Draw a card

Choose an age group and a theme, or leave them open. Take turns, read the card out loud, and listen.

Age group

Theme

Draw a card

Talk about the future, together.

Choose an age group and a theme, or leave them open, then draw a card.

Print the deck

Print on A4, cut along the dashed lines, and keep the cards in an envelope or a jar on the table.

The list follows the age group and theme you chose above.

Listening tip: Follow their energy. Ask "What do you like about it?" before you ask whether it could be a job.

What is something you could do for hours without noticing the time?All ages
If you could spend a whole day learning about anything, what would you choose?Primary school, Early secondary, Senior secondary
What do you like watching, reading or playing at the moment? What do you like about it?All ages
Which jobs have you noticed around you, at school, in shops, online or nearby? Which ones look interesting?Primary school, Early secondary
What did you want to be when you were younger? Has that changed? Everyone answersAll ages
What kind of problems do you enjoy solving: puzzles, people problems, fixing things or making things?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
Would you rather work mostly with people, with ideas, with your hands, or with nature and animals? Why?All ages
Is there a subject you used to dislike that you now find a bit more interesting?Early secondary, Senior secondary
If you could follow someone at work for a day, whose job would you pick?All ages
What is something new you would like to try this year?All ages

Listening tip: Be specific and notice effort as well as results: "You kept going when it got hard."

What is something you have got better at this year? How did you do it?All ages
When do friends or classmates come to you for help? What do they ask you about?All ages
Name one strength you see in each person here. Everyone answersAll ages
Tell us about something hard that you kept going with, even when you wanted to stop.All ages
Do you like to plan things carefully, or work them out as you go?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
What would your best friend say you are good at?Primary school, Early secondary, Senior secondary
Which of your skills could be useful at work, even if it is not a school subject?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
When do you feel most proud of yourself?All ages
What is something you could teach someone else?All ages
Think of a group you were part of, in class, sport or anywhere else. What role did you take?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers

Listening tip: You do not need to fix a worry. "That makes sense" often helps more than a solution.

When you think about finishing school, what feels exciting and what feels worrying?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
Is there anything about the future you would like to understand better?All ages
Tell a story about a time a plan did not work out, and what happened next. Everyone answersAll ages
Do you ever feel pressure to choose a particular path? Where does it come from?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
What would help you feel more ready for your next step?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
What is one thing you are unsure about right now? You do not need an answer to it yet.All ages
If a friend was worried about choosing a career, what would you tell them?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
Is there anything we say at home about school or jobs that we could say differently?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
What helps you feel calm when you have a big decision to make?All ages
What is a mistake you learned something useful from? Everyone answersAll ages

Listening tip: Talk about money calmly. Nobody needs to share their own finances for this to be useful.

What are some different ways people earn money?Primary school, Early secondary
What matters most to you in a job: the pay, the people, the work itself, or something else?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
If you had some money of your own to look after each week, what would you do with it?Primary school, Early secondary, Senior secondary
Which jobs do you think pay well? How could we find out?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
What is something you saved up for, or would like to save up for? Everyone answersAll ages
Study can cost very different amounts. What would you want to find out about costs before choosing?Senior secondary, School leavers
Would you like to earn while you learn, study first, or do a mix of both?Senior secondary, School leavers
What does "enough money" mean to you?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
What could you do to earn a little money now, or when you are old enough?Primary school, Early secondary, Senior secondary
Is there a job you would do even if it paid less? What would make it worth it?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers

Listening tip: If neither of you knows the answer, look it up together. Not knowing is a good place to start.

What do you know about the different ways people learn a job: university, TAFE, apprenticeships and traineeships, or learning on the job?Senior secondary, School leavers
Which school subjects might open doors to things you are interested in?Early secondary, Senior secondary
Who could we talk to about a job you are curious about?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
If your first plan does not work out, what could plan B look like?Senior secondary, School leavers
What path took you to the work, study or caring you have done? What surprised you along the way? Everyone answersAll ages
What would you like to find out on a work experience day?Early secondary, Senior secondary
Do you think people choose one career for life, or change along the way?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
What would a good first year after school look like for you?Senior secondary, School leavers
Name three jobs you know nothing about. Let us look one of them up together.All ages
Would you like to work close to home, travel for work, or work from anywhere?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers

Listening tip: There are no wrong answers. Values can differ between generations, and that is okay.

What makes a job a good job, in your opinion?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
Who is someone you look up to? What do you admire about them?All ages
What is something you care about that you would like your work to help with? Everyone answersAll ages
Would you rather help people, create things, discover things or lead things?All ages
How important is it to have time for family, friends, culture or faith outside work?Senior secondary, School leavers
What does being successful mean to you? Does it mean the same thing for everyone?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
What is a way you like to help other people?Primary school, Early secondary
What would you like people to say about the way you work?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
What change would you like to see in your community or in the world?Early secondary, Senior secondary, School leavers
What makes you feel happy at the end of a day?All ages