News
November 25, 2023

Career Wayfinding - a programme for schools

It is now a few years since we (The CDC) adopted navigation and wayfinding as powerful metaphors for the life journey that is a career. Although it’s not always overt in the career conversations we have, our four-step RECI® approach is constant. Our clients tell us that what we do and how we do it supports them to make sense of their career stories—and for planning next steps.

Recently, we combined our expertise across a range of sectors, distilling our knowledge and experience of career practice, theory, and education into a career wayfinding programme for schools. In addition to the other “hats” she now wears, Dr Val O’Reilly has a background in secondary school teaching. As a career counsellor she has delivered career services for former refugee students in an Auckland secondary school for over 10 years, so it made sense to start there. This year we successfully launched and delivered The Career Wayfinding Programme for 31 former refugee students.

Other schools around the country have now started their journey with us. The news spread after Val’s presentation about the programme, delivery, and resources via the CATE Lunchtime Bytes series, which was facilitated by Kaiarahi Leigh Gray. Based on the interest in training school staff, we are adding a training programme for schools to enable in-house delivery. We also appreciate the support and interest shown by the Migrant and Refugee Education advisors at the Ministry of Education, who sent us this communication:

"Schools can use Refugee Pathway and Career funding to access the Career Wayfinding programme. This funding scheme is managed by the migrant and refugee team (Ministry of Education). Please feel free to contact them for the application form and assistance with the application".

We know there is scope to broaden the reach of the programme and we’re committed to supporting schools to deliver on the career-related aspirations of the National Education and Learning Priorities, and the National Career System Strategy focus to grow quality career support.

To learn more about us, visit www.thecdc.nz. If you’re in education, contact us on connect@thecdc.nz or val@thecdc.nz to discuss how you can introduce The Career Wayfinding Programme in your organisation.

Dr Val O'Reilly, Executive Director

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