Examining Career Development in Jamaica and Australia

Examining Career Development in Jamaica and Australia

An examination of the implementation and its outcomes of Career Development in Australia and the social and economic benefits to Jamaica if the recommended career development and education strategies were implemented

By Denise N. Fyffe

2

Examining Career Development in Jamaica and Australia © 2015 Denise N. Fyffe, Kingston, Jamaica. First published 2015 Other than, as permitted by law, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form by any means, without the prior written consent of the creator or publisher or a licence from the Jamaican Copyright Licensing Agency (JAMCOPY). To obtain a JAMCOPY licence visit www.jamcopy.com or its registered office at 17 Ruthven Road, Kingston 10, Jamaica.

3

Table of Contents Career Development in Australia Preface Introduction Factors That Caused Career Development Medium for Vocational Guidance Conclusion

Career Development in Jamaica Introduction Rationale Career Development Education Implementing Career Education The Current State Advancing Career Development Conclusion Glossary References About The Author Books by Denise N. Fyffe Catch Up With Poetess Denise N. Fyffe

4

Career Development in Australia

5

Preface Like many other societies and nations, Australia experienced social and economic transformation. They had to implement measures that would sustain the progress needed for any nation because their way of life has been affected by the international situation occurring around them. To do this Australia utilised mediums that would successfully create new programs, services, schemes and benefits. From the 1920’s to present, these practices are still kept in place and are revised often as well as new ideas implemented. Change pushed Australia to focus on new ways of survival. This

paper

will

therefore,

scrutinize

the

transformation in Australia by doing several things. Firstly, a brief introduction of the Australian people will be specified. Secondly, mention will be given to the factors that caused Australia to adapt. Thirdly, I will look into the measures, which were implemented to counter the changes, and finally groups in the population who benefitted from the service will be identified. Statistics is an important aspect of effectively dissecting any issue. Therefore, tables and numerical data are also included in the body of this paper. However, before delving into Australia’s history one must first understand

Career development. A brief definition of this term is on the next section of this paper.

7

Introduction Definition According to Crooks (2004), career development is a complex process of acquiring the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for an individual to make work a meaningful, productive and satisfying part of life. The career development process requires a continuum of planned activities including career awareness, exploration, decisionmaking, and educational planning. These activities are designed to maximize the capabilities of all learners to explore, to analyse options, to understand one's own interests and abilities, to select educational preparation for, gain entry to, and to succeed in career choices throughout life. The specific activity categories of career development are

career

counselling,

pathways, career

comprehensive

awareness

or

guidance

exploration,

and career

assessment and education development plans. Australia Australia has a unique history, important elements of which are an indigenous population, a British colonial past and recent extensive immigration of people from 8

many different countries and cultures. This has resulted in one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the world, with over 100 birthplace groups identified in the 1991 census. Each of these 'birthplace groups' has its own considerable cultural diversity as a result of history, regional differences and internal and external population movements; as well as variations related to key factors such as class, gender, urban and rural environments. Cultural diversity, including the resurgence of a strong Aboriginal presence and identity, presents challenging issues for Australia (Hartley, 1995). Factors that caused Career Development One has to highlight the main factor that attributed to the changes in Australia in order to better understand the leanings towards Career Development, or as it was called in the earlier decades of the 20th century, Vocational Guidance. The main factor was War, both the 1st and 2nd World War impacted greatly on the way of life in Australia. The First World War had brought the continent much closer to old-world problems. The Commonwealth and states increased their spending and extended controls in every direction. Fortune's favours were dearly bought 9

with borrowed money and prosperity appeared to spread its blessings widely throughout the twenties. Each year brought more co-operations between states and the Commonwealth and the people were drawn into closer unity as a nation with common goals. Then in 1929, economic depression arrived like a shattering blast from the outside world. Prosperity vanished as people and governments hastily scrambled for shelter. In the rush for self-preservation, national ideals were forgotten. The financial position was soon adjusted by drastic retrenchment but the rude shock of depressionrevived regionalism. Throughout the 'thirties the continent was troubled by uncertainty and suspicion. They were only banished when war brought new dangers that aroused a true spirit of nationalism. Medium for Vocational Guidance Government The post-1945 period in Australia was characterised by full employment. Australia had a trade related industry. The Labour government entered the post-war period with a sense of mission. It saw its task not simply as that of postwar reconstruction, but rather as the transforming of 10

society

along

more

humane

and

rational

lines.

Economically the emphasis was to be upon a centrally planned

national

economy

and

socially

upon

the

development of the welfare state. In this enterprise it believed that it had an electoral mandate and would continue to command long-term support. Labour had indeed solid grounds for optimism and its wartime administration had won the confidence of the community; hence, unemployment was low and short termed in Australia (Greenwood, 1974). The Labour government of 1946 produced a White Paper to articulate its objective. In addition, there existed a labour market safety net ‘consisting of two components: an income support or unemployment benefit and a publicly funded employment service’ (Burgess et al. 2000). A series of Labour measures extended widows' pensions and maternity benefits to Aborigines, created a national welfare fund, increased unemployment and sickness benefits, made the attempt to introduce pharmaceutical benefits though the legislation was invalidated by the High Court and brought into being a Commonwealth Employment Service. From 1945 to 1970, these arrangements were widely favoured.

11

Before 1998, the programs geared towards the unemployed benefited the youths, mostly. Income support payments were abolished for youth aged 15-18yrs, in 1998. A Common Youth Allowance replaced this. Claimants would carry out specific, authorised and suggested activities in return for their welfare payment. A central and comprehensive policy was developed and published by the Labour government in 1993 (Gruen and Gratten, 1994). It entailed a youth training program for 15-17 year olds, entry-level training placements, introduction of a national training wage and job guarantee for the long-term unemployed etc. (Crean, 1997, p.293). Young unemployed people between the ages of 18 and 24, continued to utilise the service; however, the program was expanded from 1998-1999 to include all persons less than 35 years of age (Burgess et al., 2000). From

the

mid

1970’s

to

the

mid

1980’s

unemployment levels rose in Australia. Industry and society

started

to

change

and

the

traditional

manufacturing, mining and agricultural industries started to decline in economic significance while new industries, like communications and finance, were emerging. More women entered or re-entered education and the workforce.

12

The Labour government raised the unemployment benefits in 1975 in response to the increasing and persistent unemployment. According to Burgess (2000), a cycle of ad hoc adjustments and experimentation with labour market program began and has continued to the present. A large number

of

over-lapping

and

competing

programs

emerged, many cyclically dependent and related to election timing. Regardless, the rate of unemployment continued to increase. Part time employment, however, has increased significantly. The ratio of workers working part-time who want to work more hours, has also increased from 13.5% in 1978 and fluctuating from 30.3% in 1993 to 23.1% in 1999. Education and Training As indicated in the previous section, Career Development

in

Australia

was

strongly

linked

or

influenced by the government. Each new party that came in implemented or changed programs and policies to assist in Vocational Guidance. Another tool that was utilised was Education and Training. Vocational

education

and

training

(VET)

in

Australia had its roots in the mid to late nineteenth century 13