The Career Development Of Rural Queensland Children

The present study examined the occupational aspirations and career development influences of children attending Years 6 and 7 at a sample of rural and remote primary schools in the central western region of Queensland. Data was collected by means of the Revised Career Awareness Survey (McMahon & Patton, 2001). Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) codes were used to analyse the participants' occupational aspirations and the Systems Theory Framework categories were used to analyse the influences on their career development. The children's occupational aspirations were compared with state and regional labour market information. Recommendations related to career development interventions in the context of the school, family and community and future research are made.