K-12 Career Learning Framework
The K-12 Career Learning Framework supports students with access to quality career related learning. These experiences build aspiration about future learning and life choices, and the capacity to identify, explore and manage career and life decisions.
This framework is for:
- senior leaders in schools responsible for the overall strategy for career learning
- curriculum leaders responsible for planning, reviewing and developing a continuum of career learning programs and strategies
- careers advisers, transition advisers and classroom teachers, to enrich their existing teaching and learning programs to facilitate effective career learning
- local employers, businesses and industry and other individuals working with schools to contribute to career experiences, pathways, employability and enterprise education.
- Career Industry Council of Australia (CICA), ‘Australian Blueprint for Career Development’, Australian Blueprint for Career Development (ABCD), accessed July 2023
- DESE (Department of Education Skills and Employment) (2019) ‘National Career Education Strategy’, Future Ready: A student focused National Career Education Strategy, DESE, Australian government, accessed February 2021
- DESE (Department of Education Skills and Employment) (2019) ‘Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration’, Australian government, accessed February 2021
- Education Council (2020) Looking to the future, Report of the review of senior secondary pathways into work, further education and training, accessed February 2021
- NSW DoE (NSW Department of Education) (2017) School excellence and accountability, ‘School Excellence Framework’, NSW government, accessed February 2021
- NSW DoE (NSW Department of Education) (2018) Strategic Plan, ‘Department of Education Strategic Plan 2018 – 2022’, NSW government, accessed December 2020
- NSW DoE (NSW Department of Education) (2020) New School Success Model, ‘School Success Model’ NSW government, accessed February 2021
- NSW DoE (NSW Department of Education) (2021) Rural and Remote Education, Rural and Remote Education Strategy 2021 -2021, NSW government, accessed February 2021
- Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (2011), ‘Australian Professional Standards for Teachers’, AITSL, Melbourne, accessed February 2021
- DESE (Department of Education Skills and Employment) (2014) Preparing secondary students for work, ‘Key Elements for Career Education’, Australian government, accessed 2021 (https://www.dese.gov.au/school-work-transitions Site last modified 2020)
- CICA (Career Industry Council of Australia) (2014) CICA School Career Development Service Benchmarking Resource, ‘School Career Development Resource’, Career Industry Council of Australia, accessed February 2021
Teachers need to consider inclusion and differentiation and curriculum planning when using the Career Learning in Curriculum resources in the classroom. To learn more about curriculum planning for every student professional learning is available on MyPL. Differentiated learning should be enabled through both planned and contingent adjustments to the teaching approach for content, process, product, and learning environment.
Students are all unique and learn in different ways. When planning and programming, considering all students is inclusive practice. A range of differentiation models may be used to tailor learning for the diversity of students represented in classrooms. For high potential and gifted learners, differentiation can be enabled through content, process, product, and learning environment. For other learners, the UDL (universal design for learning) approach may assist with differentiation.
Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and knowledges using Aboriginal pedagogies and content, can enhance differentiation to achieve improved outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Targeted strategies can be used to achieve improved outcomes for Aboriginal and, or Torres Strait Islander students.
EAL/D learners will require explicit English language support, informed by the student’s English language proficiency phase using the EAL/D Learning Progression. Teachers can access information about supporting EAL/D learners and literacy support specific to EAL/D learners, including Aboriginal EALD learners.
Learning adjustments enable all students including those with a disability to access syllabus outcomes and content on the same basis as their peers. Teachers can use a range of adjustments to ensure a personalised approach to student learning.
The Differentiation Adjustment Tool and high potential and gifted education supporting educators advice can assist with optimising learning for high-potential and gifted learners.
Download resources:
K-12 Career Learning Framework (PDF 2041 KB)
NSW high-level student journey map (PDF 7,327 KB)
Career learning poster 1 (PDF 195 KB)
Career learning poster 2 (PDF 216 KB)
The K-12 Career Education Framework and Career Learning professional learning is designed to be used by school leaders, curriculum leaders and careers advisers. The resource aims to inform school communities on the key concepts of the career learning framework and the importance of embedding career learning in all curriculum delivered. The resource includes the slides and speaker notes to support the delivery of the professional learning.
K-12 framework and career learning professional learning (PPTX 22,561 KB)
Resources supporting schools in implementing the framework to embed career learning activities across the stages of schooling can be accessed through each stage's navigation tiles.
Early Stage 1 - Stage 2
During the early years, students explore the world of work through structured, age-appropriate activity and play. Primary school students gain ideas about the world of work through curiosity, play and storytelling.
Very young children can talk about the jobs they want when they grow up and be encouraged to explore a wide-range of occupations. They can explore their community and the broader world of work.
During the early years, students explore the world of work through structured, age-appropriate activity and play. Primary school students gain ideas about the world of work through curiosity, play and storytelling.
Very young children can talk about the jobs they want when they grow up and be encouraged to explore a wide-range of occupations. They can explore their community and the broader world of work.
Learn more:
- Education and Employers research on career related learning in primary
- myfuture on career related learning in primary
- K-12 Rural and Remote Career Education Initiative brings career learning to the primary setting career story.
Resources currently in development.
Stage 3 - Stage 4
Students in Years 5-8 experience different career learning opportunities to test ideas about work and careers including work stereotypes. They locate and use career information and explore education and training requirements for various work roles.
Students' engagement in career learning grows throughout their schooling. They gain a sense of who they are, what matters to them and how they might contribute to society, as well as engage in life, learning and work.
Students in Years 5-8 experience different career learning opportunities to test ideas about work and careers including work stereotypes. They locate and use career information and explore education and training requirements for various work roles.
Students' engagement in career learning grows throughout their schooling. They gain a sense of who they are, what matters to them and how they might contribute to society, as well as engage in life, learning and work.
Stage 4 resources aligned to syllabus outcomes have been developed for curriculum areas to enrich teaching through career learning activities.
The following career learning resources are aligned to syllabus outcomes and can be embedded into existing teaching programs to enrich the learning through career related terminology, exploration and experiences.
English
- Stage 4 - Drama interviews writing group (DOCX 87 KB)
- Stage 4 - Characters and careers (DOCX 165.5 KB)
- Stage 4 - My identity, my future (DOCX 86 KB)
- Stage 4 - Careers in poetry (DOCX 145 KB)
Languages
- Stage 4 – Marketing scenario (DOCX 195 KB)
- Stage 4 – Introduction to occupations (DOCX 183 KB)
Mathematics
- Stage 4 – Data collection, representation and data analysis (DOCX 85 KB)
- Stage 4 – Financial mathematics (DOCX 164 KB)
PDHPE
- Stage 4 – Challenging and resisting stereotypes (DOCX 146 KB)
- Stage 4 – Healthy, safe, and active lifestyles (DOCX 159 KB)
- Stage 4 – Transition and change (DOCX 225 KB)
TAS
- Stage 4 – Careers in Technology (DOCX 150 KB)
- Stage 4 - Designer profile (DOCX 714 KB)
Visual Arts
- Stage 4 - Public art for everyone (DOCX 148 KB)
Stage 5 - Stage 6
In Years 9 -12 students develop skills, attitudes and knowledge to make sound choices and to effectively manage their careers. Career education programs include work education, work studies, authentic interaction with local industry and businesses and workplace learning programs.
This leads to developing informed career and transition plans and taking purposeful action towards a successful post school transition.
In Years 9 -12 students develop skills, attitudes and knowledge to make sound choices and to effectively manage their careers. Career education programs include work education, work studies, authentic interaction with local industry and businesses and workplace learning programs.
This leads to developing informed career and transition plans and taking purposeful action towards a successful post school transition.
Stage 6 resources aligned to syllabus outcomes have been developed for curriculum areas to enrich teaching through career learning activities.
The following career learning resources are aligned to syllabus outcomes and can be embedded into existing teaching programs to enrich the learning through career related terminology, exploration and experiences.
HSIE - Ancient History
- Stage 6 - Museums, history and future careers learning sequence
Learn about aspects of ancient history through a virtual excursion of the Chau Chak Wing Museum containing interviews with experts:
- in the field about their work
- about some of the ancient artefacts.
The virtual excursion has been developed in collaboration with the Chau Chak Wing Museum, University of Sydney. It is aimed and students and teachers.
myfuture is Australia’s National Career Information Service, managed by Education Services Australia (ESA)External link. A government-funded resource, designed for students, parents and carers, teachers and career practitioners to use at school and at home. These guides have been developed to introduce teachers to using the site
- Discover myfuture for Business Studies teachers (DOCX 226 KB)
- Discover myfuture for Creative Arts teachers (DOCX 109 KB)
- Discover myfuture for English teachers (DOCX 108 KB)
- Discover myfuture for Geography teachers (DOCX 105 KB)
- Discover myfuture for History teachers (DOCX 105 KB)
- Discover myfuture for Language teachers (DOCX 105 KB)
- Discover myfuture for Mathematics teachers (DOCX 109 KB)
- Discover myfuture for PDHPE teachers (DOCX 107 KB)
- Discover myfuture for Science teachers (DOCX 109 KB)
- Discover myfuture for Technology teachers (DOCX 105 KB)
- Activity Sheet – Using the career bullseye (DOCX 258 KB)
Transition to employment and/or further education and training and working towards ongoing career self-management.
For more information, please visit: