The Systems Theory Framework of career development: News of difference and a journey towards acceptance

This 30th-year anniversary edition of the Australian Journal of Career Development (AJCD) represents a milestone for the Systems Theory Framework (STF) of career development, the genesis of which was published in the 1992 first edition. Beginning as a contextual model of adolescent career decision-making, subsequent research and refinement resulted in the first publication of the STF in 1995 in the AJCD. At a time when constructivist and social constructionist ideas were only just beginning to influence career development, the STF introduced news of difference to the field. In subsequent decades, the STF has consolidated its place as an important theoretical contribution to career development as attested by the fourth edition of its seminal textbook. The STF's history is marked by a continual integration of theory, research, and practice. This article briefly overviews the STF, its applications and contributions, and offers suggestions for its future directions.

Enhancing the sense of self of a mid-career woman through career construction counselling

This article reports on career construction counselling with a purposefully selected, mid-career, midlife woman. A single-case study research design was implemented. Data were gathered using an integrative qualitative and quantitative approach. After the intervention, the participant exhibited an enhanced sense of self-awareness. Career construction counselling can be used to help a mid-career, midlife woman become more aware of the meaning she assigned to life and her view of herself. Future research with diverse mid-career, midlife women (individually or in group-based settings) is needed to establish the effectiveness and long-term effects of the kind of intervention espoused here.

The Systems Theory Framework of career development: 20 years of contribution to theory and practice

The development and sustained contribution of the Systems Theory Framework to career development theory and practice is well documented in national and international literatures. In addition to its contribution to theory integration, it has added to the growing literature on connecting career theory and practice, in particular for non-Western populations. In addition, it has been the basis of the development of a broad array of constructivist approaches to career counselling, and indeed specific reflective career assessment activities. This article begins with a brief history of the Systems Theory Framework which is then followed by a rationale for its development. The contribution of the Systems Theory Framework to theory and practice is then described prior to concluding comments by the authors.