Rethinking School-to-Work Transitions in Australia

This book draws on the stories of thirty-two young Australians to identify the barriers and obstacles they face in ‘getting a job’ in precarious times and from their vantage point. It maps the kinds of educational policies and practices that need to be created and more widely sustained to assist their career aspirations and life chances. It is timely in terms of contributing to an alternative set of possibilities based on a commitment to the principles and values of social justice, respect, trust, care, democracy and citizenship. In constructing an alternative vision and practice for education and training it advocates the right of all young people to have a say in these broader public debates.  In pursuing this agenda, it deliberately sets out to listen to what young people themselves have to say with a view to interrupting the way things are. In other words, the book seeks to identify and explain the dreams, desires and aspirations of young people with a view to creating a new imaginary and socially just future.

1 Introduction.- 2 Doing Critical Ethnography.- 3 Growing up in Neoliberal Times.- 4 Rethinking Class and Deficit Thinking.- 5 Transitioning to Adulthood.- 6 Reinvigorating Pedagogy.- 7 Giving all Students a Fair Go.- 8 Understanding Young Lives.- 9 Conclusion.- References.- About the Authors.- Subject Index.