Career Counselling and Assessment

This unit introduces the theory and practice of career counselling and the application of career assessment instruments. A comprehensive theoretical and practical foundation in counselling is provided to understand the needs, issues and concerns of people in stages of career identification and/or transition. Client assessment is studied to facilitate working with the diverse needs of clients in a process of change, development or extension of career aspirations. A variety of career assessment methods and resources are applied. In Career Counselling and Assessment, students are introduced to the fundamentals of career counselling drawing on contemporary counselling theory and practice. The student gains a solid academic grounding in the theory of career counselling and a comprehensive understanding of the needs, issues and concerns of clients. The stages of the career counselling process are explored together with client assessment and the use of assessment instruments when working with clients.

Learning Outcomes

  • Explain the variety of contexts and environments of career counselling and the process and appropriate sequencing of career counselling
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of and influences on career choice
  • Describe the professional and ethical use of methods of client assessment and evaluate and use assessment tools and instruments
  • Demonstrate a variety of different work search, application, and interviewing processes and explain the uses and applications of technology in the career counselling field and context

Content Areas

  • Context and Process of Career Counselling
  • Theories of Career Counselling
  • Career Counselling Stages and Techniques
  • Clients Barriers to Moving On
  • Career Choice – Concepts, Values, Interests and Personality
  • Career Choice – Skills
  • Assessment Issues in Career Counselling
  • Assessment Instruments
  • Work Search Concepts and Processes
  • Applications, Resumes and Interview
  • Career Support in Organisations
  • Career Counselling Resources and Computer and Internet Considerations

Unit Duration and Workload

This unit involves a total of 36 hours of face to face delivery of self directed study including educator contact in flexible delivery modes, generating a further 54 hours of self-study per unit including research and related study activities, including assessment. This translates to 7.5 hours per week for the unit.