Students need to develop self-awareness and awareness of opportunities available in the community.

They need to learn to, as part of regular classroom programmes as well as in their personal lives how to : 

• make decisions
• plan
• take action
  

In Years 7 and 8, students become more aware of themselves, their strengths and interests, and how they relate to others. Some of the ways they do this is by exploring:

• adult roles in their communities
• the range of occupations that contribute to the products and services people use in their daily lives.

Classroom learning is integral to most career education at this level. They develop transferable skills in:

• research
• goal setting
• evaluating options
• and reaching decisions.

Year 8 students will also become aware of the style and nature of secondary schooling. Extracurricular, community-related and enterprise activities will help students develop career management competencies.

During these years, students build on their understanding of themselves, their values, interests and strengths. At this level, they understand how they relate to others and the impact their decisions have on their lives.

Classroom learning should make connections with each student’s life outside of school, as well as beyond school and into the world of work.

There is an increasing emphasis on:

• understanding and personalising learning pathways within school
• refining their research skills and become aware of a range of potential career pathways, without needing to make career-defining decisions.

Teachers can show how decisions made at school can influence future career pathways.

Pastoral care will focus on the future through career and learning plans.

Students relate their self-awareness to possible pathways in the senior school and beyond. They explore and consider possible career directions and experience actual workplaces, in what is still a safe environment.

Students need to understand:

• senior school courses
• how these relate to qualifications
• how to keep their options open while pursuing their strengths, interests and aspirations.

Career and learning planning will include

• goals for curriculum achievements
• involvement in a range of activities
• exploring career pathways.

Career education events will help students become more aware of their many options beyond school, and teachers can highlight career concepts within regular classroom learning.

Pastoral care systems can help students to identify their transferable skills and actively monitor career and learning plans.

Students begin to see themselves on career pathways beyond school. They understand how school qualifications relate to tertiary education and training options, and to occupations.

Their learning and career plans address:

• possible pathways, which they relate to their school achievements
• aspirations
• strengths, interests and values.

Schools provide opportunities for students to experience the many jobs involved in their industry interest areas.

They encourage students to evaluate and enhance their transferable skills within the curriculum, in extracurricular activities and in their lives outside of school.