Are you looking for practical, classroom-ready career activities that actually work?

Planning career programs year after year can be demanding. Students change. Contexts shift. Yet the need for engaging, structured, evidence-informed activities remains constant.

Ideas for Career Practitioners: Celebrating Excellence in Career Practice brings together 48 practical, field-tested career guidance activities from over 50 experienced practitioners and researchers across six countries.

Edited by Mary McMahon and Wendy Patton, this remarkable resource reflects both Australian expertise and international practice — while remaining grounded in real educational settings.

Inside you’ll find activities covering:

  • Career exploration for primary and secondary students
  • Structured group guidance sessions
  • Mentoring programs for girls and senior students
  • Career fairs and expos that maximise learning
  • Narrative and life-design approaches
  • Interest card sorts and assessment tools
  • Values clarification and ACT-based techniques
  • Programs for rural, disadvantaged, and high-risk youth

Each chapter follows a clear, practitioner-friendly structure:

  • Aims
  • Client group and setting
  • Materials needed
  • Step-by-step process
  • References

This is not a theoretical text. It is a working manual for school-based career practitioners.

Whether you’re refreshing your Year 9 exploration program, strengthening senior transition planning, or looking for structured group activities that require minimal preparation, this volume provides adaptable ideas that can be implemented immediately.

With career education increasingly expected to demonstrate impact and intentional design, having a bank of structured, clearly documented activities is invaluable.

If you are responsible for career counselling, VET coordination, transition programs, or whole-school career development planning, this is a resource worth having on your desk.