Career Development

Sujin Kim

Lecturer, Guidance and Counselling, Career Development
sujin.kim@jcu.edu.au

Natalia Veles

Head, Career Development
natalia.veles@jcu.edu.au

Ben Archer

Associate Lecturer, Career Education
ben.archer@my.jcu.edu.au

Sue Mate

Lecturer, Career Development
sue.mate@jcu.edu.au

Gender, Work, and Migration: Building Work Capital among Korean Women in Australia

Sujin Kim

01 Feb 2026 - 31 Jan 2027

In migrant societies, work functions as more than a means of subsistence. It serves as a critical foundation for building diverse forms of capital that facilitate long-term social integration and empowerment. Yosso (2005), in their study on migrant communities, identified six forms of community cultural capital - aspirational, linguistic, familial, social, navigational, and resistant. In particular, employment plays a central role in developing these capitals. For example, it sustains hope for upward mobility (aspirational capital), promotes language acquisition through workplace interactions (linguistic capital), strengthens family and community networks (familial and social capital), and provide financial stability. Furthermore, it enables individuals to navigate unfamiliar institutional environments effectively (navigational capital) and to challenge negative stereotypes while fostering a positive self-image (resistant capital; Kitayama & Imai, 2022). Among these, aspirational capital through employment is an important element in helping migrants maintain a vision and goals for their future in a new society. Australia is systemically dependent on immigration for both economic and demographic growth (Gamlen & Sherrell, 2022). It is recognised as a classical immigration country and a migration state, formed through continuous migration from the earliest Indigenous peoples who arrived up to 65,000 years ago to more recent settlers over the past two centuries. According to the 2021 Census, there were 102,092 Korea-born residents in Australia (45.0% male, 55.0% female), with 48% holding at least a bachelor’s degree. This proportion is significantly higher than the national average of 26.3%, suggesting that a considerable share of Korea-born migrants are highly educated and skilled. Therefore, they represent a population with the foundational capacity to develop work into capital, making the application of the Work Capital concept (Kim & Allan, 2024) particularly relevant. Work capital is a culturally sensitive conceptual and measurement tool that captures how occupational experiences are transformed into career development, economic stability, and socio-cultural integration. This research project places particular emphasis on the experiences of working female migrants. South Korea’s gender wage gap stands at 29.3%, notably higher than the OECD average of approximately 11.5% and significantly above Australia’s, which is around 11.3% (OECD, 2023). Sul Tcha and Lobo (2003) found that among Korean immigrants in Australia, women were more likely than men to perceive certain structural and environmental constraints as more significant. Building on this, the research focuses on how women who have experienced gender inequality in Korea navigate and overcome institutional and social barriers in Australia, and how they utilise work to strengthen their economic position. Previous research by Choi (2022) examined the formation of Korean entrepreneurial enclaves in Melbourne and Sydney but noted that the contexts, consequences, and implications of life, occupational choices, and business directions among migrants were insufficiently explored, calling for further research. This study will conduct a survey of 400 Korea-born residents in Australia using the Work Capital Scale developed by Kim and Allan (2024) to investigate how work capital is accumulated and utilised. The study will further examine how theoretically informed contextual factors (such as childhood and current social class and downward classism) and vocational factors (including work volition, career adaptability, and decent work) function as antecedents and outcomes of work capital (Kim et al., 2024). In addition, in-depth semi-structured interviews will be conducted to explore the specific career experiences and barrier-overcoming strategies of Korean female migrants. This research will constitute the first empirical investigation of work capital among Korean immigrants in Australia, thereby extending the theoretical scope of migration integration studies and offering policy-relevant insights to support the economic self-reliance and career development of female migrants. Furthermore, it will contribute to comparative migration research between Australia and Korea. In doing so, the project will advance the field of Korean studies by deepening understanding of the experiences of Koreans abroad, while also strengthening knowledge exchange and collaborative ties between Korea and Australia.

Youth Research Grants Program (Old ID 27716)

Natalia Veles

24 Jun 2022 - 15 Mar 2023

The Youth Research Grants Program aims to stimulate interest in research which reflects the needs and views of young people through enabling them to be involved in setting priorities for and selection of research projects. The Program supports the vision set out in the Queensland Youth Strategy (QYS) that promotes young people’s active contribution to Queensland's economic, civic and cultural life. This project aims to engage with young people (17–24-year-olds) in north and far north Queensland currently studying at James Cook University (JCU), to provide an opportunity to share their thoughts, concerns, dreams and desires, and to provide inspiration for a JCU-led research project with and for youth with a focus on wellbeing, future aspirations, concerns and potential solutions to urgent issues. The project would focus on JCU discipline areas of Social Work, Sociology, Education and Creative Arts, with an intention for young people to develop and present art works- and in particular visual and wearable art- expressing their concerns and aspirations. Please refer to the Project Proposal for full details of the Project’s timing and objectives.

Influence of Career Development Practitioners in Regional, Remote and Rural Communities

Ben Archer

03 May 2021

This research project investigates how career development services impact regional, remote, and rural Australian communities, with a focus on youth retention and migration patterns. Using a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative exploration of young people's career development experiences with quantitative analysis of community-level data, the study aims to understand how these services can help youth either remain in or return to their communities after pursuing education and employment opportunities elsewhere. The findings are intended to guide policy and funding decisions regarding career development services in non-metropolitan areas, recognizing the vital role young people play in maintaining both human capital and socio-cultural vitality in their communities.

Development and Validation of a Parent–Child Career Value Congruence Scale: A Two-Stage Study on Scale Construction and Structural Model Analysis in Young Adults

Sujin Kim

28 Jul 2025 - 31 Dec 2025

This postdoctoral research project aims to develop and validate a Parent–Child Career Value Congruence Scale tailored to collectivist cultural contexts, with a focus on young adults in Indonesia. The study consists of two stages: (1) scale construction and validation, and (2) structural model analysis to examine how value congruence influences career-related outcomes such as wellbeing, autonomy, and satisfaction. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, Value Congruence Theory, Social Cognitive Career Theory, and the Systems Theory Framework, this research addresses a gap in cross-cultural career development literature by creating an evidence-based tool grounded in both psychological theory and local context. The project is a collaboration between James Cook University and Diponegoro University, and it will contribute to international scholarship, practical counselling tools, and future cross-cultural applications across education and career services.

Peer Mentoring and Community Building Among Australian and Korean Working Holiday Makers

Sujin Kim

30 Sep 2025 - 31 Aug 2026

This project seeks to enhance Australia–Korea people-to-people engagement through a bilingual peer mentoring program and a digital platform tailored for current working holidaymakers. It will connect Korean participants in Australia with Australian participants in Korea through structured mentoring sessions, intercultural exchange activities, and the formation of a sustainable support network. In addition, an alumni storytelling initiative — featuring former participants of the Australia-Korea Working Holiday Program (referred to as 'working holiday alumni') — will showcase the diverse experiences and contributions of past participants. While the project supports all participants, it pays particular attention to the gendered experiences of female working holidaymakers, recognising their unique challenges and contributions. Through these efforts, the project promotes cross-cultural understanding, career resilience, and long-term bilateral ties—bridging geographic distance and fostering digital and human connections between Australia and Korea.