Â鶹ÊÓƵ

Our team was part of a project led by the University of Wollongong, along with the University of Canberra, University of Tasmania, Macquarie University, University of New South Wales and the Australian Catholic University, and focussed on higher education career advice for low SES and rural students.

This program responded to previous research that showed regional students and low SES metropolitan students study subjects that facilitate Â鶹ÊÓƵ entry at a lower rate than other students. Research indicated this was due to a lack of recognition of the role of these subjects in future careers in the local area.

This is a major issue since not studying relevant subjects at school limits Â鶹ÊÓƵ entry pathways. Relating to Â鶹ÊÓƵ study in prospective local careers is critical as many students in this category indicated the desire to live and work locally as an important driver in career decisions, including not studying Â鶹ÊÓƵ-related subjects.

In this project, we worked with local students in low SES metropolitan schools, and rural schools, to identify the characteristics of career advice they perceived to be important in understanding careers in their local area; this advice included the connection to valuable school subjects to facilitate Â鶹ÊÓƵ pathways and careers of interest. This approach worked to enhance social mobility, while also responding to the needs of youth who aimed to remain in their local community.

In the project, the University of Canberra worked with low SES and rural schools in their networks to design and trial a Careers Education Outreach Program suited to the needs of individual communities to address the issues of local careers, Â鶹ÊÓƵ subjects, school subjects and pathways to careers in the local community.

This project used a mixed-method approach – specifically a literature review (done by UoW), survey method and focus groups. These approaches allowed an efficient triangulation of data and also enabled alignment with UC 2016 HEPPP project, ‘Enhancing aspirations for STEM careers in rural, regional and remote communities’<Link to 2.2.6 Tertiary nav – Exploring Rural Knowledges Completed Project #4 page>. The University of Canberra also worked with low SES and rural schools in their networks to design and trial a Careers Education Outreach Program that was tailored to the individual needs of the communities it was trialled in.

This project developed principles for best practice careers advice for low SES and rural students. These can be accessed .
The UC Student Equity, Participation and Outreach team developed a Careers Education Outreach Program that was tailored to the individual needs of specific communities. This is currently being adapted for future use with more schools in rural areas.

Publications

• Austin, K., O’Shea, S., Groves, O. & Lamanna, J. (2021) Best-practice principles for career development learning for students from low socioeconomic (LSES) backgrounds. Retrieved from:
• Austin, K., O’Shea, S., Groves, O. & Lamanna, J. (2020) Career development learning for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds: Desktop Audit. Retrieved from:
• Austin, K., O’Shea, S., Groves, O., Lamanna, J., Roberts, P., Poretti, L. & Downes, N. (2021) Find your future focus: A place-based career-education program for high-school students. Retrieved from: University of Wollongong and National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education, Australia
• Austin, K., O’Shea, S., Groves, O. & Lamanna, J. (2020) Career development learning for students from low socioeconomic status backgrounds: Literature Review. Retrieved from: University of Wollongong and National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education, Australia:
• Groves, O., Austin, K., Cull, N., Poretti, L. & Roberts, P. (2021). Best practice career education for middle-school students from low socioeconomic backgrounds: Two case studies. Disrupted futures: International lessons on how schools can best equip students for their working lives OECD 27-29 October 2021 (online conference).

Related Projects

• Enhancing aspirations for STEM careers in rural, regional and remote communities
• The sociocultural experiences of rural students at Â鶹ÊÓƵ
• Reinventing the Gap Year
• Higher Education Research Project