Career development practitioners are essential contributors to Australia’s workforce infrastructure. They provide tailored, evidence-based support and offer services including career planning, labour market navigation, CV and interview preparation, and guidance on vocational and higher education pathways. These services are particularly critical for individuals facing structural barriers to employment, such as young people, mature-age workers, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Our review of the career development and employment services qualifications aims to align the qualifications with current industry needs in line with national workforce development priorities and evolving sector expectations, including significant shifts in labour market dynamics, service delivery models and learner demographics.

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Career and employment advisor services include career planning, labour market navigation, CV and interview preparation and guidance on vocational and higher education pathways. These services are particularly critical for individuals facing structural barriers to employment, such as young people, mature-age workers, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

This is a 14-month project that is expected to be completed by October 2026.

Project Scope

We will review 3 qualifications, 11 units of competency and 3 skill sets.

Qualifications and Units of Competency

These qualifications are designed and primarily used for a specific occupation.

  • CHC41115 Certificate IV in Employment Services: supports a single occupation and reflects the role of Employment Services Consultants who provide employment services to job seekers and employers. They use specialised knowledge to support individual job seekers in locating, securing and maintaining employment and assist employers in meeting their recruitment needs.
  • CHC41215 Certificate IV in Career Development: supports a single occupation which provides programs and services to individuals and groups of clients and employers to support people in planning their career and/or locating, securing and maintaining suitable employment. They may work in career information and transition services or assist in career advisor roles in education, training, school or transition work environments. They may have limited supervisory responsibilities in contexts such as employment service.
  • CHC81315 Graduate Certificate in Career Development Practice: supports a single occupation and reflects the role of career development practitioners. Practitioners at this level make high level, independent, complex judgements in the context of providing guidance in career development. Their role involves the full responsibility and accountability for all aspects of their work. Practitioners may work independently or in larger service organisations.
Units of competency
Skills Sets

Fact sheet

 

Project Governance and Consultation Strategy

A Technical Committee (TC) comprising of industry experts has been established to provide specialised advice for this project. Members were carefully selected based on their relevant expertise and experience in areas critical to the project. 

View the Terms of Reference and Technical Committee members.

The TC will work with HumanAbility in this project to:

  • identify relevant stakeholders to consult with about the project
  • provide insights on proposed communication and consultation strategies
  • provide technical knowledge on the skills and knowledge required to meet graduate outcomes and workforce needs.

Our Project Consultation Strategy has been finalised and is available to download.

 

Vocational Educators, Trainers and Assessors: Tell us what is and isn't working

Thank you to all trainers, educators and assessors of vocational qualifications in career development and employment services who provided their feedback on existing qualifications, skill sets and units of competency via a short online survey. Your feedback has helped us to understand what's working, what's not working and where things could change and improvements made. The survey closed on Friday 20 January 2026.

Functional analysis

Our functional analysis report used in-depth research to provide a detailed overview of the diverse roles, functions, and skills required in the sector. We are committed to developing training products that meet industry standards and contribute to improving workforce readiness by identifying gaps and opportunities in skills development.

Functional analysis report

 

 

Summary of Proposed Changes

The career development and employment services qualifications, skill sets, and units of competency are being updated to ensure they reflect current industry standards and workforce expectations.

View proposed changes

Draft Documents and Consultation

The draft training products below are based on feedback and learnings from functional analysis research, interviews, workshops and technical committee member advice.

Please provide your feedback on the products via the survey links below which will remain open until Friday 29 May 2026.

We also held consultation workshops to help us understand industry changes, challenges and opportunities, and to identify functions that are common across all/specific settings and potential pathways within the sector.

Consultation sessions were held in Cairns (17/03), Brisbane (19/03), Alice Springs (26/03), Hobart (31/03), Melbourne (21/04), Albury Wodonga (23/04), Adelaide (28/04), Perth (05/05), Sydney (12/05), Darwin (14/05) and online (30/03, 07/05, 19/05, 20/05, 21/05).

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has participated and provided their input. Your feedback has been invaluable and is captured in this interim Consultation Log. A complete version will be soon be released.

Interim Consultation Log

Qualifications

CHC41115M Certificate IV in Employment Services
CHC41215M Certificate IV in Career Development
CHC81315M Graduate Certificate in Career Development Practice

Skill Sets

CHCSS00065M Workforce Support Skill Set
CHCSS00108M Career Development Skill Set
CHCSS00109M Employment Services Skill Set
CHCSSxxxxx Employer Engagement in Employment Services Skill Set
CHCSSxxxxx In-work Support Skill Set

Complete survey

Units of Competency

CHCECD001M Analyse and apply information that supports employment and career development
CHCECD002M Deliver and monitor contracted services
CHCECD003M Reverse market job seekers to employers
CHCECD005M Deliver recruitment and workforce support as part of employment services
CHCECD006M Develop and monitor career transition plans
CHCECD007M Develop and implement customised employment solutions
CHCECD008M Deliver services consistent with a career development framework
CHCECD009M Conduct career guidance interviews
CHCECD011M Manage professional practice in career development
CHCECDxxx Conduct career development sessions
CHCECDxxx Establish career development services
CHCECDxxx Research and analyse trends in career development
CHCPRP006M Lead own reflective practice for professional development

Complete survey

 

Details to come.

 

Details to come.

 

How to get involved

Please register if you would like to receive project updates and consultation opportunities.

Project updates

Contact details

To contact the project team, please email TPD.CommunityServices@humanability.com.au.

Project timeline

 

  • Project Set Up

    Establish a Technical Committee to provide expert advice for the project.

  • Development

    Functional analysis undertaken via 24 employer interviews and a virtual functional analysis workshop.

    Development of draft qualifications, skill sets and units of competency.

  • Consultation

    Draft training products released for consultation. 

    Consultation activities held nationally and online.

    Delivery of 12 face-to-face and 3 virtual workshops.

    Workshops will be held in all states and territories. 

    Stakeholder feedback is logged and the Consultation Log published on project webpage.  

  • Finalisation and Submission

    Consensus views incorporated into revisions where compliant with the Training Package Organising Framework.

    Divergent views addressed through further consultations, advice from subject matter experts, negotiations and if necessary, dispute resolution processes.

    Revisions, rationales, dispute process and outcomes published in the Consultation Log.  

    Consultation held with Commonwealth and state/territory State Responsible Officers

    Feedback incorporated into draft documents.

  • Endorsement and Implementation

    Endorsed qualifications, skill sets and units of competency will be uploaded onto the VET National Training Register.

    The Companion Volume will be updated to reflect changes to the Training Package, identified pathways information and mapping information.

    Delivery of 3 virtual professional development workshops to highlight the features of the new qualifications, skill sets and units of competency.