National Centre for Guidance in Education An agency of the Department of Education and Science, established in 1995 to support and develop guidance practice in all education settings, and to advise the Department’s policy in the field of guidance. NCGE is a member of the Euroguidance Network of NRC for Guidance under the Life Long Learning Programme NCGE SUPPORTS Guidance Practitioners Teacher counsellors Support teachers Guidance Counsellors Guidance Practitioners Careers Advisors Primary schools Second Level schools Youthreach and similar programmes Adults in Education Third Level Education

The NGF Context OECD Review of Guidance (Ireland, 2001) – create an Irish career guidance forum and strengthen cooperation between DES and FAS Need for evidence based policy Fragmentation of services Lack of occupational structures for guidance practitioners Need for framework for measuring agreed guidance outcomes Need for stakeholders to collaborate Planning Phase Establishment of a Working Party in August 2003 (DES, DETE, NCGE, IGC and FAS) Pre- Forum Consultation with stakeholders (March, 2004) and identification and appointment of members and a Chairperson Launch of Forum (June 2004) at the EU Presidency on Guidance Conference The NGF was set up in response to the OECD review of guidance report and in recognition of the need to enhance and further develop guidance provision in Ireland – make lifelong guidance a reality.

Number of Agencies involved for the first time. Input and Representation of EU, Forfas, INOU

Chairperson – High Profile & Respected The NGF - Composition 34 Members Chairperson – High Profile & Respected Composition 34 members from: Government departments: Education and labour State agencies with guidance remit Guidance professional associations Trainers of guidance counsellors Employers organisation Consumer Association Management bodies (education) Guidance practitioners (including private practice) Parents’ Association Unions Chairperson – high profile, respected

Facilitate Common Language of NGF Guidance Lifelong The need to clarify language Achievement Amount of work of steering group, secretariat

Networks established in guidance at European level Relationship Building Lifelong guidance structures now a reality

The NGF Final Report submitted to the DES and DETE in January 2007 Recommendations concerning the structure and provision of lifelong and lifewide guidance Recommendations concerning the establishment of a permanent Forum Key learning: Composition and size of the Forum Resources Specific work with deadlines Importance of networking Planning for implementation