The Brotherhood of St Laurence’s longitudinal Life Chances Study started in Melbourne in 1990. The study has comprised ten stages, the most recent completed in 2012 when the children, who were born in 1990, were 21 years old. This paper presents an overview of the study by outlining the published findings of each stage. It...

Traditionally, the transition from school to work has been important for young adults, and turning 21 was recognised as the marker of adulthood in Australia, when young people had jobs—and even families of their own. Social and economic changes over the past 30 years or so have made the transition from school to work more...

The longitudinal Life Chances Study has followed some 140 young people from diverse backgrounds since they were infants. This report documents the altest stage of the project. In 2008 the Life Chances group turned 18: many finished school, while others were already launched into the world beyond. This Stage 9 report examines their Year 12...

The stories of eight young people who left school early, interviewed when aged 17 for Stage 8½ of the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s longitudinal Life Chances Study, illustrate their complex lives as they consider employment, training and other facets of their future. Their experience leads to recommendations for policies to ensure that young people are...

Stage 8 of the longitudinal Life Chances Study explores the situations of 125 young Australians (75 girls and 50 boys) from diverse backgrounds, their current engagement with school and work and their future plans at the age of 16. The survey responses confirmed the continuity and layering of disadvantage: for example, 16 year olds from...