Dawes, Glenn (2006) Barriers to education and employment: an Australian youth perspective. In: Proceedings of the International Knowledge Economy and Management Congress (2) From: International Knowledge Economy and Management Congress, 3-5 November 2006, Istanbul, Turkey.

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Abstract

The quest for obtaining an education and a resultant higher standard of living is reflected in the increasing numbers of Australian’s who are participating in education with over 60 % of Australia's 15 to 24 year old population accessing schools and higher educational institutions. In the state of Queensland over1, 456,500 students were either attending a school (734,700), a higher education institution (425,900), or a technical college (237,100). In 2003 the Queensland state government announced major reforms to the schooling system. These reforms are enshrined in the Youth Participation in Education and Training Act 2003 and include the requirement from 2006 for young people to remain in school until 16 years or have completed Year 10.

However there are significant numbers of young people who are failing to obtain educational qualifications or employment which has the potential of producing an underclass of people across the country. This paper reports on research from one Australian community and explores the barriers which prevent some youth from completing their education. This qualitative study presents the results of a two year study which provides data from school personnel, youth workers, and young people who are in danger from dropping out of school or have recently left. Views from young people are analysed to identify the major factors contributing to young people’s decision to leave school. The research reviews the factors both external to the schools and within the schools that link to low retention rates and reveal a range of specific community issues related to mobility and students lack of knowledge of the world of work. It is further argued that some of these issues may be applicable to other industrialised countries as well.

Item ID:	1578
Item Type:	Conference Item (Research - E1)
Keywords:	education; knowledge; disengagement; Indigenous
Related URLs:	http://www.beykon.org/eng.htm
Date Deposited:	08 Aug 2007
FoR Codes:	16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1608 Sociology > 160809 Sociology of Education @ 100%
SEO Codes:	93 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 9399 Other Education and Training > 939999 Education and Training not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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