Engaging Parents in Career Conversations

1. Engaging Parents in Career Conversations Presenter/s: Venue: Date:

2. Acknowledgements • 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 2

3. 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

4. Workshop Aims By the end of this workshop you will be able to: • Better support your teenager in their career journey; • Have a career conversation with your teenager; • Know and understand the High 5 messages • Learn about some useful career resources; • Understand the influential role you play; and • Become a career ally! 4

5. Research CICA Raise parents’ awareness of education and training opportunities. It raises the value attributed to those opportunities by parents. Miles Morgan (2012, March) Face-to-face Parents are the preferred source of career information, advice and guidance for teenagers. Hibbert, T (2010, September) On Track Better careers advice would have encouraged early school leavers to stay at school. State of Victoria (2008) Lost Talent It is important for young people to have a specific occupational career plan and receive comprehensive career development services. Foundation for Young Australians (2010) 5

6. 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 when you wanted to? • Were you able to ask for help and advice? • Did you have to keep learning new skills? 6

7. Concerns About the Future What concerns do you have about your teenager’s future? What concerns does your teenager have about their future? www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2ZPjBRUrCA&lr=1 Source: National Career Development Week 7

8. 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 researching and reading 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

9. 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. Source: Gelatt & Gelatt 9

10. 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

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

12. What is a Career? A career is the paid and unpaid roles across the lifespan; life roles; leisure; learning; work

13. How do students learn about careers? • Self Development • Understand yourself: your interests, skills and values • Career Exploration • Find out about different types of work and learning • Experience different types of work • Career Management • Learn how to make a Career Action Plan and work towards it www.education.vic.gov.au/careersframework 13

14. High 5 Career Development Messages 1. Change is Constant 2. Learning is Ongoing 3. Focus on the Journey 4. Follow your Heart 5. 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 14

15. Change is Constant Did You Know…? http://www.splicd.com/cL9Wu2kWwSY/36/74 www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmwwrGV_aiE Source: Karl Fisch 15

16. Change is Constant Labour Market Information on Job Outlook • www.joboutlook.gov.au • Over 350 occupations with: • Overview and Job prospects • Statistics: growth, earnings, hours, gender/age, FT/PT • Knowledge, skills and abilities • Training and Vacancies • Career Quiz Skill Shortages http://employment.gov.au/skill-shortages http://www.education.vic.gov.au/victorianskillsgateway/Pages/home.aspx Source: Job Outlook 16

17. 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? 17

18. Learning is Ongoing Senior Secondary School Pathways: Source: VCAA 18

19. Learning is Ongoing • Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) • Expand opportunities and pathways in senior secondary • Vocational focus • Contributes towards completion of VCE/VCAL • Can combine with a School-Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/Pages/vet/index.aspx Source: VCAA 19

20. 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 20

21. Learning is Ongoing Source: Job Guide 21

22. Learning is Ongoing Source: Department of Education 22

23. Learning is Ongoing • Courses and institutions • Further education and training entrance requirements • VTAC entry • Prerequisite studies (e.g. Units 3-4 English studies) • Admission tests (e.g. STAT, ALSET, UMAT,VETASSESS) • Interviews, folios, auditions, aptitude and other special purpose tests, personal statements and questionnaires. • Scholarships • Special consideration • Important dates www.vtac.edu.au Source: VTAC 23

24. 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 24

25. Focus on the Journey Skills and industries Source: “Hope-Filled Engagement” Poehnell & Amundson 25

26. 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 26

27. Follow your Heart Poll: Is it okay to tell your kids they can do and be anything? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezJWSss-u3Q&lr=1 www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_pBygRpGSmo Source: Network 10 27

28. 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

29. Access your Allies http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeFQjVP-Vxc&lr=1 Adapted from “Lasting Gifts” Canadian Career Development Foundation 29

30. 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? 30

31. 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 31

32. 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………….. 32

33. 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, breath deeply • Listen for emotions • Hear what they are saying beneath the words • Give it time • Don’t rush in with your response 33

34. 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 34

35. 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 • Funding • Contacts • Skills • myQuiz • 5 activities www.myfuture.edu.au 35

36. myfuture Mini Career Explorer http://myfuture.edu.au/MiniCareerExplorer/index.html Source: myfuture 36

37. 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 http://www.vtac.edu.au/who/seas.html Source: VTAC 37

38. Scholarships and help with fees Scholarships • Access and Equity Scholarships • Commonwealth Scholarships • Merit Scholarships http://www.vtac.edu.au/scholarships/ Help with fees • HECS Help • VET Fee Help http://studyassist.gov.au/sites/studyassist

39. 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 at in life • Information and resources are available 39

40. Next Steps • Talk to your teenager • 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? 40

41. Next Steps Network • Use your networks to give your child opportunities to experience and explore different things. Use labour market information • Be aware of the shifting labour market and be predictive about what that may mean for future opportunities. Be an ally • Support your teenager on their journey and remind them, and yourself, that is it okay to be uncertain. 41

42. 42