GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING IN NEW-ZEALAND - WEATHERING A DECADE OF TRANSFORMATION

This paper considers guidance and counselling needs and services in a country where dramatic changes in economic and social conditions have occurred over the past decade. The welfare state foundations of the na tion are described followed by an outline of a move to a free market e conomy. Increased needs for guidance and counselling services and modi fied responses are outlined with the main features being a distinct sh ift from public to private sector provisions. Related domains of train ing and professional associations are addressed along with current iss ues facing the profession. The overall picture is of a more diversifie d climate of needs with a reduced but intensified coverage of services . The immediate future for the guidance and counselling field in New Z ealand seems unpredictable. There is certainly a healthy and maturing level of professionalism evident, but also a need for greater sophisti cation in influencing social policy towards restoring greater social e quity.