MAKING CAREER DECISIONS
​          A government website by the Department of Employment to help young Australian's to think about deciding on a career and finding a job. The website
         provides information about career planning while still at school, gathering career information to help decide on a career, and how to get a job.
  • Job Guide 
    A government website that provides industry profiles and guidance for young Australians considering future career plans. Includes a quiz that will help you match your personal profile to future career directions.
  • Job Outlook
    Find out about Australian job prospects, weekly earnings, types of work and other useful occupational information.
  • Graduate Careers Australia
    Information about uni graduate careers, including industry descriptions, required qualifications, and likely job prospects
  • Career information products: Department of Education and Training website
    A collection of PDF publications on job searching and career planning.
  • Willing and Able Mentoring program (WAM): Gradlink website
    Uni students who have a disability or ongoing medical condition and who have completed at least one year of their course can choose to participate in the Willing & Able Mentoring program (WAM). WAM is a national program which matches tertiary students with mentors in organisations in the students' field of interest for a series of approximately six to eight 1 to 2-hour discussion meetings.
​There are many places where you can find information about career matching and industry details, trends and requirements. The internet is a great place to find this type of information. You'll also need to speak face to face to experts and others to collect other details and advice. Talking to those already working in the fields you are considering, other graduates with disability, family and/or friends might get you some useful information too.

Careers advisers
If you are still at school you can talk with the careers adviser or school counsellor. Here are some tips for talking with a careers adviser:
  • Give your careers adviser as much information as possible about your interests, skills and thoughts of potential careers.
  • Describe to your careers adviser how your disability affects you, especially in relation to future work options.
  • Be brave and asks lots of questions. You may find it hard to think of questions for the careers adviser on the spot during your allocated time with him/her. If so, jot down questions you may think of earlier. Ask how you can get in contact if/when you have further questions.
  • Ask for specific details and advice about what steps you should take next to get ready for leaving school. Note these down.

Those already in the field
When talking with people who have already worked in the career you are interested in, consider these questions:
  • What is an average day at work like? 
  • What are the most important skills and attributes I will need to succeed in this field? 
  • What are the benefits of this area of work? 
  • What are the biggest stressors of this area of work? 
  • Would you choose this career path if you were leaving school now? 
  • What would you change about your career in this area?

Other graduates with disability
When talking with other graduates with disability you may like to ask:
  • How did you decide on a career direction?
  • What are the most important lessons you've learned about career planning with a disability? 
  • How did you determine whether your chosen career could be adjusted to your disability-related needs?

Family and friends
When talking with friends and family it may be useful to ask:
  • What career do you think would suit me and why?
  • What do you think I should look for in a career and why? 
  • When planning your career development, what things do you take into account? 
  • What are the most important lessons you've learnt about selecting a career?


​Your decision about a career direction needs to be based on some facts about YOURSELF and the INDUSTRY you are considering. Where you can gather some personal perspectives from people already studying and/or working in a career you think you are interested in.

The key points of information to gather are:

About you:
  • What are your areas of interest, skills and abilities?
  • What the things about work that are most important to you? (for example, achievement, status, financial reward, helping others, creativity) ?
  • What other factors will influence your decision making (family views, where you want to live, transport)?
  • What kind of work/life balance do you want? (for example: working on weekends and after hours, travel required for work)?
  • Does your disability affect what type of work you can do? What are the core requirements of this occupation? What adjustments can be make in this industry to accommodate your disability? Are there core requirements of this work that cannot be adjusted to accommodate the effects of your particular disability?

About this career:
  • What are the key facts about the career you are considering (for example, hours of work, leves of pay,)
  • What does the future hold for this type of career? (what might the  employment prospects be like when you finish your course)
  • What would the workplace be like in this type of career?
  • What specific activities and tasks would you be doing when working in this industry? Would these activities and tasks be adaptable to your disability?
  • Is there work available in your local area or in areas readily accessible by public transport or other transport available to you?
  • What formal qualifications are needed for this type of career? Will the courses/s you are considering open up options for you in this industry?
  • Is there a professional registration board involved and, if so, how will their requirements affect your career options? Where can you find information about the specific registration requirements of this field?