1966

Tom’s active involvement in Guidance began in 1966 when he co-founded The Co Kildare Career Information Service which aimed to provide career information free to parents and students in County Kildare.

He compiled two Booklets (“Careers in Agriculture”,  and   “Careers in Industry”. ) which were published by Naas Junior Chamber of Commerce   .When Anco assumed the role of publishing such information in 1969 the Kildare Service ceased.

Those 18 pioneers set up the first Institute to represent professional Guidance Counsellors and Tom was their first Chairman from 1968 to 1972.  Known as the Institute of Vocational Guidance and Counselling in Ireland it was later renamed as the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.

He was indefatigable in the active  promotion of adequate standards in the professional development of Guidance Counsellors, addressing and negotiating with many educational, parent  and public groups.     He also published a number of articles and pamphlets on the topic.  (cf.Appendix A).

Of particular note was “The Case for Proper Guidance” which he compiled and had published by the Institute of Vocational Guidance and Counselling in 1968 and circulated to every post-primary school in Ireland.

Guidance Counsellors in the Educational system. 

Tom was one of the first five Professional Guidance Counsellors to be introduced into the Irish Second-Level Educational system.   They were sanctioned for full-time employment by Minister for Education, Mr Brian Lenihan in his letter to Professor O’Doherty, on 29^th Aug 1968.

He served as Guidance Counsellor in Naas Vocational School (1968-74);  Moyne Community School (1974 – 76);  Wexford Vocational School (1976 – 78).

1979 

He left the formal education sector in Jan 1979 to set up his consultancy which offered a private guidance service to students and adults.

Joe joined Tom in 1997 and officially they became Casey Career Consultancy.  Having worked as a counsellor with drugs users he helped them choose alternatives to dependency and directionless lives.  He had taken a Diploma in Counselling & Guidance in 1991 at University of Reading and later the professional post-graduate Diploma in Career Guidance in 1997. 

Prior to this Joe had worked in industry for 15 years.  His career in Civil Engineering had taken him to Africa and the United Kingdom on large-scale infra-structural projects.  Working with a broad range of people from different cultural and professional backgrounds sparked a deep interest in humanity (the human condition/understanding humans) .  This led him to do volunteer work in the late 1980’s and subsequentially to Counselling and Career Guidance.

As Casey Career Consultancy, they worked as active partners untill 1999, when Tom retired to a more informal background consulting role.

Since originally specialising in career guidance for school leavers Joe has broadened his remit to include career counselling for third level students, graduates and adult career changers.  Our clients come from all over Ireland.

Joe Casey & Tom Casey