National Joblink > Regional Industry Careers Adviser

The CAA Initiative: The Careers Advice Australia initiative will support young people from 13 to 19 years of age to achieve a successful transition throughout school, and from school to further education, training and work. CAA will draw on and complement current programmes and services resulting in a more comprehensive national career and transition support network for young people.

The CAA initiative comprises three parts:

Enhanced career and transition capacity for the network of Local Community Partnerships (LCPs);
Improving the professional standards for and status of career advisers; and extending industry leadership through a network of Regional Industry Career Advisers (RICAs) and a network of National Industry Career Specialists (NICS).

The DEST Initiative: The Australian Government through the Department of Education Science and Training (DEST) has extended its commitment to help young Australians through Careers Advice Australia (CAA).

CAA will for the first time provide a comprehensive national career and transition support network for all young Australians from 13 to 19 years of age. Delivered through Local Community Partnerships (LCPs), funding of $143.2 million from 2005-06 to 2008-09 will build on existing programmes to further improve the career choices of young people and increase levels of student engagement.

The RICA Position Description: The Regional Industry of Careers Adviser (RICA) Network will work in partnership with Local Community Partnership’s (LCPs) to engage schools, local business/industry and community groups or representatives to ensure that all young people have access to expert industry career advice.

RICAs will:

Provide quality, relevant industry career information, advice and resources particularly in skills needs areas, in partnership with LCPs, for young people, schools, parent groups, youth service providers and community groups; and to businesses, Australian Technical Colleges (ATCs), Registered Training Organisations and Job Network members
Build partnerships with local and regional businesses to promote an awareness to the community of the skills needs in their sectors
Raise awareness and use of the eight employability groupings of employability skills in partnership with LCPs
Facilitate employer participation in LCP governance mechanisms and in Adopt a School projects
Facilitate employer participation in Structured Workplace Learning placements and School-based New Apprenticeships
Promote industry involvement in vocational education and VET in schools delivery
Work with the National Industry Careers Specialists (NICS) Network, Education Training Advisers, employers and employer groups and education authorities to collaborate in the delivery of the above
Develop and maintain up to date independent information specific to the contracted RICA Service Region
Develop, maintain and strengthen relationships with stakeholders
Promote the RICA Network as an Australian Government initiative
Work with, add value to, but not duplicate State and Territory initiatives.

How can I find out more about RICA?

The NJL RICA representative is Sam Cawthorn and Malcolm Reid

Contact NJL on 1300 136 496 or (03) 6332 2991

Sam Cawthorn Mobile: 0408 399 238 Email scawthorn@njl.org.au

Malcolm Reid Mobile: 0414 601 746 Email mreid@njl.org.au