Career development practitioners are essential contributors to Australia’s workforce infrastructure. They provide tailored, evidence-based support and offer services including career planning, labour market navigation, CV and interview preparation, and guidance on vocational and higher education pathways. These services are particularly critical for individuals facing structural barriers to employment, such as young people, mature-age workers, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Our review of the career development and employment services qualifications aims to align the qualifications with current industry needs in line with national workforce development priorities and evolving sector expectations, including significant shifts in labour market dynamics, service delivery models and learner demographics.

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Career and employment advisor services include career planning, labour market navigation, CV and interview preparation and guidance on vocational and higher education pathways. These services are particularly critical for individuals facing structural barriers to employment, such as young people, mature-age workers, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

This is a 14-month project that is expected to be completed by October 2026.

Project Scope

We will review 3 qualifications, 11 units of competency and 3 skill sets.

Qualifications and Units of Competency

These qualifications are designed and primarily used for a specific occupation.

  • CHC41115 Certificate IV in Employment Services: supports a single occupation and reflects the role of Employment Services Consultants who provide employment services to job seekers and employers. They use specialised knowledge to support individual job seekers in locating, securing and maintaining employment and assist employers in meeting their recruitment needs.
  • CHC41215 Certificate IV in Career Development: supports a single occupation which provides programs and services to individuals and groups of clients and employers to support people in planning their career and/or locating, securing and maintaining suitable employment. They may work in career information and transition services or assist in career advisor roles in education, training, school or transition work environments. They may have limited supervisory responsibilities in contexts such as employment service.
  • CHC81315 Graduate Certificate in Career Development Practice: supports a single occupation and reflects the role of career development practitioners. Practitioners at this level make high level, independent, complex judgements in the context of providing guidance in career development. Their role involves the full responsibility and accountability for all aspects of their work. Practitioners may work independently or in larger service organisations.
Units of competency
Skills Sets

Fact sheet

 

Project Governance and Consultation Strategy

A Technical Committee (TC) comprising of industry experts has been established to provide specialised advice for this project. Members were carefully selected based on their relevant expertise and experience in areas critical to the project. 

View the Terms of Reference and Technical Committee members.

The TC will work with HumanAbility in this project to:

  • identify relevant stakeholders to consult with about the project
  • provide insights on proposed communication and consultation strategies
  • provide technical knowledge on the skills and knowledge required to meet graduate outcomes and workforce needs.

Our Project Consultation Strategy has been finalised and is available to download.

 

Vocational Educators, Trainers and Assessors: Tell us what is and isn't working

Thank you to all trainers, educators and assessors of vocational qualifications in career development and employment services who provided their feedback on existing qualifications, skill sets and units of competency via a short online survey. Your feedback has helped us to understand what's working, what's not working and where things could change and improvements made. The survey closed on Friday 20 January 2026.

Functional analysis

Our functional analysis report used in-depth research to provide a detailed overview of the diverse roles, functions, and skills required in the sector. We are committed to developing training products that meet industry standards and contribute to improving workforce readiness by identifying gaps and opportunities in skills development.

Functional analysis report

 

 

Summary of Proposed Changes

The career development and employment services qualifications, skill sets, and units of competency are being updated to ensure they reflect current industry standards and workforce expectations.

View proposed changes

Draft Documents

The draft training products below are based on feedback and learnings from the functional analysis research, interviews, workshops, and technical committee member advice. We are now seeking further feedback during this public consultation phase. 

We invite you to provide feedback on the training products via survey which will be available from Monday 16 March 2026 to Friday 29 May 2026, or by participating in one of the consultation workshops offered over the same time period.

Qualifications

CHC41115M Certificate IV in Employment Services
CHC41215M Certificate IV in Career Development
CHC81315M Graduate Certificate in Career Development Practice

Skill Sets

CHCSS00065M Workforce Support Skill Set
CHCSS00108M Career Development Skill Set
CHCSS00109M Employment Services Skill Set
CHCSSxxxxx Employer Engagement in Employment Services Skill Set
CHCSSxxxxx In-work Support Skill Set

Provide feedback on qualifications and skill sets

Units of Competency

CHCECD001M Analyse and apply information that supports employment and career development
CHCECD002M Deliver and monitor contracted services
CHCECD003M Reverse market job seekers to employers
CHCECD005M Deliver recruitment and workforce support as part of employment services
CHCECD006M Develop and monitor career transition plans
CHCECD007M Develop and implement customised employment solutions
CHCECD008M Deliver services consistent with a career development framework
CHCECD009M Conduct career guidance interviews
CHCECD011M Manage professional practice in career development
CHCECDxxx Conduct career development sessions
CHCECDxxx Establish career development services
CHCECDxxx Research and analyse trends in career development
CHCPRP006M Lead own reflective practice for professional development

Provide feedback on units of competency

Consultation workshops

As part of our Career Development and Employment Services Review, we're inviting registered training organisations, educational experts, subject matter experts, industry bodies, unions, employers, providers, First Nations people and other invested people to attend a consultation workshop. These workshops will help us to:

  • understand industry changes and the skills, knowledge, practice and requirements
  • understand current challenges, gaps, opportunities and potential solutions
  • identify and inform changes for the qualifications, units of competency and skill sets
  • identify functions that are common across all/specific settings and pathways within the sector
  • gain advice on the development of resources, guidance on delivery and pathways information.

Your perspectives will contribute to shaping the outcomes of this project and ensure the suitability of career development and employment services qualifications. 

Come along, share your thoughts and be part of the conversation.

Workshops
  • Cairns: Tuesday 17 March 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm AEST
    Site visit
    Contact us to organise a visit: [email protected]
  • Brisbane: Thursday 19 March 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm AEST
    Location: Royal On The Park, 152 Alice St, Brisbane City 
  • Alice Springs: Thursday 26 March 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm ACST
    Site visit
    Contact us to organise a visit: [email protected]
  • Hobart: Tuesday 31 March 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm AEDT
    Location: ibis Styles Hobart, 173 Macquarie Street, Hobart 
  • Melbourne: Tuesday 21 April 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm AEST
    Location: Dexus Place, Level 6, 80 Collins Street, Melbourne

Register to attend

  • Albury Wodonga: Thursday 23 April 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm AEST
    Location: Atura Albury, 648/648 Dean St, Albury

Register to attend

  • Adelaide: Tuesday 28 April 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm ACST
    Location: Hotel Grand Chancellor Adelaide, 65 Hindley St, Adelaide

Register to attend

  • Port Pirie: Thursday 30 April 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm ACST
    Location: TAFE SA, Port Pirie Campus, Block 2, Room B30 & B31, Mary Elie St, Port Pirie

Register to attend

  • Sydney: Tuesday 12 May 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm AEST
    Location: The Grace Hotel, 77 York St, Sydney

Register to attend

  • Perth: Tuesday 5 May 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm AWST
    Location: Four Points by Sheraton, 707 Wellington Street, Perth 

Register to attend

  • Albany: Thursday 7 May 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm AWST
    Location: Albany Lotteries House, 211 North Road, Centennial Park 6330

Register to attend

  • Orange: Thursday 14 May 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm AEST
    Location: Quest Orange, 132 Kite Street, Orange

Register to attend

  • Darwin: Thursday 14 May 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm ACST
    Locations: ISACNT, Suite 201, level 2, the Avenue, 12 Salonika St, Parap

Register to attend

  • Online: Tuesday 19 May 2026,  1 pm to 5 pm AEST
     CHC41115 Certificate IV in Employment Services and associated skill sets and units

Register to attend

  • Online: Wednesday 20 May 2026, 1 pm to 5 pm AEST
    CHC41215 Certificate IV in Career Development and associated skill sets and units

Register to attend

  • Online: Thursday 21 May 2026, 1 pm to 5 pm AEST
    CHC81315 Graduate Certificate in Career Development Practice and associated skill sets and units

Register to attend

 

Details to come.

 

Details to come.

 

How to get involved

Please register if you would like to receive project updates and consultation opportunities.

Project updates

Contact details

To contact the project team, please email [email protected].

Project timeline

 

  • Project Set Up

    Establish a Technical Committee to provide expert advice for the project.

  • Development

    Functional analysis undertaken via 24 employer interviews and a virtual functional analysis workshop.

    Development of draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency.

  • Consultation

    Draft training products released for consultation. 

    Consultation activities held nationally and online.

    Delivery of 12 face-to-face and 3 virtual workshops.

    Workshops will be held in all states and territories. 

    Stakeholder feedback is logged and the Consultation Log published on project webpage.  

  • Finalisation and Submission

    Consensus views incorporated into revisions where compliant with the Training Package Organising Framework.

    Divergent views addressed through further consultations, advice from subject matter experts, negotiations and if necessary, dispute resolution processes.

    Revisions, rationales, dispute process and outcomes published in the Consultation Log.  

    Consultation held with Commonwealth and state/territory State Responsible Officers

    Feedback incorporated into draft documents.

  • Endorsement and Implementation

    Endorsed qualifications, skill sets and units of competency will be uploaded onto the VET National Training Register.

    The Companion Volume will be updated to reflect changes to the Training Package, identified pathways information and mapping information.

    Delivery of 3 virtual professional development workshops to highlight the features of the new qualifications, skill sets and units of competency.