Reviewing psychologists' qualifications for career development practice in Australia

Abstract

(CICA, 2006). Although the professional activities of career development are not new to psychology-particularly the subdiscipline vocational psychology-the published stipulation of entry-level qualifications, continuing professional development, and competencies for practice within the Professional Standards presents both an opportunity and a threat to the more established profession of psychologist in Australia. In the context of recent changes in the career development industry in Australia, it is therefore timely to reflect on the education and training of psychologists. In this paper, we firstly overview significant changes in the career development industry in Australia and the concomitant requirements of the Professional Standards for Australian Career Development Practitioners. Secondly, we report on a review of the postgraduate degrees available for psychologists. We conclude with a discussion of the implications.For the purpose of this paper we refer to the definition of career development as -the lifelong process of managing learning, work, leisure, and transitions in order to Career Development Practice 4 move towards a personally determined and evolving future‖ (CICA, 2006, p. 38).According to the Standards, a career development practitioner is a direct service provider who facilitates career development and, as a broad professional entity, may include amongst others occupations such as -career counsellors, employment counsellors, career educators, career information specialists, career management consultants, career practitioners, rehabilitation counsellors, work development officers‖ (CICA, 2006, p. 38). Typical career development practices can include career assessment, career counselling, and career education with individuals or groups, or the design and delivery of career information services (e.g., occupational classifications).Career development services can be delivered in a variety of settings such as educational institutions, workplaces, rehabilitation services, and mental health services.Many psychologists perform those professional activities. Indeed, psychologists have made a long-standing contribution to career development practice and vocational psychology in Australia (e.g., the development of psychometric instruments); however some scholars (e.g., Athanasou, 2008; Patton, 2005) have indicated that the position of psychologists in the field has been challenged due to a declining interest in the discipline and the rise of other professionals in the field. Career Development and Post-industrial SocietyThe world-of-work in the post-industrial society is markedly different from that of previous eras. Individuals are now confronted by globalisation, deregulation of labour markets, privatisation, technological advances, changing employment patterns, changing organisational forms and structures, demographic and labour market changes, changing balance of work and non-work life, changing psychological contracts, increased job insecurity, and changes in education (Storey, 2000). In this -new‖...