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.
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.
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
Register to attend
- Darwin: Tuesday 24 March 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm ACST
Location: Industry Skills Advisory Council NT, The Avenue Precinct, 12 Salonika St, Parap
Register to attend
- 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: TBA
Register to attend
- 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: TBA
Register to attend
- Albany: Thursday 7 May 2026, 9 am to 4.30 pm AWST
Location: TBA
Register to attend
- Orange: Thursday 14 May 2024, 9 am to 4.30 pm AEST
Location: Quest Orange, 132 Kite Street, Orange
Register to attend
- Online: Tuesday 19 May 2026, 11am to 5 pm AEST
CHC41115 Certificate IV in Employment Services and associated skill sets and units
Register to attend
- Online: Wednesday 20 May 2026, 11 am to 5 pm AEST
CHC41215 Certificate IV in Career Development and associated skill sets and units
Register to attend
- Online: Thursday 21 May 2026, 11 am to 5 pm AEST
CHC81315 Graduate Certificate in Career Development Practice and associated skill sets and units
Register to attend
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].