The transition from secondary school

Common feelings and concerns 

It is common for young people leaving secondary school for tertiary education, vocational training or work to experience intense emotional reactions. 

Some feelings and concerns include:

• excitement about new opportunities
• managing increased autonomy
• making new friends 
• adapting to the different context of higher education or work (e.g. new settings and expectations)
• juggling work, family, friends and study
• dealing with setbacks
• understanding pathways beyond school
• navigating new environments and obligations such as deadlines, finances and work
• establishing new living arrangements.

Transition to work or education begins earlier than the final years of schooling. Schools can help students to prepare, throughout their education, in the following ways:

• Continue to develop students’ social and emotional skills.
• Inspire and mentor young people.
• Teach employability and life skills.
• Manage expectations by helping young people develop realistic goals and the steps required to achieve them, including having back-up plans.
• Connect students with mental health services, as appropriate, including post-school, if possible.
• Provide access to careers counselling.

Useful strategies

Some specific strategies include the following:

• Provide adolescents with opportunities such as work placements and work experience programs. This allows students to gain experience in work settings, with different employers and different ways of learning. 
• Give students education and knowledge about the workplace, such as work rights, superannuation and taxes. 
• Build resilience and communication skills. 
• Identify young people who might be at risk of a poor transition beyond secondary school. Educators know the students’ family circumstances, community contexts, socioeconomic status and peer groups, and are usually well placed to identify students who may need additional support.

Provide opportunities

Schools can facilitate students’ transitioning to tertiary education, vocational training or work by the following opportunities:

• Recognise their interests, strengths and aspirations.
• Build the skills, knowledge and behaviours to make informed yet flexible choices. 
• Explore how jobs and careers are ever evolving.
• Ensure that students have personal and emotional support.
• Identify students likely to be at risk of poor transition out of school – and initiate early interventions.

Young people experiencing disadvantage may experience a more unsettled transition.

Although young people have typically been highlighted as a group that is at risk within the labour market, some groups have more challenges with the post-secondary school transition, including those living with disabilities and complex health, identity and other social issues. 

Centre for Multicultural Youth (2009). Pathways and transitions: Post-compulsory education, work and refugee young people. Melbourne: Victorian Settlement Planning Committee.

Circelli, M. & Oliver, D. (2012). Youth transitions: What the research tells us. Adelaide: NCVER.

Ferguson, J. (2008). Poverty and disadvantage among young Australians: How are young people going? Sydney: Youth Action and Policy Association.

Hillman, K. (2005). The first year experience: The transition from secondary school to university and TAFE in Australia. Retrieved from https://research.acer.edu.au/lsay_research/44.

Macourt, D. (2014). Youth and the law: the impact of legal problems on young people Updating Justice, February. Sydney: Law and Justice Foundation of NSW.
Yu, P. (2010). Disability and disadvantage: A study of a cohort of Australian youth, Australian Journal of Labour Economics, 13(3), 265-286.

Staying on track: Participants report

Young people’s successful transition to work: What are the pre-conditions?

Preparing Secondary School Students for Work Framework