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Real guidance for
real turning points.

All sessions are 1:1, video or in-person in Melbourne. A qualified practitioner, a real conversation, and an actual plan by the end.

1:1 sessions · 45–75 min · from $90

Select a session type to learn more ↓

School leavers · Year 9–12
Post Year 12 Pathways
For students and young people in years 9–12, whether you're still in school, just out, or reconsidering the whole thing.
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Parents supporting a young person
Parent Sessions
You want to help, not hover. Let's make sure you're the support they'll actually thank you for.
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Anyone considering a gap year
Gap Year Planning
A gap year isn't just for school leavers. At any age, time taken with intention can be life-changing.
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Adults at a crossroads
Career Change Sessions
You're not starting over. You're starting smarter. Bring everything you've built.
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School students & recent leavers · Year 9–12

Post-School Pathways

"Whether you plan to finish Year 12, find a study alternative, or start earning money, there's a path that actually suits you."

This session is for students and young people at any point in years 9–12; whether you've just finished, are thinking about leaving early, didn't complete VCE, sat the ATAR, or skipped it entirely. The pressure to have it all figured out is real, and most people don't. That's a completely normal place to start.

There's no single pathway into a meaningful future, and this session doesn't assume one. We'll look at where you actually are, what your real options are (which are almost always broader than you've been told), and what a plan that genuinely fits you could look like.

This session can cover: ATAR-based pathways, TAFE and vocational options, apprenticeships, gap year planning, early entry and alternative entry, and studying overseas.

Absolutely; this is where I do some of my best work. ATAR is one data point. There are more pathway options than the school system usually tells you about, and many lead to better outcomes for the right person.
It's different - though not because school careers counsellors don't do valuable work. The difference is this session is private, 1:1, and not bound by a school's available pathways or timelines. I can explore options outside the traditional stream: early entry, vocational pathways, gap years, studying overseas, or simply sitting with the uncertainty before making a decision.
Yes, absolutely; The Long Haul Careers was specifically built with early school leavers in mind, alongside those who did complete school. You have more options than you might think, and we'll look at all of them.
Yes. Thinking through that decision carefully before you make it is genuinely worthwhile, and I won't push you in either direction. We'll look at what you'd be moving toward, what pathways remain open, and what the decision means practically - so you can make it with your eyes open.
$120 · 60 min
Book This Session

Or start with a free discovery call

What's included:
  • 60-minute 1:1 session, video or in-person
  • Honest look at your real options (broader than you think)
  • 3 clear next steps before you leave
  • Curated resource list matched to your situation
  • Follow-up summary notes emailed to you
Parents supporting a young person

Parent Sessions

"You want to help, not hover. Let's make sure you're the support they'll thank you for later."

Your kid is at a turning point and you want to help; but every conversation either ends in tension or quietly goes nowhere. You're not failing. You're navigating something difficult without much of a map.

This session is for you, not them. We'll talk about what your young person is actually going through (even if they're not telling you), what kind of support helps versus what adds pressure, and how to have the conversations that need to happen.

Optional: book a parent session first, then a follow-up session with your young person; together or separately. Many families find this sequence makes the difference.

Yes, and this is one of the most common starting points. This session gives you insight into what's likely happening and the tools to create space for conversation, without forcing it. You can't fully control the conversation, but you can change how you show up for it.
Not for this first one. This session is specifically for you. Once you've had a chance to think through your own position, we can discuss whether a joint session or a separate session for your young person makes sense.
Absolutely; The Long Haul Careers was specifically built for these situations. Early school leaving is far more common than people realise, and there are real, viable paths forward. Understanding those options will give both of you more confidence.
That instinct is actually a really good sign. We'll talk about the difference between supporting and directing, and how to be present in a way that helps rather than adds pressure. It's a skill, and it's learnable.
$90 · 45 min
Book This Session

Or start with a free discovery call

What's included:
  • 45-minute focused 1:1 conversation
  • Clarity on what your young person is likely navigating
  • Practical language for hard conversations
  • Supportive vs. pressuring: how to tell the difference
  • Follow-up resource list for parents
Anyone, at any stage of life

Gap Year Planning

"A gap year isn't just for school leavers. At any point in life, taking time to travel, volunteer, or pursue something outside the norm can be one of the most clarifying things you do."

A gap year done intentionally can open doors that the traditional pathway doesn't. Travel, volunteering, working abroad, internships, skill-building; or some combination. And it's genuinely not just for school leavers. People take time out at 25, 35, 45, and beyond; to find themselves, to recover, to pursue something they've always wanted to do, or simply to break a pattern that isn't working anymore. The key is knowing what you're hoping to get out of it, and planning it in a way that actually delivers that.

This session helps you design a gap year that actually serves you; matching your Journey Type, your financial situation, your readiness, and what you're hoping comes next. I bring real travel planning experience alongside careers expertise, so the conversation covers both the practicalities of going and the strategy of what it leads to.

We'll cover: structured vs unstructured options, funded and volunteer programs, workforce engagement, internships, working holiday visas, and how to make the experience count on your CV.

Book them a Parent Session 😄 Seriously though; the research on intentional gap years is genuinely positive. They improve academic performance, career clarity, and wellbeing when they're purposeful. We can help you make the case (and the plan).
Yes. Many of the best gap year options are free, subsidised, or paid. There are volunteer programs that cover your costs, funded internships, work-and-travel programs, and local options that don't require leaving home. We'll find what works for your situation.
In most cases, no; and sometimes it helps. We'll talk through deferred enrolment, reapplication timelines, and how to position your gap year experience in applications. With 10+ years across four Victorian universities, I have a fairly clear sense of how admissions teams think about this.
$150 · 75 min
Book This Session

Or start with a free discovery call

What's included:
  • 75-minute 1:1 session, video or in-person
  • Gap year options mapped to your goals and Journey Type
  • Funded, subsidised and free program options
  • How to frame it on your CV
  • A practical 12-month action plan to take away
  • Follow-up summary notes emailed to you
Adults at a career crossroads

Career Change Sessions

"You're not starting over. You're starting smarter. Bring everything you've built."

Something isn't working anymore. Maybe you've known for a while; maybe it hit you all at once. Either way, you're at the edge of something you can't quite name yet, and the gap between 'I should change something' and 'I know what to do' feels enormous.

This session draws on the Chaos Theory of Careers (Pryor & Bright, 2011): your experience, your network, your skills; none of it is wasted. It all gets reframed and redirected. You don't need to arrive with an answer. You just need to arrive.

We'll map realistic pathways from where you are to where you want to be, with honest timelines and real first steps.

Not even close. The research is clear: most meaningful career pivots happen in people's 30s and 40s. The experience you've built isn't a liability; it's a competitive advantage in the right context. Finding that context is what the session is for.
Perfect. That's exactly where this session is designed to start. You don't need to arrive with an answer.
Financial reality is part of the conversation, not something we ignore. We'll look at staged transitions, parallel pathways, and options that don't require quitting your job before you have something to go to. Sustainable change beats dramatic change every time.
Counselling. That means I'm a qualified, registered practitioner working from an evidence-based theoretical framework, not someone with a coaching certification. The difference matters, especially if you're navigating something emotionally complex alongside the practical question of what comes next.
$150 · 75 min
Book This Session

Or start with a free discovery call

What's included:
  • 75-minute 1:1 session, video or in-person
  • Career audit: what's working, what isn't, and why
  • Skills and transferable experience mapping
  • Sector and role options you may not have considered
  • Realistic pathway planning with actual first steps
  • Follow-up summary notes emailed to you

How working together actually works

Every working relationship starts the same way: a free 20-minute conversation. No money changes hands, no session is booked, and no commitment is made until we've both decided it's a good fit.

1 Book a free discovery call

20 minutes, no cost, no commitment. We talk about where you're at, what you're hoping for, and whether working together makes sense.

2 We both decide it's a good fit

If it feels right on both sides, I'll send through a short booking form. If it's not the right fit, I'll point you somewhere useful - and that's completely okay too.

3 Receive your invoice

Once you've returned the booking form, I'll send an invoice by email. Payment is by bank transfer (EFT), due within 7 days.

4 Session confirmed

Payment received, session locked in. You'll get a calendar invite and any pre-session notes from me before we meet.

Why the discovery call first? Career counselling works best when the relationship is right. The 20-minute call gives us both a chance to check that. If I genuinely think I'm not the right person to help you - whether that's scope, approach, or anything else - I'll tell you honestly and make sure you leave with something useful regardless. No session will ever be booked or invoiced without that conversation happening first.

Not sure which session is right?
Start with a free call.

20 minutes. No agenda, no commitment. We'll have a real conversation about where you're at, and I'll give you an honest sense of what might actually be useful, whether that's a session, a conversation, or something else entirely. And if we're not the right fit, I'll tell you that too; there's no pressure either way.

General FAQs

Both. I'm Melbourne-based and available for in-person sessions. For everyone else in Australia (and internationally), sessions are via video; Zoom or Google Meet.
Most people get genuine value from a single session. If you'd like to continue working together after that, we can discuss what ongoing support might look like. There's no pressure to commit to anything upfront; the discovery call is a good place to talk through what might work for your situation.
I work with clients internationally via video. If you're in a different time zone, I'll do my best to find a time that works. Pricing is in AUD.

Prefer to send a message?

Not ready to book a call? No problem. Send me a message and I'll get back to you via email within 2 business days.

This helps me show up in a way that works for you. There are no right or wrong answers.

If you prefer to email, reach me at naomi@thelonghaulcareers.com.au

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Thanks for reaching out. I'll be back in touch within 2 business days.