It has been a busy few months, but then again when isn’t life busy!  Many thanks to Gillian Kelly who became a CDAA member this year, then volunteered to join our committee and take on the role of Communications Officer.  Thank you Gill.  We welcome and thank you.

National Career Development Week Lunch

We celebrated National Career Development Week in style with lunch at the Broncos Leagues Club.  This was a shared event with other CICA organisations and combined good professional development with wonderful networking and fun.  We were honoured to have Karen Penrose, the Project Co-ordinator for National Career Development Week, as our first presenter. Karen shared with us some of the journey of NCDW and talked about events that were occurring around Australia.  This is a week that is building in significance and proved to be a wonderful way for us to celebrate our own roles in the career development of others.  After lunch we were most interested to hear about the Interview Challenge being conducted by Kirsty Mitchell from Bond University.  This is an innovative idea and I hope many of you in high schools and tertiary institutions will give your students the opportunity of taking part.  You can find out more about this by visiting the NCDW webpage.  The day finished in style with Yvonne Warnick’s informative and entertaining presentation about the therapeutic value of laughter. 

NCDW Community - A Comedy of Errors

We continued the celebration of NCDW on the following Saturday when 18 members made themselves available to provide Career Health Checks to the public at a church hall in Bulimba.  Despite my best PR efforts, resulting in a tiny snippet in the local paper and an interview on 4BC, we didn’t exactly pull in a big crowd.  The first few people were there because they had heard about the event, while everyone else was just passing by.  Usually Bulimba is buzzing on a Saturday afternoon but that afternoon was dismal weather and it was the long weekend.  To add insult to injury, on the Monday afternoon of the same long weekend I could not get parking anywhere near Oxford Street Bulimba because it was so busy!  However, we managed to help quite a few people (including a young man who had just lost his job, owed rent and was desperate…..which makes the day worthwhile in itself) and we also managed to have a lot of fun.  Shall we just call it a bonding and learning experience!  Perhaps the best part of the day was Col McCowan, leaning against the door where activities are advertised, being asked by an attractive leotard-clad young woman if he was the Salsa Dancing teacher.

Labour Market PD

On a far more serious note we had an excellent PD presented by Peter Hagan, the Director of Labour Market Research for DETA.  I did an audio recording of this and have it available for anyone who would like me to send it to them.  You can listen to it either as a podcast on your ipod, or as a Windows Media File on your computer. I hoped to make it available through the Queensland page of the CDAA website for you to download, but that hasn’t been possible yet, however the techie-gurus are working on it!  Sadly Professor Paul Boreham was unable to join us at the last minute due to a death in his family. 

Private Practice Special Interest Group

A private practitioners’ special interest group has been formed with sixteen people at our first event, a presentation at Smart Licence in Brisbane.  About half that group then continued on with a really stimulating conversation about the joys and pitfalls of private practice.  Our vice-president, Julie Rogan, is going to lead this group which we hope will continue to grow, so contact her if you would like to be on the email distribution list for this group.  (julie@careerdiscovery.com.au)

Counselling PD

Judy Denham, from Edith Cowan University, presented an outstanding PD for us at the Griffith University Gold Coast campus on June 17.  It was an excellent blend of theory and practical counselling strategies which provided both challenge and reassurance for all of us.  As someone commented, “It’s rare to get a chance to observe another career counsellor in action.”  Despite the short notice we had a great attendance, demonstrating that the Gold Coast really wants some PD of their own. 

Regional PD

Professional Development for people in regional areas is an issue I’d really like to address.  I put a little message in the NCDA (USA) newsletter asking if anyone was coming to Cairns for a holiday and would like to present some PD for our “starving members”.  I couldn’t believe the response:  seven emails with three from people who are very well known in the world of careers.  Unfortunately most were just saying they’d love an excuse to come to Cairns, and another was coming for December 22-23 (I guess it could be a combined PD and Christmas party!), but I have replied to each and will let you know if anything eventuates.  If you are in a regional area and would be prepared to co-ordinate some PD then I’d love to hear from you.  Just know that you aren’t forgotten! 

As you can see it has been a busy few months, and I look forward to seeing as many as possible of you at our Good Theory, Good Practice PD on July 26. 

Cheers,

Jenni Proctor

In case you missed it in the national newletter - a quick reminder that invitations are open for those interested in running a workshop or presenting a research paper at the 18th National Career Conference of the Career Development Association of Australia.

The organising committee invites abstracts for the research strand of the conference in the form of individual papers where the research and/or issues relate to the conference focus. All intending presenters for the research strand are required to submit an abstract of up to 200 words.

Applications and abstracts must be received by Friday 29 August 2008. Further details can be found at http://tools2.etools.com.au/aacc/pages/page_33_2.php?33wpaacc2e15408.gif

Exciting news for those contemplating applying for a DEEWR scholarship. Applications for the 2009 DEEWR Scholarships for Career Advisers have been extended and now close 31 July 2008.

The Industry Placement Scholarships provide $10,000 to enable a short-term industry placement to further successful applicants' skills or knowledge of workplaces, industry sectors and/or occupations. The Study Scholarships provide $5,000 for successful applicants to undertake post graduate study in the career education field in 2009.

Both types of scholarships are available to career advisers/practitioners at Australian schools, TAFEs and universities. For more information including on eligibility visit:

http://newsletter.gradcareers.com.au/lt.php?id=ZE4AA1kGUAMOGlQDC00GBQEFAA%3
D%3D> or email careerscholarships@curriculum.edu.au

July PD - Good Theory Good Practice

Tools and Techniques for all Career Development Practitioners

Don't miss this month's exciting Professional Development Day coming up on July 26th. This full day event will have something for every sector.

Time: 9.00am – 4.30pm

Date: Saturday 26th, July 2008

Location: Kelvin Grove Campus, Queensland University of Technology

Cost: $55 - members of AACC, QGCA, QASA, NAGCAS and $88 non-members inclusive of GST, Morning tea and light lunch.

RSVP: No later than July 23rd, 2008. Completed registration form/tax invoices, cardholder details or cheques for payment are to be forwarded to: Mrs Ronel Bothma, Treasurer, CDAA(QLD) c/- All Hallow’s School, 547 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley Q 4000 

Email: bothmar@allhallows.qld.edu.au

October 25th PD - Maggie Bolton presents on Glasser's Choice

Maggie Bolton, one of the few Glasser Choice Theory experts in Australia and a life member of the CDAA, is coming to Brisbane to present our October PD.This will be held on October 25th at All Hallows School, Brisbane. Put this date in your diary now so you don't miss out on this great opportunity.

What to expect? A workshop where you will develop a theoretical understanding of Glasser's Choice Theory through experiential learning, then will participate in activities that will be of personal benefit as well as learning practical strategies to apply in your professional practice.

Participants will learn about

• Positive Psychology
• The Concept of a Quality World
• Needs and Strengths Profiles
• Reasons for our Behaviour and the Behaviour of Others.

Don't miss out on the chance to hear from one of Australia's expert on this valuable topic!

With the new financial year upon us and a fresh chance to set and pursue new goals here are some inspirational quotes on beginning -

"More powerful than the will to win is the courage to begin." - Author Unknown

"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Bard

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." - Chinese Proverb

What are you planning to achieve this financial year?

CDAA QLD - In The Media

CDAA and its members received lots of positive publicity in the media this month including a large feature on the career development sector and CDAA's role as a leading body. (CareerOne Saturday June 28th, 2008)

Let us know if you have been quoted in any articles or media spots recently and we'll feature you in our new Media Spotlight Section.

Member's Spotlight

We love to welcome new members and share in our member's successes. Has something great happened to you?

Send us details of your achievements to jill@careeredge.com.au

Our 2008 Committee

President:Jenni Proctor jenni@careerclarity.com.au

Vice President: Julie Rogan julie@careerdiscovery.com.au

Immediate Past President : Yvonne Warnick warnick@st.net.au

Treasurer: Ronel Bothma bothmar@allhallows.qld.edu.au

Minutes Secretary and Defence Liasion Officer:

Maria Campanini mcampanini@tpg.com.au

PD Co-ordinator:

Nyree Hatzimihail nyreehatz@yahoo.com.au

Membership Officer:

Suzanne Wright suzanne_wright@glc.qld.edu.au

Communcations Officer: Gillian Kelly jill@careeredge.com.au

General Committee: Sandy Maynes, Ann Evans, Mary McMahon, Maree Cansick,

Grace du Prie, Gary Gillies,

Wanda Hayes, Julie Hodgson,

Jennifer Towler, Rebecca Ambrose (Cairns)