Jennifer Gore|Kathryn Holmes|Max Smith|Erica Southgate|James Albright
Socioeconomic status and the career aspirations of Australian school students: Testing enduring assumptions
University of Newcastle Australia|University of Newcastle Australia|University of Newcastle Australia|University of Newcastle Australia|University of Newcastle Australia
recent australian government targets higher education participation produced flurry activity focused raising aspirations students low socioeconomic status ses backgrounds paper test two key assumptions underpinning much activity students lowses backgrounds hold lower career aspirations outreach activities appropriately target secondary school students given younger students aspirations relatively underdeveloped drawing sample 3504 students map intersection career aspirations students years 4 6 8 10 ses demographic variables order contribute evidence base academic educational political work access higher education policies practices outcomes might ensue aspirations assessed terms occupational certainty occupational choice occupational prestige occupational justification found fewer differences year level ses expected analyses demonstrate complexity students career aspirations challenges associated undertaking kind research thus signalling need caution development policy interventions field