The writer uses survey data, qualified with personal observations from his involvement in career education since its inception, to show the range of quality and the general lack of adequate administrative support in the early implementation of the innovation in Victorian schools. The later diffusion and development of the innovation in Victoria is described and evaluated: the writer's aim being to supplement material already published. The study reports on the increasing provision of professional training and pays tribute to the work of career educators in overcoming to some extent the historical constraints in the fragmented Victorian education system. The writer gives personal observations of Victorian career educators' recent successful collaboration with influential representatives of the community interested in the improvement of education practice. Information about the modern professional training of career educators, based on substantial investigation and evaluation, and now being implemented in Victoria is also discussed in the thesis