This was published 3 years ago
From high school to retirement: Career advisers for all workers to drive COVID-19 recovery
Everyone in NSW will have access to a confidential career adviser, regardless of their experience or education, to help find a job or change profession and drive the COVID-19 recovery.
A pilot of the government-run service, to be known as Careers NSW, will begin online through Service NSW later this year with a full rollout expected in mid-2022.
Professor Peter Shergold says career advice is needed throughout people’s working livesCredit: Wolter Peeters
Highly-credentialed volunteers from major and emerging industries will be asked to lend their time to provide advice in areas including advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity and construction.
The initiative is a key recommendation in the review of the NSW vocational education and training sector led by businessman David Gonski and Western Sydney University chancellor Peter Shergold.
The review, to be released later this week, was commissioned last year to look at the problems plaguing vocational education and training in NSW, including a steady decline in participation.
The government could not provide a cost for the new service
Professor Shergold said the future of the workforce was uncertain and people needed “lifelong career advice” as they navigated changes throughout their working lives.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said NSW was leading the way in innovation. Credit: Rhett Wyman
“This is an absolute first in Australia and people aged 15 to 60 will be able to get access to career advisers so that when you are planning for your career or when your career changes, you will be able to access advice,” Professor Shergold said.
“We know there are career advisers in schools but needing career advice does not just end when you leave school, you need it when you are 16, 26 or 56.”
He said the service would be available to schools as well as individual school students who may want confidential advice outside the setting of their school.
“This is one of five key recommendations in the report and there is no doubt that David Gonski, like myself, sees this as particularly important,” Professor Shergold said.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Careers NSW would allow the state’s workforce to change and evolve in the wake of the pandemic “leaving no one behind”.
“NSW is the driver of innovation, research and development in Australia providing unique and incredible career opportunities for people including at Tech Central, the aerotropolis and in our record infrastructure boom,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The pandemic has forced us to reflect on the workforce and it has never been more crucial for people in NSW to access quality advice to make informed decisions about their professional future.
“Careers NSW will allow people to be guided by the experiences of workers ingrained
in the industries they are looking to enter.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the NSW government was committed to providing a dedicated careers service to people across NSW.
“Students and people looking to change careers or develop their skills deserve access to lifelong careers advice to make informed decisions on their future,” Mr Lee said.
“Careers NSW will provide a wrap-around service to not only connect people to accessible and quality careers guidance but to advise on educational pathways and qualifications that exist to match people to the skills they need to be employed faster.”