Frequently asked questions

What is Next Step?

Who is responsible for the survey?

Who takes part in Next Step?

Why do we need Next Step?

How will I be contacted to participate in Next Step?

When does Next Step take place?

What does the survey ask?

Are international students included in Next Step?

Can parents respond to the survey on behalf of their child or family members?

How did Next Step obtain my contact details?

Will answers to the survey be passed on to my old school?

Tell me about Next Step and privacy?

How does this survey fit with surveys conducted by individual schools?

Will future Year 12 students participate in Next Step?

How can I get further information about Next Step?

What is Next Step?

Next Step is the Queensland Government's statewide survey of every student who completed Year 12 in the previous year in Queensland, in Government and non-Government schools. The survey collects information about the initial study and employment destinations of young people after leaving school.

Who is responsible for the survey?

The Department of Education and Training manages the survey on behalf of the Queensland Minister for Education and Training. The Office of the Government Statistician has been commissioned to conduct the survey fieldwork.

A reference group advises the Department on the survey. Its membership is the three school sectors (Government, Catholic and independent), secondary principals from each sector, the higher education sector, and the Queensland Studies Authority.

Who takes part in Next Step?

Every young person who completes Year 12 in Queensland will be contacted by the Office of the Government Statistician in the year after they complete Year 12, asking them to participate in the survey.

Why do we need Next Step?

The Next Step survey provides valuable information to improve the services that are available to young adults in the future. The survey collects information about what young adults are doing in the year after leaving school.

The survey information assists:

Parents and the wider public to know the outcomes of students after Year 12 and to appreciate the range of options available to students;
Schools to review and plan their services for students, especially in the senior years of schooling;
School systems to review their education policies as they affect the transition from school to further study and employment; and
Training bodies, universities, business and industry, local government and regional planners to plan their services.

How will I be contacted to participate in Next Step?

Former Year 12 students will receive a letter providing information about the survey. They will then be able to participate in the survey by receiving a phone call or by completing an online survey.

When does Next Step take place?

The survey is conducted between March and May each year, approximately six months after the young people finish school.

Results of the survey are available on the website from late August.

What does the survey ask?

The survey asks former students about their initial study, work or other destinations since leaving school and details of these destinations.

If working, the survey asks their occupation, industry, hours of work and whether employed on a casual basis;
If not working, the survey asks whether they are looking for work and reasons why they may not be;
If studying, the survey asks where they are studying, the course, level of the program, whether they are studying full-time or part-time; and
If not studying, the survey asks their reasons for not currently studying and whether they deferred a university place through QTAC.

Are international students included in Next Step?

Yes, international students are included in the Next Step destination survey and the Queensland Government is very keen to hear from international students. The success of their schooling is just as important as that of other students.

Can parents respond to the survey on behalf of their child or family members?

Yes, if former students are unable or unavailable to complete the survey, parents can complete the survey by phone or online on behalf of that student.

How did Next Step obtain my contact details?

The Queensland Studies Authority provides details of former Year 12 students to the Office of the Government Statistician so that young adults can be contacted for the survey and for no other purpose.

Will answers to the survey be passed on to my old school?

No. Answers are combined with answers from other students from the same school before being provided to the school. Young adults can not be individually identified by any of the information provided in the Next Step survey results.

Tell me about Next Step and privacy?

Responses to the survey are kept strictly confidential. The information collected by the Office of the Government Statistician is protected by the Statistical Returns Act 1896, which means that legal penalties apply to anyone who releases responses in a way that identifies that person.

How does this survey fit with surveys conducted by individual schools?

The Next Step survey complements the surveys that many schools conduct themselves. Schools' surveys may ask different questions and be linked to advice for past students. The Next Step survey provides an opportunity for schools to compare the destinations of their students with statewide and regional patterns.

Will future Year 12 students participate in Next Step?

Yes, the Next Step survey will be repeated each year with students who completed Year 12 in the previous year. This is a long-term Queensland Government commitment to assist schools to enhance pathways for their graduates.

How can I get further information about Next Step?

For further information about the background, purpose or reporting for Next Step, please contact the Next Step team.

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