Engaging young early school leavers in vocational training

The vocational education and training sector must work to demystify VET pathways and better inform and support young early school leavers if it wants to engage them.

As participation rates of young people in vocational education and training (VET) decline, opportunities exist to engage and retain early school leavers in VET. However this study showed that the VET sector must work to demystify VET pathways and better inform and support young early school leavers if it wants to engage them and improve youth unemployment opportunities.

Through interviews and focus groups with young people and those from organisations and agencies serving the interests of young people, as well as with training provider staff, this study investigated what actions and initiatives would maximise the successful entry into and engagement with VET for young early school leavers. The study focused on selected economically disadvantaged areas in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania.

The framework for data collection and analysis took into account the factors that may affect a young person’s engagement with the VET sector at three critical times: just before commencement, at enrolment and during the subsequent training.