2009 Next Step Survey

The 2009 Next Step survey is the fifth statewide survey of students who completed Year 12 in government and non-government schools across Queensland. The survey results show the initial study and work destinations of young people who finished school in 2008.

The survey was conducted between March and May 2009 and achieved a very pleasing response rate of 82.4 per cent.

Summary results of the 2009 Next Step survey are as follows:

almost nine in ten Year 12 completers (89.9 per cent) were studying or in paid employment at the time of the survey
six in ten (59.6 per cent) continued in some recognised form of education or training in the year after they left school
more than one-third (35.1 per cent) were undertaking a university degree
almost a quarter (24.5 per cent) were studying vocational education and training (VET)
more than half of the campus-based VET students were studying at Certificate IV level or higher (6.7 per cent of all Year 12 completers)
over one in nine (11.7 per cent) commenced employment-based training, either as an apprentice (7.6 per cent) or trainee (4.1 per cent)
approximately four in ten (40.4 per cent) did not enter post-school education or training and were either employed (30.3 per cent), looking for work (8.1 per cent) or neither working, seeking work nor studying (1.9 per cent)
more than 2600 Year 12 completers (7.5 per cent) had deferred a tertiary offer. Among this group, most were working (41.1 per cent in full-time jobs and 44.5 per cent in part-time jobs).

Detailed results of the 2009 survey are available in a comprehensive statewide report and ten regional reports.

Thank you to the many thousands of Queensland Year 12 graduates who took part in the 2009 Next Step survey and contributed to its success.

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