Transitions Research
About the research
The Smith Family’s Transitions Study aims to understand the different pathways young people take during the senior years of school and beyond, and what might influence those pathways. Young people who were in Years 10 and 12 in 2020 were invited to take part in the research to help us better support young people as they move into adulthood. All research participants were on the Learning for Life Scholarship in 2020.
The Smith Family collaborated with the Social Research Centre (SRC) to undertake the fieldwork for the research. Young people were contacted once a year from 2021 to 2023 to complete a short online or telephone survey. Some young people also participated in longer research interviews. Participants from the original Transitions Study who were in Year 10 in 2020 will be invited to take part again in 2024, along with a new group of young people – those who were on the Learning for Life Scholarship in Year 10 in 2023.
The information collected through this research is helping The Smith Family and others such as policy-makers, employers and educators to provide better services and support for young people.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the Transitions Study, or you are a study participant and want to let us know you have changed your contact details, please contact us by:
Email: transitions@thesmithfamily.com.au
Phone: (02) 9085 7120
Address: The Smith Family,
Level 17, 2 Market Street Sydney, NSW, 2000
PO Box 5348, Sydney, NSW 2001
I have questions
Who is conducting the research?
The Smith Family conducted the initial research with support from the Paul Ramsay Foundation . We have partnered with a research company (the Social Research Centre) who conducts the survey and research interviews with participants.
What does the research involve?
The survey takes about 10-15 minutes to complete and research interviews run for around 45 to 60 minutes. The survey can be completed online, or over the phone.
Are participants be paid for their time?
Yes. Participants receive a financial contribution for completing the survey and research interviews.
Who can participate in the research?
Learning for Life students who were in Year 10 or Year 12 in 2020 were involved in the initial research.
Learning for Life students who were in Year 10 in 2020 or 2023 can be involved in the ongoing research.
Do participants have to participate in all surveys and interviews?
Yes, if they can. It’s helpful to have data from the same group of young people over time. This helps us and other organisations improve services and support for young Australians.
What topics does the research cover?
We ask young people about their involvement in study, training and work, including whether they're looking for work or volunteering, and their family and living circumstances (including caring responsibilities).
Can participants be identified from their survey or interview responses?
The Smith Family holds data on the identity of study participants. However, any publications using the research data that is collected will keep participants' identities confidential and The Smith Family will only report individuals' survey and interview responses in combination with all other participants' responses. Any interview quotes used in a publication will be anonymous.
Will survey and interview responses and contact data be kept private and secure?
How has the research been used so far?
Two reports have been published to date, with more to come. The first report summarises the findings from the first year of data collection for young people who were in Year 12 in 2020. The second report focuses on what has changed and remained constant for this group over the first two years since leaving school. These reports have been shared widely with governments, education and youth organisations, community organisations, businesses and the wider community, with the overall goal of better support young people’s post-school transitions.