Culturally Competent Career Counselling: A Critical Approach to Supporting Minority Canadian High School Students

This poster examines culturally competent career counselling models in Canadian high schools, informed by my experience as a high school educator with a critical lens to confront systemic inequities that exist. Minority students, including racialized, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and low-income youth, continue to face barriers in their post-graduation planning. This raises an educational concern and a need for culturally responsive career guidance. The research lens is grounded in the work of Freire, hooks, and Noddings. The research studies culturally competent career counselling that affirms identity, addresses intersectionality, and challenges the myth of neutrality in practical outcomes, theories, and practices. Recommendations include advocacy-focused cultural competence training for counsellors and the development of culturally responsive career interest assessments. These approaches suggest more accurate, empowering, and contextually grounded post-graduation planning for diverse learners. The findings suggest that culturally competent counselling models can foster self-efficacy, expand opportunities, and address systemic barriers in Canadian high schools.