For parents
How can I help my son or daughter to choose a career?
Here are some key points to help parents support their children through the transition from school to education, training and work.
Things to consider:
- help them explore their interests, if they are motivated because it interests them, they have a better chance of succeeding
- look at labour market trends and career paths; investigate ‘skill shortage’ areas as there may be more employment opportunities in these areas
- find out job entry qualifications and employer expectations
- do not limit them with your own expectations of what is a suitable job. Be aware that disability legislation in employment and training allows for reasonable adjustments, funding for assistance and/or modifications in employment and training.
- work experience, voluntary work and structured work placement are all valuable ways of helping a student to explore their interests.
How do I know if year 10 or year 12 is the best time for my son/daughter to leave school?
This is an individual decision but you can assist them to make an informed decision by considering the following:
- find out their reasons for wanting to leave at Year 10 or Year 12
- help them investigate employment prospects (short-term and long-term) in the industry they are interested in, as well as earnings capacity
- find out job entry qualifications and employer expectations: Do they need a Higher School Certificate (HSC) minimum? Do they need a driver’s license? Are they of driving age?
- investigate opportunities for further training; compare school certificate entry to HSC entry
- help them to investigate different HSC vocational outcomes if they are not aiming for University
- investigate traineeships and apprenticeships entry requirements and wages according to minimum school level
- find out if there are minimum entry age requirements in the occupation they wish to pursue. There are age entry requirements for child care courses and responsible service of alcohol courses in the hospitality industry.
Is there anything else I can do to help my son/ daughter to prepare for leaving school?
- help them to explore their individual strengths and weakness and to be able to communicate these in a positive way.
- help them to explore their options regarding disclosure of their disability in an employment or learning situation.
- let them know that there may be a need for further assessment by different agencies after school to access disability funding and/or appropriate support. You can assist them to prepare for this.
What can I do if my son/daughter doesn’t get work/ training straight after school
You may assist your son or daughter, by encouraging them to access other programs and services that may provide a bridge to further education, training or work. Here are some options to consider:
- pre-vocational/ vocational training
- employment agencies
- voluntary work
- Centrelink benefits and programs.
- You can support them by helping them to stay motivated.
