Careers and Transition Resource

Glossary

A

ability skill or talent that you learn and/or develop

apprentice a person who learns a trade on the job from an experienced worker and attends TAFE to gain specific training

apprenticeship a combination of paid employment and structured training leading to a nationally recognised VET qualification

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) a national framework for all qualifications in post-compulsory education and training

Australian Technical Colleges (ATC) cater for Years 11 and 12 students who wish to study for their Year 12 certificate and start an apprenticeship whilst still at school. Established across Australia in areas where there are skills needs, a high youth population and a strong industry base, they support students through both academic and trade training; with mentoring, career advice and business and employability skills

Australian Workplace Agreement (AWA) an individual written agreement on terms and conditions of employment between an employer and employee in Australia, under the Workplace Relations Act 1996

C

career all the roles a person undertakes throughout their life - education, training, paid and unpaid work, family, volunteer work, leisure activities and more

career counsellor/advisor person trained in helping others plan their career pathways. In Victorian schools this can include careers coordinators and Managed Individual Pathways (MIPs) coordinators, who may also deliver career education programs

career development a lifelong process of growth through life, learning and work. It can happen unintentionally, or it can be about actively creating the work one wants to do within the context of the life one wants to live. It is both complex and unique to the individual.

casual work work for variable hours on an ‘as needs’ basis for employers. Casual workers are not eligible for leave and other benefits, but are paid at a higher hourly rate than part-time or full-time workers to compensate for this

certificate a qualification awarded by TAFE or a private provider to a student who has completed the relevant course of study

communication skills reading, writing, speaking and listening – the abilities that enable clear understanding and transmission of ideas and information.

contract work work undertaken on a negotiated basis between the employer and the worker

curriculum vitae a comprehensive written summary of a personal details, skills, employment history and educational experience (see also resume)

D

degree a qualification awarded by a university or a private provider to a student who has completed a higher education course of study (usually a minimum of three years)

diploma a qualification awarded by TAFE or a private provider to a student who has completed the relevant course of study

E

employability skills those skills identified by employers as good skills for all employees to have, that are developed over time and are vital to the workplace

employee a person hired by someone else or a company/organisation to work for wages or a salary

employer a person or a company/organisation that hires one or more people to work for wages or a salary

employment the state of having one or more jobs

employment agency an organisation that assists unemployed people to gain work skills, training and employment

employment outlook a prediction of an industry’s or occupation’s growth or decline

Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) consists of a collective industrial agreement between either:

1. an employer and a trade union acting on behalf of employees, or:

2. an employer and employees acting for themselves

entrepreneur a person who starts and operates businesses and takes risks and invests money with the aim of making money

F

freelance a person who seeks and completes work without a long term commitment to an employer, usually on a job-by-job or contract basis

G

global economy the wealth, business and trading activities going on around the world

gross income total personal income before deductions

Group Training Organisations employ apprentices and trainees and then place them with other host businesses. They manage and monitor training in the workplace provide ongoing support to handle any problems that may come up and help with finding ongoing employment

I

income money received in return for labour, products, services or investment

interest something you enjoy doing

J

job a particular work situation e.g. teacher at Smart secondary school, cashier at Food Galore supermarket, mechanic at Gogo Cars auto shop.

job sharing two or more people sharing the duties, hours and salary of one job

L

labour market a broad term to describe a national, state, or regional workforce, usually used with information about trends, projections, growth sectors and skill levels in relation to jobs

leisure time time away from work and home responsibilities to relax

lifelong learning the process of continually acquiring new skills and knowledge to ensure improved quality of life and future employability

Local Community Partnerships (LCPs) are a national initiative to bring together industry and employer groups, schools, professional career advisers, community organisations, parents, young people, youth service providers and other government and community organisations to assist all young people aged 13-19 years to gain the skills, experience and professional guidance to help them achieve a successful transition through school, and from school to further education, training and employment

Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) a Victorian Government initiative to bring together education providers, industry, community organisations, individual and government organisations to improve education, training and employment outcomes for young people in communities across Victoria

M

Managed Individual Pathways (MIPs) a Victorian initiative to ensure that all students 15 years and over in government schools develop individual pathway plans, which identifies their skills, knowledge and attributes as the basis for goal setting in regards to their career development from compulsory schooling to further education, training and employment

mentor a person who can be trusted to provide good advice and who encourages and guides personal growth and development in an individual

N

National Industry Career Specialists (NICS) support the work of Regional Industry Careers Advisers by developing and providing targeted, industry sector specific quality career advice and specialist information including information on skills needs and labour markets

networking exchanging information about employment and learning opportunities with people known or met in the working world

O

occupation the kind of work that people do in different places and in different ways e.g. teaching is an occupation that includes primary and secondary school teachers, adult educators, principals etc.

on-the-job training learning in the workplace

On Track surveys of government and non-government school leavers by telephone, to map their further education, training and employment destinations.

opportunity awareness understanding the opportunities that exist, particularly in the world of work

outsourcing contracting work to workers outside a company/organisation, rather than employing in-house staff

P

part-time work work for a set number of hours, but significantly fewer hours than full-time. Part-time workers are eligible for sick leave and annual leave and other benefits in proportion to the time worked

pathway a way to progress through training and education to employment

pathway planning developing a plan of how to progress through training and education to employment and life goals

people skills the ability to manage and interact well with others

portfolio evidence of your skills, knowledge and work readiness developed over time

profession an occupation requiring advanced academic education and/or specialised knowledge

post-compulsory education is after the compulsory years of schooling – currently 15 years old in Victoria, but to change to 16 years old when the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 is proclaimed

R

referees allies, mentors and former employers who can discuss your suitability for a possible job with an employer

references written testimonials about your character, abilities and/or work experience

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) recognition of current competencies that an individual has achieved outside the formal education and training system. RPL assesses this unrecognised learning against the requirements of a qualification, in respect of both entry requirements and outcomes to be achieved

Regional Industry Career Advisers (RICA) work in partnership with Local Community Partnerships to engage schools, local business/industry and community groups or representatives to ensure that all young people have access to expert industry career advice

Registered Training Organisation (RTO) an organisation that is approved and registered to deliver Vocational Education and Training and Further Education courses of study

resilience the ability to cope with the ups and downs of life

resume a brief written summary of personal details, skills, employment history and educational experience (see also curriculum vitae)

S

salary a fixed payment from an employer to an employee for services or labour, calculated on a yearly basis, but usually paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly

School Accountability and Improvement Framework (SAIF) articulates three outcomes that government schools strive to achieve; i.e. improved student learning; enhanced student engagement and wellbeing; and successful transitions and pathways

School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships allows students to combine study and employment and begin an apprenticeship or traineeship while they are still at school, doing their Victorian Certificate of Education or the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning. They spend time at school and in the workplace and can gain a vocational and technical qualification while completing their school studies (also called Australian School-based Apprenticeship)

self awareness understanding of your own personal attributes – interests, abilities and values

self-employed providing labour, services, products to others as an independent worker, with control over the work or services being done and the fees charged

shift worker employment that occurs in regular periods during the day or night, with one worker usually replaced by another at the end of the shift

skill the ability to do a particular task that comes from natural aptitude, training or practice

Skills shortages (or skills in demand) occur when the demand for a particular type of worker exceeds supply of those workers

Structured Workplace Learning structured on the job training during which students are expected to master a set of skills and competencies related to Vocational Education and Training courses

superannuation a savings scheme funded by employers and employees. Savings, plus interest, are paid to people on retirement as a lump sum or regular payments

supervisor someone who oversees the work of others to ensure the completion of tasks and the smooth running of an operation

T

TAFE Institutes provide Vocational Education and Training in locations across Victoria

Technical Education Centres (TECs) in Victoria will be linked to TAFE institutes and will provide senior secondary students with access to high-tech, modern facilities and industry standard equipment. TECs will offer a range of vocational training programs including the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships and traineeships

technical skills the abilities to do specific tasks or physical activities, or to use specific tools or instruments

tertiary institutes universities

trade an occupation requiring manual or mechanical skills and requiring specialised vocational training

transferable skills are learnt or developed in one situation, then applied to a new situation

transition planning is planning needed to cope with new situations e.g. from study to employment, from employment back to study, or starting a new job

V

values personal beliefs, viewpoints, attitudes and outlooks on life

Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) an accredited secondary certificate that recognises the successful completion of secondary education

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) an accredited secondary certificate which is a hands-on option for students in Years 11 and 12. It includes practical work-related experience, as well as literacy and numeracy skills and the opportunity to build personal skills that are important for life and work.

Victorian Essential Learning Standards (VELS) describe what is essential for students to achieve from Years Prep to 10 in Victorian schools

Vocational Education and Training (VET) a practical skill based learning qualification (at a trade or paraprofessional level) designed to lead to employment

Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) a practical skill based learning program undertaken by senior secondary students as part of their Victorian Certificate of Education or the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, which provides a nationally recognised VET certificate

volunteer a person who provides a service without expecting or receiving payment for it

W

wage money paid (on an hourly, daily, weekly or piecework basis)to an employee for work done

work both paid and non-paid activities

work experience short term placement of secondary school students with “host” employers, to provide insights into the industry and the work place in which they are located

work value things that are important to us about the world of work

Y

Youth Guarantee provides a guaranteed place in TAFE Institutions, Centre for Adult Education, Adult Multicultural Education Services and participating adult community education providers, to young people who have not completed Year 12 or its equivalent

Youth Pathways assists the most at-risk young people to make a successful transition through to completion of Year 12 (or its equivalent) and ultimately, to further education, training or employment and active participation in the community

Youth Transition Support Initiative assists disengaged young people aged 15 to 19 to obtain a sustainable education, training or employment option