Parenting in the Age of Disruption

Recent circumstances have made it clear that we live in an age of disruption and that the future our children will inherit will be very different than the world we live in now.

Michael Grose (parentingideas.com.au) argues that we need to prepare our children for a future in a world where it is estimated that over 20 per cent of today’s jobs won’t exist in just five years’ time? How do we prepare them for a work-life of multiple careers and job changes?

South African educator and author Nikki Bush believes that the future will belong to those who develop a broad range of personal capabilities rather than a narrow number of academic abilities. Bush has outlined five key personal factors that will help kids succeed in the future world of work. These are:

Creativity and innovation
With information being only a digital search away, knowledge is relatively easy to obtain in the digital age. The ability to think outside of the square and find new solutions to old problems will be one of the most highly valued skills in the new world of work.

Love of learning
In a world where people working into their 70s and beyond will become common place, a degree of qualification obtained in their early 20s won’t guarantee continued success. The future will require people to be in charge of their own learning and be willing to continually upskill. Continuous learners rather than those who close themselves off to new ideas and concepts will thrive in the future.

Resilience
Life doesn’t unfold in a straight line. It never has, but the future of work will have more twists and curves than ever before. Kids will need to be resilient and flexible enough to cope with rapid workplace change and lack of security, as well as be able to manage risk to earning a living.

Self knowledge
Personal knowledge of strengths, capabilities and talents has long been a skill, that we’ve neglected to develop in kids. When the future is fluid and work continually changing, self-knowledge will become a passport to happiness and success.

Teamwork
The ability for your child to work as part of a team both virtually and in the real world will be more important than ever in the future world of work. Even jobs that have an individual skill focus will require people to work cooperatively alongside each other.

Our WAC Educational Framework has close similarities to these ideas. Our aim for a Wollondilly student is they are:

Motivated Learners
Engaged in learning, building knowledge and using critical thinking.

Caring and Care for Others
Community focused and develop meaningful relationships, can work collaboratively and outward looking.

Self-Regulatory
Resilient, reflective, self-aware, balanced in their outlook.

Future Focused
Aspirational, collaborators, creators, innovators and problem solvers.

Purpose Driven
These are the qualities that don’t make the list suggested by Grose or Bush but we believe are essential for success in life – transformed by the Gospel, clear on who God is and His love for people and the world, displaying Christian virtues and values, principled, service minded, connected with faith and family and the world.

Mr Ian Croger
Deputy Headmaster