This National Careers Week (11–17 May 2026), we invite educators across the country to pause, reflect and intentionally introduce Career Development concepts to our younger learners (Pre–Year 9) through a powerful national activity: “I Am Becoming…”
Too often, explicit conversations about career development are reserved for secondary students. Yet identity, strengths, curiosity, and possibility begin to form much earlier. “I Am Becoming…” is designed to help young people recognise their strengths, build self-awareness, and start seeing themselves as active participants in their own future journeys - not just in terms of jobs, but also in terms of who they are growing into.
Why “I Am Becoming…”?
This initiative aligns with the themes of the Australian Blueprint for Career Development, particularly around personal management, self-awareness and building positive identity. By focusing on Strength Awareness through a Career Development lens, students begin to understand that careers are not something that suddenly happen in Year 10 — they are shaped over time through interests, values, skills and experiences.
We have created a virtual Career Development Backpack to support you. Inside you’ll find:
- Suggested classroom activities and lesson ideas
- Links to freely available or low-cost resources
- Connections to relevant Blueprint themes
- Practical ideas adaptable for different year levels
During National Careers Week, we ask you to activate at least one “I Am Becoming…” session with a year group — or more, if you’re feeling adventurous.
We encourage you to document your preparation, delivery and reflections. Share snapshots, insights and student voice via your social media channels using: #ACCE #ncwau26 #IAMBECOMING
Registration details will be available via our website and social media platforms, where we will also promote participation. After your session, you’ll be invited to share your feedback along with a few images and reflections so we can continue to advocate for young people’s career development.
Celebrate and Be Recognised
All participating schools and educators who complete the process will go into the draw to win a Career Development Backpack, packed with resources to support your ongoing work with younger students throughout the year.
We will also showcase selected stories in our Journal to celebrate the creativity, innovation and impact happening in classrooms across Australia.
This May, let’s work together to ensure our youngest learners don’t just ask “What will I be?” but confidently declare:
“I Am Becoming…”
Why a backpack?
A backpack is a metaphor for what we carry in life. We come into the world without a backpack, and as we travel through life, we collect knowledge and experience that we need to carry with us. When we retire, our backpack may change. It could be smaller and lighter, but still full of things that we need for the next part of our journey.
The I Am Becoming career backpack includes a range of resources and lessons to help young learners from the middle primary years through to year 9. These support increased self-awareness and help them explore concepts about the world of work. Importantly, you only need one backpack to support all these year levels at your school.
The I Am Becoming career backpack can be used beyond 2026, so join this National Career Week initiative to help your students build their capacity and the skills needed for their career journey.