Choose Your Career

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills. Will the minister advise the chamber of new initiatives that can help South Australians who may be thinking about their first career choice or perhaps even changing careers?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:05): I thank the honourable member for his important question. Whether it be a student considering what subjects to study going into year 11 or 12 or someone already in the workforce looking to change their career, working out what is out there and what you might like to do can be a very daunting task. That is why I am very pleased to advise the chamber about a new online tool designed to assist and guide people in making good and informed career choices.

Choose Your Career provides people with valuable online information on training options, as well as on job prospects, for some 200 occupations across more than 30 industries in South Australia. Choose Your Career is the new online version of the previous Career Choices guide and provides easy access to great search functions for people to find vital information on careers in industries based in South Australia. The decision to go online ensures that information can be readily updated and relevant to the current and future employment needs to help people make informed choices about their career options.

Many emerging career opportunities are in new, innovative sectors of the economy that require specialised training in areas not contemplated a decade ago. The easy-to-use tool will be particularly useful for students and people looking to make a career change by providing them with information on job prospects, things like an estimate of salary levels, qualifications necessary and the training pathways available to get to their chosen career. The tool is also a very valuable resource for career and vocational counsellors who are working with those who are trying to make life-changing choices, so it will make their job much easier.

While accessible via computer, Choose Your Career can also be accessed via smartphones and tablet devices. Information about Choose Your Career will be distributed to all schools across the state in the coming weeks. I would like to acknowledge this new innovation from DFEEST and encourage students, jobseekers and, of course, anyone else out there thinking about a career change to access Choose Your Career online at www.skills.sa.gov.au/chooseyourcareer.