Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

The role of school community partnerships in building successful transition pathways for young people: one school’s approach

  • Published:
The Australian Educational Researcher Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Western governments around the globe have become increasingly focused on the successful transition of young people from school to further education and/or training. It could be suggested that for many countries this is the key focus of their youth policies. Nevertheless, the divide between those young people who manage to successfully transition into a meaningful careers pathway and those who do not continues to widen. Establishing stronger welfare safety nets and better youth services that can respond more effectively to the needs of young people as they reach fruition have all been a part of the policy and practice developments of the last decade. And although these are all important aspects of a functioning community, at the centre of young people’s lives remains their connection to education and thus to their school. This connection, if successfully positive, can develop resiliency, community links, social capital and an economic future for young people. These are daunting responsibilities to place on one institution. This paper examines one school’s approach to establishing innovative careers pathways for young people. It also discusses the importance of partnerships between schools, community services and other community, government and parent stakeholders in the creation, application and evaluation of careers and transition programs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alford, K., & James, R. (2007). Pathways and barriers: indigenous schooling and VET participation in the Goulburn Valley. A National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation Program Report. Retrieved November 13, from http://www.cshe.unimelb.edu.au/research/indigenous/docs/nr4020.pdf.

  • Attride-Stirling, J. (2001). Thematic networks: an analytic tool for qualitative research. Qualitative Research, 1, 385–405.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ben-Shahar, T. (2007). Happier. USA: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond, S. (2010). Integrated and personalised services for young people. Research and Policy Centre, Brotherhood of St Laurence. Retrieved January, 20, 2011, from http://www.bsl.org.au/Research-and-Publications/Research-and-Policy-Centre/Through-school-to-work.aspx.

  • Bradshaw, D., Clemans, A., Donovan, C., & Macrae, H. (2001). A report for the Victorian full service schools program: Room to move. Department of Education, Employment and Training, Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Publishing Service.

  • Broadbent, R., Cacciattolo, M., & Davies, M. (2008). Building constructive partnerships with community stakeholders. International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 3(5), 161–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Broadbent, R., Cacciattolo, M., & Papadopoulos, T. (2012). Good practice in secondary school careers programs: A case study of the approach of one inner city school. Education & Training, 54(2/3), 126–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Butler, H., Bond, L., Drew, S., Krelle, A., & Seal, I. (2005). Doing it differently: Improving young people’s engagement with school. Brotherhood of St Laurence. Melbourne: Royal Children’s Hospital, Centre for Community Child Health.

  • Cohen, A. P. (1985). The symbolic construction of community. London: Tavistock.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Connell, R. W. (1993). Schools and social justice. Philedelphia: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department for Victorian Communities [DPCD]. (2006). Advance handbook for government schools. Department for Victorian Communities, Victorian. Melbourne: Victorian Government Publishing Service.

  • Department of Education and Early Childhood Development [DEECD]. (2009). Signposts: Paper no 16. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Publishing Service.

  • Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations [DEEWR]. (2008). Family-school partnerships framework: A guide for schools and families. Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Canberra: DEEWR.

  • Department of Premier and Cabinet [DPC]. (2002). Community building statement. Victorian Government. Melbourne: Victorian Government Publishing Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dwyer, P., Stokes, H., Tyler, D., & Holdsworth, R. (1998). Negotiating staying and returning: Young people’s perspectives on schooling and the youth allowance. Research report (Youth Research Centre) no. 18. Parkville: Youth Research Centre.

  • Education Foundation (2001). Toward school-community partnership. Education Foundation.

  • Giddens, A. (1998). The third way: The renewal of social democracy. Cambridge: Polity Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gysbers, N. C., & Henderson, P. (2006). Developing and managing your school guidance and counseling program (4th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heffernan, M., Ingamells, A., Delaforce, W., Rich, B. & Buys, N. (2005). Mapping youth-at-risk: GIS and its potential as a service integration tool. Paper presented to the Social Change in the 21st Century Conference Centre for Social Change Research, Queensland University of Technology. Retrieved November 13, 2012 from http://eprints.qut.edu.au/3747/1/3747.pdf.

  • Homel, R. (1999). Pathways to prevention: Developmental and early intervention approaches to crime in Australia. Canberra: National Crime Prevention.

  • Kilpatrick, S., Bell, R., & Kilpatrick, P. (2001). Vocational education and training in rural schools: Education for the community. VOCAL, 3(2000–01), 31–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby, P., (2000). Ministerial review of post compulsory education and training pathways in Victoria. Department of Education, Employment and Training, Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Publishing Service.

  • Lamb, S., & Vickers, M. (2006). Variations in VET provision across Australian schools and their effects on student outcomes. LSAY Research Reports. Longitudinal surveys of Australian youth research report, no. 48. Retrieved November 13, 2012, from http://research.acer.edu.au/lsay_research/53.

  • McInerney, P. (2004). Making hope practical school reform and social justice. Australia: Post Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs [MCEETYA]. (2008). Melbourne declaration on educational goals for young Australians. Commonwealth of Australia, Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs. Retrieved November 10, 2012, from http://www.mceecdya.edu.au/verve/_resources/national_declaration_on_the_educational_goals_for_young_australians.pdf.

  • Mulford, B., (2003). The role of school leadership in attracting and retaining teachers and promoting innovative schools and students. Report for Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training for the Review of Teaching and Teacher Evaluation. Canberra: DEST.

  • O’Leary, Z. (2010). The essential guide to doing your research project. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peirce, N., & Johnson, C. (1997). Boundary crossers: Community leadership for a global age. Maryland: The Academy of Leadership Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prime Minister’s Youth Pathways Action Plan Taskforce [PMYPAPT]. (2001). Footprints to the future. Taskforce Report. Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs. Canberra: DETYA.

  • Rainey, L., Simons, M., Pudney, V., & Hughes, E. (2008). What choice? An evaluation of career development services for young people. A National Vocational Education Training Research and Evaluation Program Report for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Canberra: DEEWR.

  • School Focused Youth Service [SFYS]. (2002). Making it easy: Enhancing partnerships through protocols a guide for developing protocols between schools and services based in the community. Guidelines for the Department of Education and Training, Victoria Melbourne: Victorian Government Publishing Service.

  • Stokes, H. (2000). A report for the Victorian full service schools program: Out of education, successful learning publications. Department of Education, Employment and Training, Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Publishing Service.

  • Stokes, H., Wierenga, A., & Wyn, J. (2003). Preparing for the future and living today: Enterprise and career. Melbourne: Education Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teese, R. (2000). Academic success and social power. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teese, R, & Lamb, S. (2010). Low achievement and social background: Patterns, processes and interventions (Discussion paper). University of Melbourne Centre for Post-Compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning. Retrieved October 12, 2012, from http://svc112.wic025v.server-web.com/wcb content/uploads/psp/file/Resources/low_ses_discussion_paper_v1.pdf.

  • Youth Forum Jeunesse [YFJ]. (2003). Policy paper on youth organisations as non-formal educatorsRecognising our role. Council of Members, Commission of the European Communities. Rome: COMEM.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robyn Broadbent.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Broadbent, R., Cacciattolo, M. The role of school community partnerships in building successful transition pathways for young people: one school’s approach. Aust. Educ. Res. 40, 109–123 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-012-0081-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-012-0081-9

Keywords

Navigation