It has long been acknowledged that what happens in the immediate post-school years can have important consequences for young people in making their transition to adulthood. The educational and occupational pathways of young people as they progress from school into further study, employment and adult life is therefore an important area for policy-makers and educators to understand.

Through a range of research projects, ACER has contributed to understanding the different pathways young people take from school to work and the key factors involved. With this knowledge, policy-makers and educators can assist young people to make successful transitions from school to further education and work.

One such example is the On Track post-school destinations survey, conducted by ACER and the Social Research Centre on behalf of the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. On Track is an annual telephone survey, conducted in April and May, of Victorian school leavers from the previous year. ‘School leavers’ encompasses both Year 12 or equivalent completers, those who have completed a Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), International Baccalaureate (IB) or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL, at Senior or Intermediate level), as well as early leavers, those who left school before completing any one of the afore-mentioned qualifications.

The survey encompasses leavers from government and non-government schools, as well as those who have done equivalent courses in TAFE colleges and adult education organisations.  Around 40 000 leavers respond to the survey each year, and response rates generally exceed 80 per cent.

After all the data are collected and collated, ACER prepares tailored On Track reports that provide feedback to schools, Department regional directors, TAFE institutions, Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs), regional career development officers and local government authorities.  The On Track annual report provides a statewide summary and detailed analysis of post-school destinations by different groups of leavers.  The annual report is available from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development website. The On Track data showing the main destinations of Year 12 completers are also included on ACARA’s My School website for Victorian secondary schools. 

One component of the project is the On Track longitudinal survey.  This provides a more extensive picture of post-school pathways. A new longitudinal cohort comprised 2007 school leavers, who have been surveyed each year until 2011.  ACER is currently analysing the data from these surveys and will report later this year on the destinations of these young people and the factors that have influenced their pathways.

A valuable feature of On Track is that it also offers a referral service for school leavers who appear to be experiencing difficulties in the transition process. The On Track Connect program consists of follow-up with national Youth Connections providers. In 2010 almost 2000 leavers accepted the offer of a referral.

On Track has been conducted since 2003 and now provides nine years worth of data to review trends. For example, the survey of school leavers from the 2009 school year revealed that the percentage of people commencing a Bachelor degree in the year after completing school had reached its highest rate (49 per cent) since the survey began, while the percentage of Year 12 completers deferring a tertiary education place had declined for the first time (to 10 per cent). The results of the survey of 2010 school leavers, due to be published later this year, will allow further analysis of trends.

The information collected by On Track is used as a tool for guiding policy and practice at State, regional and school levels. For example, the Gippsland region in Victoria’s East and South-east is currently seeking to improve post-school destinations for students, particularly in higher level vocational education and training and higher education. To inform the development of a Gippsland Tertiary Education Plan, Skills Victoria commissioned ACER to prepare a report providing statistical analysis of the local student profile. The report’s analysis of On Track data found that, compared to other regions in Victoria, students in Gippsland are less likely to be studying a Bachelor degree and are more likely to be studying at a Certificate I–III level, in an apprenticeship, in part-time employment or looking for work.

With 35 002 Victorian Year 12 or equivalent completers and 3768 early school leavers surveyed in 2011, On Track is the largest post-school destinations survey in Australia. Further information about On Track is available from http://www.acer.edu.au/research/projects/on-track-annual-student-surveys/

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