Are we fostering enterprising young people? Student aspirations in Outer Eastern Melbourne

Abstract

The impetus for the Enterprise and Student Aspirations in Outer Eastern Melbourne arose from concern about regional sustainability. Previous planning schemes and now Melbourne 2030 have placed definite limits on urban growth in the region; the population tends to be ageing with pockets of socio-economic disadvantage (in the outer areas a high proportion of residents earn less than $300 per week); and the economy is dominated by small and micro business rather than large industry. Residents travel out of the region for work (for example, of the 67,555 employed residents in Yarra Ranges, 44,030 or 65 percent travel out of the Shire for work). There is concern also about the skills and knowledge base of the community. Less than 9 percent of residents have a Bachelor Degree or higher and over half of the population has no post school qualification at all. Based on tertiary application rates and numbers of students who do not complete VCE in the Outer East, we know many students do not aspire to further education. The On Track survey data, collected on the destination of all Victorian Year 12 school leavers, suggest that many students are employed post VCE. However the nature of employment is of concern, given that much of the employment is low skill and perhaps part-time and/or casual in nature. This project is designed to research student education and enterprise career aspirations and student intentions to live and work in the region, specifically focussing on enterprise career aspirations that may either be an immediate or a longer term ambition. The project seeks to clarify whether the extent of awareness of enterprise and entrepreneurship in Outer Eastern Melbourne is of sufficient breadth and depth to potentially influence regional development. [Executive summary]