Who to Ask for Help?

There are many people who can help you with career advice and there are a number of online resources to assist you make career decisions.

Career Advisors	Careers advisors can talk to you about career planning and work after school. They can give your careers advice and information about your interests, skills and thoughts of potential careers. Ask for specific details and advice about what steps you should take next to get ready for leaving school.
Mentors	Find a mentor - someone who already works in the field, and ask them questions like: What is an average day at work like? What are the most important skills and attributes l 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 are leaving school now? What would you change about your career in this area?
The Australian Network on Disability (AND)	AND has a program called ‘Positive Action towards Career Engagement’ (or PACE Mentoring), which connects job seekers with disability to mentors from leading Australian businesses. Find out more on the AND website (opens in a new window).
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? Your university may have alumni programs which connect alumni to one another via networking opportunities. Simply search ‘Alumni’ under your university website main page for further details. Whilst you are at university, you can stay connected with other students and graduates with disability through student interest and disability collective groups. Contact the student central office for further details.
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?
Online Resources	Create Your Future Videos (opens in a new window) – Here you will find short personal stories of people with various disabilities succeeding in post-secondary education and employment. There are many programs and services available to help you find, apply for and keep a job, many of these are free. For example, the SA government produce a Work and Careers information page (opens in a new window). In NSW, the Department of Education and Training has established The Careers Advisory Service (opens in a new window). This service is available over the phone, in person or by sending an email.

Careers

Career Planning

University Pathways

About

This site has been developed as a collaboration between Western Sydney University and the National Disability Coordination Officer (NDCO) Program to assist recent graduates to navigate the journey from tertiary study to employment. NDCOs work to reduce systemic barriers, facilitate smooth transitions, build links and coordinate services between the education, training and employment sectors. Find out more about the NDCO Program.