Evaluation of an access and equity program on secondary students post-secondary choices. A paper presented at Australian Association Research in Education Conference Newcastle, 1994 Ted Booth and Patricia Young Secondary Schools Link Program Faculty of Education University of Wollongong Introduction The purpose of the paper is to explore the success of an equity based tertiary awareness program through a focused evaluation of the impact of the visit of tertiary student role models [SRMs] to an audience of Year 10 secondary students in a sample of program secondary schools. A pre-post survey was used to assess the students intentions to further their studies and the factors that have influenced their decisions. 1.Program Purpose The Secondary School Link Program at the University of Wollongong is an outreach program initially funded by DEET under the Higher Education Equity Fund but mainstreamed funded from 1992 under through the University's Equity and Access Consultative Group. The policy context of the program is to enhance the access and participation of all six equity target groups into higher education [TAFE and university] through school based conversations with Year 10 and 12 students by student role models from the University and the Illawarra Institute of TAFE. 2.Outline of paper The paper will initially discuss the national equity context and the history of the Wollongong program from its beginning in eleven schools in 1989 to a core visit program to 32 high schools from 1992 to 1994. Specific attention will be given to the evaluation of the Year 10 students reactions to the school visit component of the program. Implications for program improvement will be made to an initiative which the University considers to be "... an effective and efficient operation at a very low cost." National Context 1.Tertiary Perspective The key concept associated with link style programs around Australia is access. The term is mainly described in social terms where equity issues and the right of people to have equal access to higher education is paramount. The Federal Government stated its equity objectives in relation to disadvantaged groups in A Fair Chance for All (1989) with the overall objective to ensure that all Australians have access to higher education. In outlining its equity policy the government selected six target groups which included people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women (increases to be made in the proportion of women in non-traditional courses and in postgraduate research, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, people with disabilities and people from rural and isolated areas.1 The strategies proposed to achieve greater access for these groups included tertiary awareness and schools link programs, bridging and support programs and units, strategies to make teaching materials and process more relevant to these students. All higher education institutions are required to meet specific targets and objectives by 1995. The National Board of Employment, Education and Training (1994) have just released their review of the resource implications of good strategies for disadvantaged students in higher education. Six Link programs were funded by DEET in 1989; the Links Program at The University of Western Sydney, a Student Equity Unit at the University of Newcastle, a Stay in School Program at Roseworthy Agricultural College, South Australia, a Schools Link Project at Monash University, a Links with Disadvantaged Schools Project at Chisholm Institute of Technology, Victoria and the Secondary Schools Link Program at the University of Wollongong. A DEET evaluation of these initial programs was published in October, 1993.2 The concept of secondary-tertiary link programs has been expanded and several universities have used the strategy within their equity plans.3 2.Student Aspirations In 1992, ANOP undertook a study into Year 10 -12 post compulsory education options and found a push to university at the expense of TAFE options. A follow-up study in 1994 (DEET,1994) identified a decline in university preferences, however the 59 per cent of students still aspiring to university was considered unrealistic. While TAFE recorded a 20 per cent preference and was reported to have an improved image, the report identified the need for TAFE to use locally based promotion and information strategies rather than mass media advertising campaigns. . This program and other equity initiatives operates in a changing tertiary demand setting. There is a projected further easing of the demand for university places following the crisis in unmet demand in 1991 and 1992 and increased pressure on the more quickly expanding number of TAFE places. The concern is that while these and other initiatives have successfully developed higher aspirations, this has been coupled with a major down-turn in the youth labour market. Senior secondary retention rates has risen from 69.4 % in 1988 to 80.5% in 1994 in NSW. A 1993 DEET study of 2000 Year 10 to 12 students in NSW indicated that "...64 per cent hoped to pursue tertiary (university) education, causing a continuing high level of unmet demand among school-leavers for university places. In contrast, only 15 percent aspire to TAFE education." (Reported in SMH, 6/9/1993, p.3 from DEET poll.) With only four in ten students securing a place, the gross figures for those who missed out on university places is unknown. The recent publication (SMH, 21.11.1994) of retention rates for all NSW government schools for 1988, 1991 and 1994 is perhaps indicative of community interest in the pressures being faced by students and their schools by a variety of state and national political agendas. Many of the relatively disadvantaged schools in the current study have experienced a 100% increase in their staying on rates from around 30% in 1988 to well over 60% in 1994. One of the ongoing concerns of the Program team has been about the selection chances of the target groups. The evidence suggests that an increasing numbers of female students are lifting their aspirations, this has not been the case for males from low SES backgrounds. Recent work by Williams (1993) would indicate that "...(NESB) ethnic background does not play much of a part in determining whether or not a student completes Year 12 .... and the shares of the year 12 population held by the three ethnic groups approximates their shares of the population as a whole." (p 41)4 Unintended promotional aspects of the program continue to be reported by the Program. The five year 1989 to 1991 evaluation (Booth, 1993) identified that able students who had already planned to go to another university changed their preference to Wollongong following the SRM visit. The data suggests that disadvantaged target groups on the South Coast Region and the Campbelltown area who had never considered university study before but are now reporting they would consider university or TAFE study as an option. Many however will not achieve an aggregate mark that will give them entry. It was all the more difficult for them in 1991 and 1992 because demand pushed the cut off TER. scores for entry to courses to an all time high. The more recent expansion of TAFE options will in part ensure that programs that enhance post secondary options do not in the same process create enhanced frustration from the very groups who are already under represented in tertiary programs. Wollongong Context 1.Equity Planning Towards 2000 (1993), the Mission Statement of the University of Wollongong and the 1994 to 1996 Equity Plan includes the Link Program and a number of equity strategies to increase the access, participation and support of disadvantaged groups into tertiary studies. The University of Wollongong attracted funding in 1989 for the Secondary Schools Link Program, the 'New Start' Bridging Program, the University Preparation course, and Expanded Child Care Service and Compulsory Teaching Assessment Procedures Evaluation, from the DEET Higher Education Equity Fund. From 1989 to 1991 the Secondary Schools Link Program was located in the Equity in Education Research Program. From 1992 the Program was mainstreamed into the University budget while being coordinated from within the Faculty of Education. The budget allocation of $30,000 p.a. has remained unchanged but the number of targeted high schools has increased to 32 in the Illawarra, South Sydney and Campbelltown areas. Link has an established Liaison Committee to review policy and the program activities. Representatives from various administration units, TAFE and two current role models provide a very effective network across the institution and with our adjacent TAFE Institute. 2.Action Research Perspective An action research approach to evaluation was built into the Link Program from the outset. Evaluation processes each year has led to modifications for subsequent school visits, role model induction, the selection of additional schools and new initiatives. Wollongong Link Program Components 1.Student Role Model selection, training and evaluation Student Role Model (SRM) applications from across the University and TAFE were initially culled on the criteria of their personal background, their membership of an equity group and if they had attended a targeted high school. All final round applicants were selected by interview. Second and third time SRMs with experience from previous years were actively involved in the training by acting as mentors and giving sample presentations for the new recruits. Training included a general briefing sessions about the University and TAFE plus three further small group workshop sessions with an experienced SRM in attendance. Assessment of the Program by SRMs include surveys following completion of the annual program and a requirement that diary entries be recorded during the training and for all school visits. Recommendations from these sessions and the SRM diaries from each year have been built into subsequent programs.SRMs were also informally assessed by Careers Advisers, students and team members during their school visits.The SRMs performance in the schools, sometimes under difficult circumstances continues to be excellent. SRMs participating in the Link Program have noted many personal and professional benefits. These include improved public speaking skills , gains in personal confidence, feelings of satisfaction in easing the fears of school students and sharing of knowledge. There has also been a documented realisation of their own growth since leaving school. These unintended outcomes of the program have developed through each year and has enhanced the SRM's own commitment to their studies as well as the University and TAFE. 2.School visits program At each school visit each SRM addresses small groups of Year 10 students for approximately 10 to 20 minutes (depending on whether a single or double period is allowed by the school). All schools are offered the opportunity to hold a "mini-market" for senior students [Year 12's] prior to or following the Year 10 presentations. Four or five SRMs attended each school which allows a cross section of Faculty/TAFE representation. Role models initially tell something of their own experience and have a set general topic to cover in their short presentations. Topics have included the different ways of learning, accommodation options, support services and the tertiary life style. The students always have many questions which range from inquiries about the traditional university 'stereotypes' (drugs, sex and the lazy life) to quite personal questions of the role models own family attitudes about their study and life style. Some careers advisers have suggested moving the visit program forward to a Year 11 focus in 1995. 3.Video Resource Pack The production of the video and resource pack So After Year 12, What Next? in 1992 [from a small DEET Equity Fund grant] and its free distribution to over 150 rural and isolated high schools and all Central Schools in NSW allowed the program to address some of the needs of students who could not be visited by a team. 4."Go For A Day!" The Link team wished to make the Program a developmental one for the specifically targeted high school students. The initial visit in Year 10, at which the seeds were sown, is followed by spending a day on campus (University or TAFE) tagging along with one of the role models during the Year 11 of those students. This initiative called Go For A Day operated successfully in 1994 when six students from each of the targeted high schools participated in the scheme. The Link team envisage that those students will share their experiences with their peers. A longitudinal study is following this initial group. Evaluation Design The program's success can in part be determined by changes in the students' aspirations to consider undertaking tertiary studies and their related career options. As part of the action research approach to program development, samples of Year 10 students were pre and post surveyed in 1990 and in 1994. The purpose of the SRM visit survey was to ascertain the short term program impact on the student's career and tertiary preferences and the factors that they believe encourage and discourage them to "go on" to tertiary studies. 1.Survey Instrument The questions on the survey instrument were framed to ascertain Year 10 students': (i)intentions to complete Year 12 (ii)desire to pursue tertiary studies (university or TAFE) and where (iii)perception of what would encourage or discourage them from doing tertiary studies, and (iv)views about the student role models visit from the University of Wollongong and TAFE. Year 10 students completed the Pre Survey prior to the visit by the SRM team. The follow-up Post Survey was completed approximately a month after the visit. Careers Advisers organised the data collection in the schools. 2.Participants A total of 258 Year 10 students (161 female and 97 males) were identified from five schools as having completed both surveys in 1990. In 1994, 675 students (349 females and 326 males) from nine schools [40% proportion of participating schools in that year] completed the pre and post surveys. Student data was matched pre-post using a birthday code and a gender tag in a data base. In both years the schools in the two survey samples were considered to be representative of the mix of schools participating in the program. 3.Analysis Data will be presented by gender and the target groups: lower socio-economic status (SES) and those where a language other than English was used at home (NESB). The lower SES group was determined by those in receipt of Austudy in 1990 but by parental occupation in 1994.5 There were no identified disabled students and only one Aboriginal student in the sample. All post secondary tertiary preferences were identified from those students who reported a 'yes' preference to 'go on' in the pre and post surveys. This was considered to be a stable sub-population upon which to base the impact of the SRM visit program. Findings 1.Year 10 Students Intentions to Go On to Year 12 The pre and post SRM visit intentions of the 1994 Year 10 students to complete Year 12 was explored as an introductory question, "Do you intend to complete Year 12?" The percentages pre and post intentions are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Table 1: Pre Visit Intention of All Year 10 Students to Complete Year 12 -1994 N = 675(%) Yes Maybe No Total Males Female 193(59) 253(72) 90(28) 66(19) 43(13) 30(9) 326 349 All Student 446(66) 156(23) 73(11) 675(100) Table 2: Post Visit Intention of All Year 10 Students to Complete Year 12 -1994 N = 675(%) Yes Maybe No Total Males Female 210(64) 263(75) 75(23) 54(15) 41(13) 32(9) 326 349 All Student 473(70) 129(19) 73(11) 675(100) There was a four per cent increase in the positive intentions to complete Year 12 after the SRM visit. Seventy five per cent of female students reported an intention to complete Year 12 with only 15 per cent unsure. Fewer male students [64%] reported a post visit intention to go on with a higher percentage [23%] unsure about their intentions. In comparison, the 1994 positive progression intentions were surprisingly lower than the 1990 data (Table 3). 81% of all the Year 10 students indicated an affirmative intention to complete Year 12 in 1990, but this dropped significantly to 70% in 1994. Female students (82% in 1990 and 75% in 1994) on their current intentions remained more likely to continue to Year 12 than the males peers (79% in 1990 and 64% in 1994) The intention rates in 1990 were on the rise. The decrease in 1994 is partly explained by the fact that Year 10 students may be considering a TAFE course as an option instead of continuing with Years 11 and 12 at school. Males are no much more unsure [23%] about their future study plans. Table 3: Positive Post Visit Intentions of All Year 10 Students to Complete Year 12: 1990 & 1994 % 1990199419901994 Males FemaleYes 79% 82% Yes 64% 75%Maybe 16% 14%Maybe 23% 15% All Student 81% 70% 15% 19% 2.Program Impact on Female Year 10 Tertiary Preferences All Females Female students in both surveys were asked: "Are you considering tertiary studies (University or TAFE?"). If yes or maybe, "where would you like to go?" The project team attributes the changes in Year 10 students' preference to the SRM visit or at least initiated by the program. In the results of the 1990 and 1994 surveys there were significant differences. Table 4: All Year 10 Female Students Pre and Post SRM Visit Intentions to Pursue Tertiary Studies - 1994 & [1990] N = 349 (%) PrePostNet % Change 1994Net % Change 1990 Yes Maybe No 215(62) 112(32) 22(6) 250(72) 85(24) 14(4) +10 -8 -2 -4 +4 Total349(100)349(100) The Program had a positive impact on female students tertiary preferences in 1994 [Table 4] with a positive ten per cent change in aspirations. Table 5: Pre-post Tertiary Preferences of All Year 10 Females Considering Tertiary Study on Both Surveys -1990 and 1994 % Pre 1990 1994Post 1990 1994Net % Change in 1990 1994 Wollongong Other Tertiary TAFE 55 38 31 23 13 39 61 41 24 15 14 44 +6 +3 -7 -8 +1 +5 As well as the continued swing towards Wollongong from 1990 to 1994 [Table 5] there was also a significant swing towards TAFE with 44% of the female students who had a stable pre-post 'yes' preference for tertiary studies indicating that TAFE will be an option for them. Similar results are evident for the stable 'Yes' preference males [Table XX]. There was a 3% swing to Wollongong and a 5% swing to TAFE in the 1994 post survey . NESB Females Table 6:Year 10 NESB Females Pre and Post SRM Visit Intentions to Pursue Tertiary Studies - 1994 N = 27 (%) PrePostNet % Change Yes Maybe No 22(81) 5(19) 25(93) 2(7) +12 -12 In 1990 there was a steady 70% of NESB females indicating and intention to follow tertiary studies. In 1994 there was a 12 per cent increase to 93 per cent of NESB female students planning a tertiary post secondary option [Table 6]. Of those indicating a preference, there was a steady [54%] preference for Wollongong and strong (9%) move toward TAFE [Table 7]. Table 7Tertiary Preferences of Year 10 NESB Females - 1994 N = 22 (%) PrePostNet % Change Wollongong Other Tertiary TAFE 12(54) 5(23) 5(23) 12(54) 3(14) 7(32) -9 +9 Low SES Females The small number [14] of SES students in 1990 were identified by asking if they they were in receipt of Austudy. In 1994 the low SES sub group [111] was more realistically based on the students parent's being either or both unskilled, domestic or in the unemployed category. The changes in post secondary aspirations and the direction of those aspirations attributed to a greater extent from the program were similar to the experience of the NESB female students. There was a 10 per cent increase (Table 8) in the articulated intention to go on [67%] and to do so by the stable pre/post 'yes' group to Wollongong [35%] and increasingly to TAFE [55%] (Table 9). The change over four years in final TAFE choices was from 36 per cent [1990] to 55 per cent [1994] of this equity group (Table 9) was quite marked preference change. Table 8:Year 10 Low SES Females Pre and Post SRM Visit Intention to Pursue Tertiary Studies - 1994 N = 111 (%) PrePostNet % Change Yes Maybe No 63(57) 37(33) 11 (10) 74(67) 32(29) 5 (4) +10 -4 -6 Table 9:Tertiary Preferences of Year 10 Low SES Females - 1994 N = 58 (%) PrePostNet % Change Wollongong Other Tertiary TAFE 19 (33) 12(21) 27(46) 20(35) 6(10) 32(55) +2 -11 +9 It is argued that the inclusion of female TAFE role models in the teams has had a significant impact on the the aspirations of these two targeted equity sub-groups. 3Program Impact on Male Year 10 Tertiary Preferences All Males The male Year 10 students in 1994 across all sub groups reported a lower interest in post secondary options. The overall post SRM visit interest was 61 per cent in 1990, but in 1994 (Table 10) only 56 per cent of the males expresses an interest in a post secondary tertiary option at a university or TAFE. While the 1994 visits stimulated a small [1%] increase in a tertiary option, their female peers were much more likely [74%] to be seeking further study opportunities. An increasing percentage of the males [1990 -31% to 1994 - 34%] continue to be unsure about their post school plans. Table 10:All Year 10 Males Pre and Post SRM Visit Intentions to Pursue Tertiary Studies - 1994 N = 326 (%) PrePostNet % Change Yes Maybe No 179(55) 104(32) 43(13) 181(56) 112(34) 33(10) +1 +2 -3 Over the four year period the stable group of males who indicated a positive tertiary preference in the pre and post surveys have made a dramatic shift in their post secondary preferences toward TAFE. In 1990 only 15 per cent reported a TAFE interest from the sample. After the SRM visit in 1994, TAFE a preference was made by 39 per cent of the male students and 37 per cent indicated an interest in coming to Wollongong, at the expense of other tertiary institutions (Table 11). Table 11:Tertiary Preferences of Year 10 Males Positively Considering Tertiary Study in Both Surveys in 1990 & 1994 1990: N=48 - 1994:N = 153 (%) PrePostNet % Change in Wollongong Other Tertiary TAFE1990 1994 42 33 43 31 15 361990 1994 60 37 25 24 15 391990 1994 +18 +4 - 18 --7 +3 NESB Males Table 12 :Year 10 NESB Males Pre and Post SRM Visit Intentions to Pursue Tertiary Studies - 1994 N = 15 (%) PrePostNet % Change Yes Maybe No 11(73) 4(27) 10(67) 4(27) 1 (6) -6 +6 The number of males reporting a language other than English as being most used at home was only five per cent of the 1990 sample and six percent of the 1994 sample. There was a small [6%] decrease in a tertiary preference by this small group in 1994 (Table 12). Their tertiary preferences remained constant after the SRM visit and were equally distributed between Wollongong, other tertiary and TAFE. Low SES males Table 13:Tertiary Preferences of Year 10 Low SES Males Pre and Post SRM Visit Intentions to Pursue Tertiary Studies - 1994 N = 90 (%) PrePostNet % Change Yes Maybe No 41 (46) 37 (41) 12 (13) 43 (48) 35 (39) 12 (13) +2 -2 After the SRM visit, low SES male students were only slightly less likely [48%] from all males [56%] to seek a post secondary option (Table 13). The visit program stimulated a two per cent increase in tertiary aspirations. While one third of the consistent 'yes' group choose Wollongong, there was a three per cent increase in TAFE preferences to 50 per cent of this group of males (Table 14). Table 14: Tertiary Preferences of Year 10 Low SES Males - 1994 N = 36 (%) PrePostNet % Change Wollongong Other Tertiary TAFE 12 (33) 7(19) 17(47) 12(33) 6(17) 18(50) -2 +3 Factors Encouraging Students to Go On to Tertiary Studies Careers, job prospects and having a definite career in mind (Table 16) was the highest ranked factor encouraging all Year 10 students to 'go on'. Parent support and self improvement were the next most highly ranked encouragers. The top three rankings did not change between the 1990 and 1994 samples. Having 'members of the family' who have gone before became more important for females and 'friends going on' improved it's rank to six or seven for most groups. Factors Discouraging Students to Go On to Tertiary Studies The length of time of tertiary study in 1994 for all except the low SES groups has become the highest ranked discourager. In 1990 it was a lack of finance. The perceived lack of ability by the 39 per cent of females and 25 per cent of males in the low SES student groups was a concern. NESB males [40%] appeared to have a similar lack of confidence. Discussion and Recommendations 1.1990 and 1994 Summary Year 10 Intention Data Several features from the summary of the 'going on' data (Table 15) warrant further note and discussion. „ The increase in female students expressed intentions to go to tertiary between 1990 [67%] and 1994 [72%] is contrasted with the decline [59% to 56%] in the aspirations of the male students. Part of this decline may be attributed to a small number of males who indicated they were seeking to enter TAFE for their final years of schooling. „ NESB female students were the most motivated group to seek a tertiary option. There post visit intention rate increased from 70 per cent in 1990 to 93 per cent in 1994. „ NESB males had a somewhat lower [67%] interest in tertiary programs and in both 1990 and 1994 there was a reported a fall in their tertiary aspirations following the visit program. „ Low SES females have not increased their post visit level of tertiary aspirations [67%] from 1990 to 1994. However, the 1994 visit program lifted the aspiration levels of this group by 10 per cent. The 1990 data was considered problematic because of the small numbers and the method of identification used in that year. „ The most concerning data in the study was the continuing low level of post secondary aspiration [48%] of low SES male students. The 1994 data was based on a more realistic identification criteria and sample [approximately 30% of the sub group] compared to the 1990 data set. While the program stimulated a small [2%] change their level of aspiration, low SES males would appear to be the most disadvantaged in their future career options based on their current level of post secondary aspirations. „ The level of interest in TAFE increased significantly for all groups between 1990 and 1994. Female students in particular have 'discovered' TAFE with an increase in post visit preference from 14 per cent in 1990 to 44 per cent in 1994. Both NESB and low SES females had a nine per cent increase in TAFE preference in 1994 following the inclusion of [female] TAFE role models in all the SRM school teams. „ In 1994 the SRM stimulated a pre to post visit preference change to Wollongong University and TAFE for male and females of three to five per cent. The unintended marketing impact of the role model program has not been insignificant. „ TAFE popularity for the 1994 sample has come from a change in preferences from 'other tertiary' for females and Wollongong for males. 2.Comparision Between National Poll Data and Study Sample The 1994 national ANOP sample poll for DEET is compared to the current sample data. ANOPLink Study Year 10Year 10 MaleFemale Secondary Aspirations 83%*79%82% to complete Year 12 Post Secondary Aspirations: University53%61%56% TAFE19%39%44% Other15% No plans13% * Female aspiration rates 7% higher than the males. The expresses aspiration to complete Year 12 by both groups of year 10 students would appear to be about the same with the female students ahead by five to seven percent. While the ANOP data had 'other' and 'no plans' build into the data set, the Link study had excluded the 'maybe' and 'no' responses which was 38 per cent for all females and 45 per cent for the males. The Link sample represents schools with a somewhat lower level of post secondary aspirations than the national sample identified by ANOP. This sample of schools clearly warrants further support from equity based programs which aim to enhance tertiary option awareness. 3.Recommendations ö„ The success of the TAFE role models in the teams suggests the DEET (1994) recommendation for locally based, student orientated promotion and awareness raising. „ In particular the suspected positive impact of female TAFE SRM's on lifting the post secondary aspirations of low SES and NESB female students will be investigated more closely. „Specific initiatives are urgently needed to address the low level of post secondary aspirations of low SES males and NESB males. An examination of the identified discouragers indicates a joint number two ranking of 'length of program time' and 'lack of ability', followed by poor work prospects. „ Given the earlier maturation of female students and their much more positive level of aspirations, the program may consider retrialing Year 11 SRM visits for the males students. It is uncertain how a single sex based program would be accepted by the coeducational schools in which the program operates. Bibliography Booth, T. (1993) The Evolution of a schools orientated Access and Equity Program within a University setting: an Insiders Perspective Five Years On. First National Conference on Equity and Access in Higher Education, Conference Papers, Newcastle. Department of Employment, Education and Training (1992) NSW Year 10 - 12 Students' Attitude to Post-Compulsory Education and Training. Australian National Opinion Polls, AGP, Canberra. Department of Employment, Education and Training (1994) Young People's Attitude to Post-Compulsory Education and Training. Australian National Opinion Polls, AGP, Canberra. Department of Employment, Education and Training (1989) A Fair Chance for All: National and Institutional Planning for Equity in Higher Education. AGP, Canberra National Board of Employment, Education and Training (1994) Resource Implications of the Introduction of Good Strategies in Higher Education for Disadvantaged Students. AGP, Canberra King et al. (1993) Link Programs in Australian Universities, An Evaluation of Higher Education Equity Programs Promoting School-Higher Education Links AGP, Canberra Sydney Morning Herald (21.11.94) Retention rates for all NSW government schools for 1988, 1991 and 1994. p 4. Towards 2000 (1993) The Mission Statement of the University of Wollongong. Williams, T. L., Carpenter and Hayden (1993) Year 12 in the 1980s. ACER, Melbourne. Table 16: Factors Encouraging Students to Go On to Tertiary Studies Year 10 Students - 1994 % (Rank) Groups All All Females FemalesLow SESFemales Not Low SES Females NESBFemales Not NESB All Males Males Low SESMales Not Low SES Males NESBMales Not NESB Career/job prospects84(1)83(1)86(1)83(1)85(1)83(1)85(1)80(1)86(1)80(1) 86(1) Definite career in mind43(2)43(2)50(2)42(2)37(2)43(2)43(2)23(3)45(2)40 (2)43(2) Self improvement19(3)_17(3)21(3)17(3)11(4)18(3)20(3)28(2)19(3)27(3)13 (3) Parental support14(4)16(4)14(4)16(4)22(3)15(4)13(4)15(4)13(5)20(4)13(3) University lifestyle14(4)15(5)4(6)16(4)11(4)15(4)13(4)5(7)14(4)13(5)13 (3) Availabile financial support 6(6) 7(6) 4(6) 7(6) 11(4) 6(6) 5(7) 8(6) 5(7) 7(6) 5(7) University students visit4 (8)3(8)4(6)3(8)0(8)4(7)5(7)5(7)5(7)0(9)5 (7) Family members who have gone on 2(9) 3(8) 7(5) 3(9) 11(4) 2(9) 2(9) 3(9) 1(9) 7(6) 1(9) Friends going on5(7)4(7)4(6)4(7)0(8)4(7)7(6)10(5)6(6) 7 (6)7 (6) Total Number Surveyed in this Group 675 349 28 321 27 322 326 40 286 15 311 Data presented as % of group of sub-group indicating this factor. Year 10 students were asked to check two responses. Table 17: Factors Discouraging Students to Go On to Tertiary Studies Year 10 Students - 1994 % (Rank) Groups All All Females Females Low SESFemales Not Low SES Females NESBFemales Not NESB All Males Males Low SESMales Not Low SES Males NESBMales Not NESB Lack of finance 39 (2) 39 (2) 39 (1) 39 (2) 15 (5) 41 (2) 38 (2) 48 (1) 41 (2) 20 (4) 40 (2) Length of time it takes 44 (1) 46 (1) 29 (3) 44 (1) 33 (1) 47 (1) 43 (1)25 (2)46 (1) 40 (1) 43 (1) Loss of social life 16 (5) 16 (5) 4 (9) 17 (4) 22 (3) 16 (5) 15 (4) 13 (7) 15 (4) 7 (7) 15 (4) Lack of ability 20 (4) 21 (3) 39 (1) 20 (3) 11 (6) 22 (3) 15 (4) 25 (2) 14 (5) 40 (1) 14 (5) Accommodation difficulty 11 (6) 10 (7) 11 (6) 11 (6) 0 (9) 12 (6) 11 (7) 18 (5) 10 (7) 7 (7) 12 (6) Permanent work available 21 (3) 18 (4) 25 (4) 16 (5) 22 (3) 18 (4) 23 (3) 23 (4) 23 (3) 20 (4) 23 (3) Insecurity of going to tertiary institutions 11 (6) 12 (6) 21 (5) 11 (6) 26 (2) 11 (7) 10 (8) 15 (6) 10 (9) 7 (7) 11 (7) Lack of family support 5 (9) 5 (9) 11 (6) 5 (9) 7 (8) 5 (9) 4 (9) 8 (8) 4 (7) 13 (6) 4 (9) No friends going on 11 (6) 8 (8) 7 (8) 8 (8)11 (6)7 (8)12 (6)8 (8)13 (6)27 (3)11 (7) Total Number Surveyed in this Group 675 349 28 321 27 322 326 40 286 15 311 Data presented as % of group of sub-group indicating this factor. Year 10 students were asked to check two responses. Table 15: Year 10 Students Going On - Summary Data - (1990) and 1994 (1990- N = 258) 1994 - N = 675 'Yes' Intention to go to Tertiary %Preferences (Yes) on Pre and Post Survey to %Net % gain on 1994 Post Survey to: GroupNumberPrePost Net gainWollongongOther TertiaryTAFE UOW TAFE All Female(161) 349(71) 62 (67) 72(-4) +10(56) 41(30) 15(14) 44 +3 +5 All Male(97) 326(57) 55(59) 56(+2) +1(71) 37(15) 24(14) 39 +4 +3 Target Groups: NESB Female(20) 27(70) 81(70) 93(0) +12(72) 54(11) 14(17) 32 - +9 NESB Male(6) 15(83) 73(67) 67(-17) -6(67) 37.5(17) 37.5(17) 25 - - Low SESFemale(14) 111(80) 57(67) 67(-13) +10(43) 35(21) 10(36) 55+2 +9 Low SES Male(8) 90(50) 46(63) 48(13) +2(80) 3320 17(0) 50 - +3 1 Department of Employment, Education and Training, A Fair Chance for All: Higher EducationThat's Within Everyone's Reach, 1989. 2 King et al, Link Programs in Australian Universities, Canberra, 1993. 3 Monash, Victoria Co-ordinated Area Program and Newcastle. 4 Williams, T. Long, Carpenter and Hayden (1993), Year 12 in the 1980s. ACER Melbourne. 5 Those students with either one or both parents were identified as being unemployed, unskilled or domestic categories