2. 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

3. 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.

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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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