is an academic superstar who checks out the Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) at Curtin, medicine everywhere, and Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) at UWA. 

Pathway 2: Flynn General ATAR, Alternative Pathway

 Flynn is looking for alternative pathways for non-ATAR school leavers. He checks out all of the unis, looks at university preparation courses and seeks advice from career counsellors and Centrelink.

Pathway 3: Angie VET and Gap Year

For those wanting a Gap Year, who never to return to full-time study again. Angie looks at the Defence Gap Year program and at Harvest Trail as well as at some on the job training she can do at McDonald’s and online courses. 
I recommend that all students seek professional advice that narrows down to their personal choices, once they have a general idea of which direction they want to take.
Find this presentation HERE.
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Climate change sees growth in glass and glazier apprenticeship opportunities

Hi

My name is Justin Wakeling and I’m a Master Glazier in Western Australia. 

Justin Wakeling Master Glazier at GlassCo Metro

 

I’m Operations Manager  at Glass.Co Metro which is based in Canning Vale.

Glass Co Metro Canning Vale

How I got into being a glazier

I got my first job in the glazing industry in 2004 through a friend who was a factory foreman for a large glass and aluminium company. After working on the factory floor for a couple of months I was offered an apprenticeship. It has been a great industry to work in. 

The trend to light and airy houses in a time of climate change has seen the growth in double glazing to make sure homes are energy efficient. 

Trend to more glass with thermal properties

My industry has grown and changed as we deliver new solutions that help architects and builders to be more creative and deliver better thermal efficiency.

Photo from toughglass.com.au 

We learn how to use new tools and equipment to manufacture these solutions.

Design solutions in toughened glass

We also upgrade homes with new windows, shower screens and wardrobes. 

Your world opens up

Once you finish your apprenticeship your world really opens up. You can set up your own business as a manufacturer or installer. You can train the next generation of apprentices or get into sales, or estimates or project management. You could even get into research and development of future products.  

After three years of working as a qualified glazier you can apply to become a Certified Glazier and you can become a Master Glazier when you’re qualified and work in the industry for ten years. 

My Workplace

As a Master Glazier and Operations Manager at Glass Co Metro I work to assure that we do a great job, according to Australian Standards. I also need to look after the wellbeing and safety of my team while supporting the growth and great reputation of our company. 

Apprenticeships at Glass Co Metro

There are currently 6 apprentices at Glass Co Metro, and our apprentices have won multiple awards at State and National level.

We like to take on 2 new apprentices at each year level. Two apprentices are about to finish their training and qualify, so we will be looking to put on two new apprenticeships in the near future. 

Glass Co Metro Apprentice

Careers in Glass and Glazing 

Get in touch with me if you are interested in getting an apprenticeship at Glass Co Metro. I would be happy to chat. Contact me at: Justin Wakeling (08) 9473 9499

justin@glasscometro.com.au 

Find out about glazing apprenticeships and training:

Mike Hidderley, Glazing Lecturer North Metropolitan TAFE – Balga Campus michael.hidderley@nmtafe.wa.edu.au

Find out about industry engagement:

Janine Blake, Industry Consultant, Food Fibre and Timber Industries Training Council 0427 351 027 janine@fftitc.com.au

To connect with trends, people and ideas for the future, subscribe to In Focus Careers News

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4 Quick Tips to Being a Successful Career Educator

here to help lettering text on black background

Career education isn’t social work and it isn’t psychology. If you are not an expert in the world of career practice, it could be more damaging than fortune telling.

 

Predicting the future

There is a world of specialist career practitioner theory and  skills that underpin successful career practice. As you work your way towards becoming a Career Professional via an academic pathway, these tips will help you to lead students to their best career. 

Don’t do computer programming. Computers are a passing fad.

1990’s Phys Ed Teacher/Career Advisor to high school student in Geraldton

You can’t wing it as a career advisor. People believe you are the expert. People believe what you say. A flippant comment or ill informed advice from you can change lives. This student did not follow his dream into a career in computer programming. 

You have a personal responsibility to be the expert, to KNOW where to look for the right information.

Empower yourself through professional learning

As you do your academic studies you will learn skills and theories that frame your professional work. In the meantime, the world of work in 2022 is very different to that in 2019.

  • Go to conferences and professional learning opportunities.  

  • Join a professional organisation like Career Educators WA or the Career Development Association of Australia.

  • Keep up with Labour Market Information figures.

We keep being told that we will have lots of jobs and several different industries but the research DOES NOT support this. 

We are clinging to what we know and people are NOT changing jobs at a faster rate than we have ever known.

Nor are they trapped in casual jobs, (although that figure may be distorted by labour hire agencies that have workers on their books and outsource them to workplaces, and “self employed” casuals, like Uber drivers).

Network like a Pro

You cannot possibly be an expert in all industries and across all regions.

  • Identify your specialisation and tell others… “I’m an expert in sport careers. If you want to know something ask me”.

  • Tap into the expertise of others so that you can call on them. 

  • Join the CDAA WA Facebook page.

  • Come to CDAA WA breakfasts each month. You don’t need to be a CDAA member to attend.

  • Join the CDAA online chat each month. Again, you don’t need to be a member. You can find details on the CDAA Events calendar. 

  • Find experts in your region. They may be in the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry or business group. 

Listening through the Shock

If you are over 25 you must become conscious of how different your lived experience is to that of young people.

We don’t know how young people are coping with shocks like COVID, war and global warming.

You must develop a deep appreciation of how much things have changed, you must listen, empathise and question until you understand.

Research

Everyone, from the OECD and World Economic Forum, is trying to help people to make rational, data driven career decisions.

There is so much change flickering into view. Career advisors must be able to discriminate between the latest bright, new, shiny thing, and a substantial initiative that could deliver a lifetime of career satisfaction.

Actively study the research. Join mailing lists so that you get regular research updates. 

Keep up to speed with what is happening in the world of careers in WA. 


Infocus Careers is an independent organisation which is solely supported by insanely great subscribers who share information with me, support each other and help me to pay my bills.

I can talk about careers under water so if you would like to chat about how I can help you to improve your career or the services you deliver, give me a ring on 0434056412 or email me at Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au

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Do you have the information you need to be the career educator students need?

In Focus Careers News gathers and synthesizes the information you need to be the career educator students need.

At a time when we are drowning in information, Bev Johnson gathers and synthesises career information at the right time, thinks critically about what we need and makes wise choices about what goes into her monthly In Focus Careers magazine for West Australian schools.

Bev says;

I am passionate about helping our West Australian kids to win. That is the “why” of what I do.

I call on the goodwill of people I know in education, training, industry and through university studies, for information that helps school leavers to find where they want to belong.

Anyone working in career education appreciates the tsunami of career information that floods in every week. As a former career teacher Bev knows how easy it is to be misled by the smoke of mirrors of big business advertising machines.

She focused on clarifying information and delivering career information that schools can trust.

Subscribe to In Focus Careers to become the expert students need you to be when guiding them to their future careers.

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Do you know what career opportunities are coming up in WA in March?

West Australian students can keep up to speed with the latest career opportunities. The March issue of In Focus Careers News is out.

In Focus News March issue includes:

  • UCAT registrations open March1. Medicine student
  • Training Award applications are opening on March 1. 
  • Some TAFE fees are down 50%. 
  • University Open Days start on March 19. 
  • Curtin University Mining Camp applications open
  • The 2022 TISC Guide is out
  • Curtin 10 week Engineering Outreach Program
  • The latest employment stats. 
  • A summary of university support for international students
  • Gap year opportunities.

The March issue has over 50 pages of insanely great information for West Australian high schools. 

The Section for Insanely Great Career Educators includes:

  • Professional learning events
  • New teaching resources
  • Opportunities – mainly free ones.
  • Links to the latest research.

To keep up with career opportunities for school students, subscribe to In Focus Careers 

Evangelist for insanely great careers education in Western Australia

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Are you an educator seeking new approaches to the educational challenges of today and tomorrow?

I had only been teaching for a couple of years when an ECU academic presenting a PL and told us:

All classes are too big, and EVERY teacher can tell you which kid needs to go.

 As a newly minted teacher I could think of several students who I would be happy to see the back of.

I lapped up the tips, strategies and recommendations that he went on to give us on how to engage those kids.

Then Came 2020!

Over the past couple of years, things have become even tougher for new teachers as the level of anxiety has risen, and mental health issues have permeated every learning environment.

All teachers are hunting for strategies to cope with the new world of education.

Jenny Gleeson – Thought Leader and Trail Blazer

Many West Australian educators know educator and career practitioner Jenny Gleeson.

For more than two decades Jenny has been researching, writing about and winning awards for her work on tools for improving educational engagement, mainly with a focus on career guidance. Through her research, Jenny has unearthed Personality Dimensions @ School that she believes is better than any other tool for quickly establishing rapport and solid communications between students and teachers.

Abbey Piggott working with Personality Dimensions guru Jenny Gleeson

Personality Dimensions @ School

Personality Dimensions @ School is a Canadian personality profiling tool. Unlike many that Jenny has tested, this one is based on solid research. The activities used to identify critical aspects of students’ personalities, are visual, hands-on, interactive and fun and through the process:

  • Teachers gain the power to quickly identify and manage triggers that may upset students.
  • All students get to identify and celebrate their unique talents, skills and strengths.
  • Students gain coping strategies
  • Both teachers and students come to understand and appreciate each other’s communication styles
  • Students identify their passion which they will carry through to life after school.

 Would you like to pilot Personality Dimensions in WA?

Jenny is seeking to kickstart the adoption of Personality Dimensions in West Australian schools. It’s a comprehensive framework that helps you to cope with and educate all students, including those you wish you could see the back of.

If you are an innovative educator seeking new approaches to the educational challenges of today and tomorrow, please contact Jenny or Abbey to find out more about how you can become involved in pioneering this method in West Australian schools.

Jenny Gleeson M: 0433 884 847   jenny@jennygleeson.com.au

Students working with Personality Dimensions @ School

Keep up to date with career opportunities in Western Australia. Subscribe to In Focus Careers News. 

Evangelist for insanely great careers education in Western Australia

 

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Your mind map to reaching your potential in middle school

You would think there was SOMETHING for everyone at high school, but what if there is nothing for you?

If you haven’t found where you belong in the chess club or the swimming club or in the choir, look outside school.  One of these could be the place where you might have some interesting experiences. 

Check out these opportunities for exploring your world in middle school.

Duke of Edinburgh

Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Discover Your Potential

Age: 14 – 24 There are 4 sections:

1.      Adventurous Journey

2.      Physical Recreation

3.       Skills, Voluntary Service

4.       Gold Residential Project

CoderDojo

CoderDojo

Coding for Fun

Ages 7 – 17

Run by volunteers in libraries, unis and community centres. Young people and volunteers get together to learn to play with coding.

WAAPA Short Courses

WAAPA

Age 6 – 18

Acting, music and dance short courses are run on weekends and holidays.  There are classes for young kids through to those who already have some experience.

Australian Youth Mentoring Network

Youth Mentoring

Get a mentor. Their support can change your life. There are often more mentors offering services than students wanting to engage.

Local Government Youth Programs

Government Youth Programs

Every local government council has youth programs. Check out your local government to see what it has on offer.

RoboCup

RoboCup

Age: 12 – 19

Fun with Robots

Teams make and program robots and compete in different challenges. This is big in WA and the kids seem to have a great time.

Santos Science Experience

Santos Science Experience

Age: 13 – 15

The Santos Science Experience is a fun 3 or 4 days of science activities for Year 9 and 10 students.

Subscribe to In Focus Careers News

Keep up to date with emerging career opportunities in Western Australia.

Subscribe to In Focus Careers News and share the information across your school community. 

Cover of February 2022

The annual subscription rate for an organisation in 2022 is $299.

Individual subscribers are welcomes at a significantly reduced rate. 

 

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University Open Days Tips for Years 9 -12 students

In years 9 – 12? Go to uni open days

University open days are starting in March this year. 

Curtin University 3 April 2022

ECU South West 27 March

ECU Joondalup 10 April

ECU Mt Lawley including WAAPA 1 May   

Murdoch 19 March 2022

UWA 27 March

Going to a uni open day is like going to a show. There are food vans, exhibitions and demonstrations and interesting people to meet, who WANT to convince you that their course is fantastic.

Curtin University Open Day

Check out the Worksheets at the bottom of this post.

Year 9 Tips

Start learning about life at university in Year 9. Check out the food vans. Listen to the music. Go into buildings and see the latest tech tools, computer games and research. See what workshops are on. Find the library, the shops and the toilets.

Year 10 Tips

Explore and Experience Try stuff. There will be people inviting you to engage with practical experiences in their subject. It could be VR. It could be checking out the latest medical research, making a short movie using their studio. All faculties will have practical experiences for you to engage with.  Do it now.

Year 11 Tips

Get an authentic experience. Engage with current students. Build on what you have learned in years 9 and 10 visits by asking questions of both students, academics and staff.  Check out presentations and exhibitions to see what you will gain most from and register for them, or just make a schedule of where to be and at what time.

Year 12 Tips

This is it. You need to be able to build from your other Open Day experiences. You will know what faculties to visit, and you will have a range of questions to ask. By now you should have narrowed down your options and you will be able to ask specific questions about subjects, industry engagement opportunities, mentors, support programs etc. You will know which presentations and demonstrations you need to revisit.