This is the direction setting document that emerged from the Fifth International Symposium for Career Development and Public Policy that was hosted by Career Services in Wellington, New Zealand from 14 to 17 November 2009.

The themes for the Symposium were:

• Transformational technology
• Prove it works
• Role of the citizen
• Culture counts

The document sets out the Key Outcomes of the Symposium. For each of the four themes the underlying policy principles are identified, as are the follow-up actions for countries and for the International Centre for Career Development and Public Policy (ICCDPP). Already Canada has offered to lead on the Theme Prove it works and New Zealand on Transformational technology. Countries who were unable to participate in the Symposium are encouraged to join these international collaborative actions.

The invite-only Symposium was attended by 76 delegates representing policy, practice and research perspectives, comprising teams from 23 countries. In addition, there was senior representation from five international or regional bodies. For the first time there was significant representation from Pacific Island nations. The focus for these countries was on establishing a career development network in the Pacific region. The Symposium was opened by the Minister of Education, Hon. Anne Tolley. The Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, the Hon. Georgina Te Heuheu attended the initial meeting of the Pacific Careers Network, which took place during the Symposium. The Symposium was co-chaired by Lester Oakes (New Zealand) and Kaye Turner (New Zealand) and the work of the Symposium was synthesised by Professor Tony Watts (United Kingdom) and Lynne Bezanson (Canada).

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