Benefits of Joining
NAGCAS undertakes activities that contribute to the work of university careers services and the professionalism of individual members. This includes introducing significant new initiatives, professional development activities and responses to development in our industry.
NAGCAS membership gives you:
A voice
Professional Development
Discounts
Website
Impact on National Affairs and Advocacy
Promote the profession
Surveys
Research
State Branches
A voice in
- The development of standards and accreditation for careers practitioners in Australia
- DEST supported developments
- The Board of Graduate Careers Australia
- The Board of the Careers Industry Council of Australia
Professional Development
- NAGCAS has a professional development officer to implement professional development activities for all members.
- You will receive information about industry developments, issues and activities through the members-only NAGCAS email listserver.
- NAGCAS annual awards for members.
- NAGCAS industry visits program.
- NAGCAS state chapter professional development activities and meetings.
- Networking with other NAGCAS members and careers industry associates.
- Opportunity for involvement in state and national committees.
- The Head of a Careers Service can be involved in the Heads of Service committee, meetings and surveys.
Discounts
- Discounted attendance at the annual NAGCAS conference
- Discounted attendance at state chapter professional development activities.
- All members of a NAGCAS careers service which has taken out AAGE membership can be considered an AAGE member for the purpose of attendance at AAGE activities (where there is often a charge for non-members), plus discounted conference attendance
- Annual Conference
The NAGCAS National Conference held annually provides careers practitioners from the HE sector in Australia and overseas with an opportunity learn about the latest research, intervention programs, best practices, resources and innovations.
The National Conference is organised by NAGCAS for the benefit of members and the profession. As a member, you receive preferential registration rates for the Conference
Website
The NAGCAS National website is updated weekly to bring you the latest in Association news and views, professional development and other relevant events, and information on professional representation activities. Member’s have access to the “Members Only” area.
Impact on National Affairs and Advocacy
NAGCAS representatives meet with employer groups, careers organisations, government officials, task forces and other relevant groups to put forward the points of view of our profession and help build a greater awareness of the issues impacting on careers services and staff in the Higher education Sector.
NAGCAS also responds to government policy and programs.
Examples are:
NAGCAS has had ongoing input into The National Standards and Accreditation of Career Practitioners Project through our involvement in the Careers Industry Council of Australia. The Project has been commissioned through the Career Industry Council of Australia(CICA) by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training. In essence, the Australian Government, through DEST, is supporting CICA to work with member associations, career practitioners and key stakeholders to develop national quality standards and an accreditation process for career practitioners.
NAGCAS has had input into the myfuture e-portfolio initiative.
NAGCAS has made a submission to DEST on the Employability Skills Consultation
Representation
NAGCAS is represented on the Board of Graduate Careers Australia (GCA). Graduate Careers Australia (GCA) is a peak careers body with representatives from employers, universities and government.
NAGCAS is represented on The Careers Industry Council of Australia (CICA). Careers Industry Council of Australia (CICA) is the national peak body for Australian career practitioner organisations.
Promote the profession
NAGCAS has a range of promotion strategies to inform politicians, industry, government agencies and the public about Higher Education careers and employment issues including:
- making presentations at various relevant conferences and seminars
- distributing press releases to the media
Surveys
On a regular basis NAGCAS conducts a Heads of Service Survey that examines a range of factors in relation to the delivery of careers services across each of Australia's universities.
Research
As a member of the Career Industry Council of Australia, NAGCAS is well positioned to understand the current and future issues influencing career development and higher education. Accordingly, NAGCAS encourages its members to participate in and promote research into topics relevant to our field of practice. For example, NAGCAS provides, on an ad hoc basis, a small research grant to University Career Services to carry out research projects which have benefits for members and the sector broadly. Furthermore, by collaborating with a number of universities, NAGCAS has won a national competitive grant.
State Branches
There are five State/Division branches of NAGCAS which regularly run professional development activities in your state. For further information please contact your State President
State Presidents
NSW/ACT
Kate Gemmell
Head of Careers Service
The Australian National University
JB Chifley Building, Arts Centre Laneway
ANU ACT 0200
T: (02) 6125 5930
F: (02) 6125 5191
kate.gemmell@anu.edu.au
VIC/Tasmania
Sally Brooks
Careers Development and Employment
RMIT
GPO Box 2476V
Melbourne VIC 3001
sally.brooks@rmit.edu.au
T: +61 3 9925 2078
F: +61 3 9925 3942
QLD
Katrina Vagg
Careers and Employment Service
University of Southern Queensland
vagg@usq.edu.au
T: +61 7 4631 1823
F: +61 7 4631 2880
SA
Kathryn Anderson
Career Services
University of South Australia
GPO box 2471
Adelaide SA 5001
Kathryn.anderson@unisa.edu.au
T: +61 8 8302 7841
F: +61 8 8302 7861
WA
Julie Howell
Careers Advisor
Edith Cowan Univeristy
Bradford St Mount Lawley
WA 6050
j.howell@ecu.edu.au
T: +61 8 9370 6642
F: +61 8 9370 611
