Pat Papa, Secondary School Careers Advisor.

Career advisors or practitioners work with all kinds of clients and draw upon all kinds of information to help them. Formal training has not always been required to work in this varied field. Now, as in so many professions, that is changing and having a relevant qualification is becoming increasingly important. Some find this a burden; others have found that, through the APL process, it has been an encouraging and liberating experience.

Pat Papa has been a careers advisor for 11 years, but until recently did not have a qualification that showed the depth of her knowledge. She now values what she has discovered through APL.

“The process was challenging and it has been very useful. I really appreciated the approach and support of my facilitator, who had the ability to draw out the essence behind much of what I do that is so routine and ordinary to me that I am challenged to see it objectively. The biggest challenge was to weave the theory into the practice – but the enlightenment is that the theory has always been there underpinning my practice and I did not have the theoretical knowledge to realise this.

I feel I really did gain some new learning through the APL process. I am rapt to have found a tool called My Systems of Career Influence, which I intend to use this year with students and to realise the depth possible with person-centred counselling when appropriately trained. I would like that training, but in the meantime will read the full book. With research into Systems Framework Theory, I have absorbed the impact of recursiveness, both in a person’s life and in working with my client group. Previously, this may have been a gut feeling, but I didn’t have the words or theory to describe it.

Going through APL has affected me, and my practice, for the better. I have always thought I might be on the right track, but have had no confirmation of this whatsoever. I now have confidence that actually I am on the right track and can now speak with authority in my area. It has also raised the possibility of further training in career practice and I am currently investigating this. My research for my presentation has also armed me with much useful material to use in my practice.

I am very pleased that I took on the challenge of APL in my specialist field. I have gone from QBE (qualified by experience) to being armed with a recognised tertiary qualification – acknowledged as appropriate by the professional organisations to which I belong. I could never have contemplated the travel time involved in ‘regular study’. I am so glad that I was able to choose this ideal alternative.”