Managing life, learning and work in the 21st century: issues informing the design of an Australian blueprint for career development

In 2003, Miles Morgan, the developers of the ‘Australian Blueprint for Career Development’ (ABCD) commissioned the authors to prepare this paper on current ideas on career development.  The paper aims to raise awareness of the important issues involved in integrating lifestyle, career and education. It synthesises theoretical, policy and practice perspectives behind the Australian blueprint for career development. It also provides a useful, concise and informative resource for those with an interest in assisting people to effectively manage their lives, learning and work in the 21st century. Chapters look at new expectations of workers, learning and career development, career development learning and intervention, and the development of a lifetime career development framework in collaboration with existing initiatives.  The paper concludes that there is a need for a coordinated approach to career development in Australia and that the ABCD will go some way to addressing that need.

Findings indicate that the concepts of career and career development have changed over time to reflect holistic views of paid employment as one facet of an individual’s life, the dynamic interaction between individuals’ jobs and lives, a constantly changing work of work, and the necessity for individuals to be proactive life/career managers. In summary, individuals will be required to: repeatedly change work roles; actively engage in learning throughout life; develop the employability and life/career management skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century; and proactively design and manage their life/career progression. The development of a national career development learning blueprint provides a means of mapping, unifying and coordinating service provision to achieve these ends.