Homestead Careers and Pathways Newsletter

Career Focus Information

Further Job Spotlights can be found on our Careers News > Careers Spotlights google sites page.

In this Issue:

Discover career pathways in Counselling

Discover career pathways in Accounting

 

Discover career pathways in Counselling

Counselling is a professional field dedicated to helping individuals navigate through life's challenges and improve their overall wellbeing. Highly trained and compassionate counsellors provide a safe and supportive environment for clients to explore their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.

This pathway might be right for you if you are interested in helping others navigate challenges and find solutions, enjoy listening and understanding, and want to make a positive impact on individuals' mental and emotional wellbeing.

 

What do careers in this pathway involve? 

Counselling encompasses various specialties, such as mental health, marriage and family therapy, addiction counselling, and career counselling, ensuring individuals receive the specialised support they need to lead fulfilling lives.

The growing demand for counsellors means this pathway offers both job security and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people's lives.

 

What are some important human skills for this pathway? 

  • Social awareness
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Innovation
  • Self-management

What are some of the tasks involved? 

  • Provide counselling services
  • Develop treatment plans
  • Monitor individual progress
  • Collaborate with other health workers
  • Prepare reports and evaluations
  • Provide relevant advice
  • Run group sessions
  • Teach life skills
  • Maintain client records

What kind of work environment and conditions can I expect? 

Most counsellors work indoors in an office setting, such as in private practices, community health centres, schools, hospitals, or government agencies. Some counsellors also work remotely, offering telehealth services via video or phone.

While some positions follow standard business hours, many counsellors offer evening or weekend appointments to accommodate clients who work or study during the day.

 

The Clusters in counselling 

Find out more about the kind of work people in each Career Cluster might do in this pathway.

Guardians 

Guardians are common in this pathway, providing emotional and psychological support to individuals or groups.

Linkers 

Linkers in this pathway are also vital, connecting clients with appropriate services and resources.

Coordinators 

Coordinators manage counselling services, from scheduling to program development.

Informers 

Informers in this pathway educate clients on coping strategies and mental health resources.

Makers 

Makers are rare in this pathway, but may help to run one-on-one or group counselling sessions.

Innovators 

Innovators in this pathway develop new counselling techniques or technologies for improved outcomes.

Where can a counselling pathway take me? 

Interested in a career in counselling? There are many roles you might like to consider – here are just a few.

Entry level roles 

These jobs can be started with little or no training or experience, and are great as a stepping stone towards more senior roles in the pathway.

Community Support Worker 

Provide practical assistance and emotional support to vulnerable individuals in community settings.

Family Support Worker 

Help families develop skills to overcome challenges and create safe, nurturing environments for children.

Youth Worker 

Work with young people to develop their skills, address personal issues, and connect them with appropriate services.

Mid-level roles 

Once you have some further study or experience under your belt, you might like to consider moving into one of these roles.

Careers Advisor 

Provide guidance on education, training, and employment options to help people make informed career decisions.

Financial Counsellor 

Help people manage financial difficulties and develop strategies for overcoming money problems.

Alcohol and Drugs Counsellor 

Help people overcome substance dependency issues through specialised counselling techniques.

Senior level roles 

These jobs will require extensive further education or many years of experience, but are also highly rewarding.

Psychotherapist 

Provide in-depth therapy addressing underlying issues and patterns that affect mental health and relationships.

Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner 

Help separating families resolve disputes and develop parenting arrangements outside of court.

Psychologist 

Assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions using scientific methods and evidence-based approaches.

Similar pathways 

If these careers aren’t quite right for you, you might like to explore some other similar pathways instead.

Health Therapy 

Provide therapeutic treatments and support to improve individuals' mental and physical wellbeing.

Aged Care 

Support and care for elderly individuals in a compassionate and nurturing environment.

Disability Support 

Provide assistance and care for individuals with disabilities.

How can I build experience in this pathway? 

If you’re still in high school and want to find out if a career in counselling is right for you, here are some activities you can do:

  • Role-play counselling scenarios to practice active listening
  • Study psychological theories to understand counselling approaches
  • Become a mentor at school, for your sports club, or in the community

We recommend studying these subjects in high school:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Health
  • Any Sciences
  • Society and Culture

Here are some suggestions of places you might like to try and find work experience:

  • Community centres or non-profit organisations that offer counselling services
  • Rehabilitation centres or substance abuse treatment facilities
  • Schools or universities with counselling departments
  • Employee assistance programs offered by large corporations
  • Religious organisations or churches that provide counselling services

 

Discover career pathways in Accounting

Accounting is a vital field that involves the systematic recording, analysing, and reporting of financial transactions. It plays a crucial role in helping businesses and organisations make informed decisions by providing accurate and reliable financial information.

This pathway might be right for you if you are interested in financial management, number crunching, and analysing data to help others make informed decisions.

 

What do careers in this pathway involve? 

Accounting professionals use various methods and principles to ensure the integrity and transparency of financial records. With their expertise, they assist in managing budgets, preparing tax returns, and evaluating the financial health of both individuals and businesses.

Careers in accounting are expected to grow steadily into the future, particularly in the areas of risk management and compliance.

 

What are some important human skills for this pathway? 

  • Making decisions
  • Digital literacy
  • Innovation
  • Communication
  • Adaptability

What are some of the tasks involved? 

  • Maintain financial records
  • Write financial reports
  • Monitor financial activities
  • Provide financial advice
  • Ensure regulatory compliance
  • Verify financial transactions
  • Analyse market data
  • Conduct financial transactions
  • Verify financial documents

What kind of work environment and conditions can I expect? 

You’ll usually find people in this pathway working indoors, mainly in an office environment. Because of this, there are many roles that allow for flexible and remote working options.

Many accounting professionals work standard business hours (typically from 9am to 5pm), with both full- and part-time opportunities available.

The Clusters in accounting 

Find out more about the kind of work people in each Career Cluster might do in this pathway.

Guardians 

Guardians in this pathway safeguard financial records, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulations.

Linkers 

Linkers in this pathway connect clients with tailored financial services and solutions, acting as the bridge between accountants and clients.

Coordinators 

Coordinators are vital in managing the financial reporting cycle, ensuring timely and accurate delivery.

Informers 

Informers are key in this pathway, offering specialised advice on tax planning, financial compliance, and investment strategies.

Makers 

Makers are needed in this pathway to operate and maintain accounting systems, ensuring data integrity.

Innovators 

Innovators in this pathway aren’t very common, but might develop new accounting software and methods to streamline financial processes.

Where can an accounting pathway take me? 

Interested in a career in accounting? There are many roles you might like to consider – here are just a few.

Entry level roles 

These jobs can be started with little or no training or experience, and are great as a stepping stone towards more senior roles in the pathway.

Accounts Clerk 

Monitor client accounts and prepare and file important financial documents.

Bookkeeper 

Keep financial records and maintain and balance accounts using manual and computerised systems.

Debt Collector 

Work with clients, creditors, and legal professionals to find solutions to payment problems.

Mid-level roles 

Once you have some further study or experience under your belt, you might like to consider moving into one of these roles.

General Accountant 

Provide advice and guidance on financial reporting, taxation, auditing, budgeting, financial planning, and decision-making.

Internal Auditor 

Review an organisation’s financial activities and ensure they are complying with any relevant regulations and rules.

Credit and Loans Officer 

Analyse, evaluate and process credit and loan applications for both organisations and individuals.

Senior level roles 

These jobs will require extensive further education or many years of experience, but are also highly rewarding.

Financial Investment Manager 

Develop financial plans for individuals and organisations and invest and manage funds on their behalf.

Forensic Accountant 

Investigate financial records to detect fraud, embezzlement, and other financial crimes.

Tax Compliance Officer 

Ensure individuals and organisations follow tax laws by reviewing financial records, conducting audits, and enforcing tax regulations.

Similar pathways 

If these careers aren’t quite right for you, you might like to explore some other similar pathways instead.

Finance 

Analyse, strategise, and manage financial resources for individuals and organisations.

Insurance 

Assess, mitigate, and manage risks to protect individuals and businesses.

Management 

Organise, lead, and coordinate teams to achieve organisational goals.

How can I build experience in this pathway? 

If you’re still in high school and want to find out if a career in accounting is right for you, here are some activities you can do:

  • Create a personal or household budget to grasp the basics of financial planning
  • Learn the basics of software like QuickBooks to understand industry-standard tools
  • Attend free online webinars to deepen your understanding of accounting fundamentals

We recommend studying these subjects in high school:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Business
  • Economics
  • ICT

Here are some suggestions of places you might like to try and find work experience:

  • Non-profit organisations
  • Government agencies
  • Start-up companies
  • Small businesses
  • Educational institutions