Engaging Parents in Career Conversations

Engaging Parents in Career Conversations Presenter: School: Date:

Acknowledgements and research The following have contributed to the development of this resource: • Gray Poehnell • Canadian Career Development Foundation • Career Education Association of Victoria Source Materials • “Guiding Circles” - R. McCormick, N. Amundson, & G. Poehnell • “Hope-Filled Engagement” - G. Poehnell & N. E. Amundson • “Lasting Gifts” - Canadian Career Development Foundation and Career Education Association Victoria • www.myfuture.edu.au • www.education.gov.au • www.employment.gov.au The following research was used when developing this resource: • CICA • Face to Face • On Track • Lost Talent 2

Have a conversation Step in Step Out: • Select one person who stepped in with you and have a conversation about: • the experience you have in common • what interested you about attending this workshop

Workshop Aims By the end of this workshop you will: • Understand what a career is • Feel more confident about supporting your young person on their career journey • Have a greater knowledge of services available to support them and you • Know and understand the High 5 messages • Have some useful career resources; and • Be a career ally! 4

What is a career? A career is all of the paid and unpaid work, learning and life roles you do throughout your life Jobs and training Hobbies Education Life roles Volunteering Clubs and community Sport Cultural activities 5

The Changing World-of-Work What will work be like for young people in Australia today? • Minimum of 7 careers in a lifetime • Follow your heart • Focus on the journey • Use your networks • Lifelong learning What was work like for you growing up? • Could you expect to stay in the one job? • Were you able to choose the job you did? • Were you able to change jobs easily • Were you able to ask for help and advice? • Did you have to study, and keep learning? 6

Concerns About the Future What concerns do you have about your young person’s future? What concerns does your young person have about their future? Do you both have the same concerns or are they different? Source: National Career Development Week 7

Your Future: How many of you… … knew at 16 years of age what you wanted to pursue? … are doing now what you thought you wanted to do when you were 16? … made important career decisions based on research and labour market information? … are where you are now, at least in part, because of a chance encounter or unplanned event? Source: “Lasting Gifts” Canadian Career Development Foundation 8

Positive Uncertainty H.B. Gelatt describes ‘positive uncertainty’ as: • the ability to recognise and accept that the future is uncertain; and • at the same time, be positive about it Sources: Gelatt& Gelatt and “Hope-Filled Engagement”, Poehnell & Amundson 9

Attributes that young people need… Persistence Resilience Enterprise Drive Ambition is the path to success, persistence is the vehicle you arrive in. ~ William Eardley IV When one door of happiness closes another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. ~ Helen Keller It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves. ~ William Shakespeare In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure. ~ Bill Cosby 10

Preferred Future Source: “Lasting Gifts” Canadian Career Development Foundation 11

How do students learn about careers? • Self Development • Understand yourself: your interests, skills and values • Career Exploration • Explore and experience different types of options and opportunities • Career Management • Learn how to make a Career Action Plan and work towards it • www.education.vic.gov.au/careersframework 12

High 5 Career Development Messages The High 5 Career Development messages* are: • Change is Constant • Learning is Ongoing • Focus on the Journey • Follow your Heart • Access your Allies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNHcXl4IbZQ&lr=1 * Developed in 1995 by Canadian career development leaders Source: Career Industry Council of Australia 13

Change is Constant Did You Know…? www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmwwrGV_aiE Source: Karl Fisch 14

Change is constant • The pace of change is getting faster • The nature of careers is changing • Be open to change and remain alert to new opportunities 8

Learning is Ongoing • Where do you learn? • Home? School? Play? Events? Other? • How do you learn? • By: Doing? Reading? Hearing? Singing? Watching? • What about informal learning? • What is lifelong learning? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7m4e1DhiOw&lr=1 16

Learning is Ongoing Senior Secondary School Pathways: Source: VCAA 17

Learning is Ongoing • Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) • Expand opportunities and pathways in senior secondary • Vocational focus • Can contribute towards completion of VCE or VCAL • Can combine with a School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vet/index.aspx Source: VCAA 18

Learning is Ongoing • School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships • Vocational training that contributes towards a senior secondary qualification • Involves work, vocational training and school studies http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vet/programs/sbat.aspx Source: VCAA 19

Learning is Ongoing Source: Job Guide 20

Learning is Ongoing Post School Options to continue learning Source: DHS SMR School Leavers Guide 2012-2013

Learning is Ongoing • http://education.gov.au/career-bullseye-posters • http://www.myfuture.edu.au/Assist%20Others/Activities/Bullseye%20posters.aspx Source: Department of Education 22

Learning is Ongoing • Victorian Skills Gateway: • Information about Certificate and Diploma courses • Explains terms about careers and courses • Fees and financial support • Occupation search • Answers to questions http://www.education.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway/Pages/home.aspx

Focus on the Journey • Don’t focus on one destination only • Know what you want, but don’t be too sure • Be open to changing your mind • Recognise that your career journey will be throughout your lifetime • Appreciate and value each experience along the way http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dupKoaFgqGY&lr=1 24

Focus on the Journey Skills and industries Source: “Hope-Filled Engagement” Poehnell & Amundson

Follow your Heart Ring 4: Is it planned (P) or spontaneous (S) Ring 5: Do you do it alone (A) or with someone else (SE) Ring 6: Does it involve your mind (M), body (B), spirit (S) or emotions (E) or a combination Ring 1:What are three things you like to do Ring 2: How long is it since you did each thing Ring 3: Does it cost ($) or is it free(F) Adapted from “Guiding Circles”, McCormick, Amundson & Poehnell

Access your Allies Adapted from “Lasting Gifts” Canadian Career Development Foundation 27

How do you identify where young people are most engaged in life? By noticing: • what they enjoy doing • what can’t they stop doing • what they are complimented on • where they are engaged • what motivates them • their favourite things • What drives them? 28

Broaden ideas for work and career paths Encourage: • open-mindedness • and discuss their passions and where they could lead • learning, we are always learning • the possibilities and be positive • flexibility • exploring (research information) www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9KawhtfORI Source: “School A to Z” NSW Government Education & Communities 29

Where is the young person at in their career journey? Does know, but I don’t think it is possible! Does know, but needs considerable pathways planning Don’t know Won’t commit Won’t engage or talk Is………….. 30

Being a Good Listener • Give your full attention • Stop what you are doing • Don’t interrupt • Let your teenager speak • Stay as calm as you can • If you’re caught off-guard by what they are saying, breathe deeply • Listen for emotions • Hear what they are saying beneath the words • Give it time • Don’t rush in with your response 31

Helping to Set Goals and Plans Career Action Plans: • use the three stages of career development: • self-development; • career exploration; and • career management. • help young people to: • set their goals; • clarify the actions needed to achieve these goals; and • commit to participating in the planned activities. SAMPLE 32

myfuture • My Guide • Build your career profile • Explore career ideas • Consider career options • Develop your career plan The Facts • Careers • Work and Employment • Education and Training • Assist Others (section for parents and carers) • Funding • Contacts • Skills • myQuiz • 5 activities www.myfuture.edu.au 33

myfuture Mini Career Explorer http://myfuture.edu.au/MiniCareerExplorer/index.html Source: myfuture 34

Other Important Information Special Entrance Access Scheme (SEAS) Categories: • Personal information and location • Non-English speaking background • Difficult circumstances • Disadvantaged financial background • Disability of medical condition • SALT, REEP and PPP www.vtac.edu.au/applying/seas.html Source: VTAC 35

Key Workshop Messages • The crucial role of parents and others play in the career development of young people • That career development is a lifelong journey • The value of career conversations • Engage young people where they are engaged in life • Information and resources are available 36

Next Steps • Spend time with your young person • Help them find out who they are, what drives them, what interests them. • Help them to explore their “preferred future” and how they may work towards it. • Help them articulate how they want to contribute to their world. Discuss change • Discuss the changes that are happening in the community and in their world. • What opportunities does change present? 37

Next Steps Network • Use your networks to give your child opportunities to experience and explore different things and explore all appropriate options available to you. Communicate • With your young person, Career Practitioner and teachers about any small concerns you may have to prevent them from becoming big issues. Be an ally and keep calm • Support your young person on their journey and remind them, and yourself, that is it okay to be uncertain. Enjoy the journey and be confident that it will all work out. 38

Engaging Parents in Career Conversations