New Action Plan to strengthen career support,

The 2026-2027 NCSS Action Plan focuses on improving support for people making decisions about tertiary study, training and employment. The plan sets out the practical actions careers system partners can take over the next 2 years to strengthen careers support across Aotearoa New Zealand.

“This Action Plan focuses our efforts on the areas where we can make the biggest difference – improving understanding of tertiary pathways, strengthening workforce capability, and building the evidence needed to support effective career practice. It gives us a clear direction for working together to improve outcomes for people making decisions about study, training and employment,” says Nina Ive, Deputy Chief Executive, Careers and Investment Design.

The Action Plan builds on significant progress already made across the careers system. Recent achievements include stronger cross-agency collaboration, increased recognition of careers as a driver of education and employment outcomes, and initiatives such as Tahatū Career Navigator and its Career Practice Hub, the refreshed Rangatahi Futures programme, and the Careers Quality Framework. Together, these initiatives have improved access to career information, tools and insights. This work has helped strengthen the foundations of a more connected and coordinated careers system.

For career professionals, educators, iwi, Māori and community organisations the Action Plan signals continued commitment to strengthening professional capability, trusted resources and practical insights. It also places greater emphasis on understanding what works and using evidence to guide future improvements across the careers system.

Over the next 2 years, the Action Plan will help strengthen coordination across the careers system and improve access to the information, tools and support people need to make informed study, training and employment decisions.

National Careers System Strategy Action Plan – Tertiary Education Commission