In 2022, Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast commissioned a Rapid Review on Career Adviser Resourcing in NSW Schools. The author, Ben Archer, has dedicated his career to helping others in developing their skills and enhancing their career outcomes, and works for both Taree Universities Centre and James Cook University in career advice and development departments.
The literature says that school-based Career Advisers play a vital role in helping young people transition effectively out of high school and into further education or employment. This role is of particular importance in regional, rural and remote schools, where students are more likely to experience socio-economic disadvantage, higher unemployment and higher levels of mental illness than their equivalents in urban areas.
It makes sense then, that having well-resourced and supported Career Advisors within these schools can have a positive impact on the economic development of a community. Despite these benefits, Career Advisors have tended to experience a downward trend in their levels of resourcing, reductions in time allowance, and are more likely to juggle multiple positions of responsibility, including teaching subjects they’re not qualified for.
The rapid review identified three main barriers for Career Advisers, including a lack of understanding of the importance of Career Advisers, especially by the school executive; Career Advisers being overloaded with irrelevant tasks; and inadequate financial budgets for Career Advisers, especially in regional, remote and rural schools.
The report recommends that Principals and Executives be made more aware of the potential impact that a well-resourced Career Adviser can have, not just on their school, but on their community as well.
Ben Archer is a Workforce panellist on Ignite MNC 2022.
Read the report here: Rapid Review on Career Adviser Resourcing in NSW Schools