Late last year students from St Francis College, Leeton High School and Yanco Agricultural High School were among 600 senior students that participated in the School to Work survey.

The initiative was established in 2013 by Leeton Shire Council, Griffith City Council and GetSet to determine how students contribute to the economy.

It also aims to track the number of students participating in non-school qualifications and what areas of study they are interested so schools and communities can better prepare them to be work ready.

Among other questions, youth are asked if they wish to move away, where they will move to, why, and if they would return to the area.

Council manager of economic development, tourism and events manager Nicola James said the results had recently been made available and painted a different picture to the first year it was conducted. 

“There were fewer students employed after school and those that were had varied hours, which was different to the previous year,” Mrs James said. 

“We ask a lot of different questions, but it does help council to get an idea on what students are thinking. 

“One of the big ones is wanting to find out would they come back here after they have completed other qualifications. 

“The other is if there was a university closer to home would they attend. 

“In these results we did find more are wanting to stay in the area, which is positive. 

“There also seems to be less wanting to take a gap year, which traditionally has been popular.”

The survey found retail trade, hospitality and agriculture continue to be the dominant industries that employ the region’s youth, with a strong trade focus. Fifty-three per cent of students wish to attend university, and 38 per cent believe an increase in university fees will impact their decision.

Locations such as Sydney, Melbourne, Wollongong, Wagga, Canberra, Albury and Bathurst were the preferred university destinations.

“The other interesting point to was there are still plenty of students that are keen to go to TAFE, which is good for the campus here and the others in the region,” Mrs James said. 

“Overall most want to gain a qualification and move into the relevant field. The survey helps to show what students are after and if there’s ways council can be working to help them achieve that and to encourage them to stay here.”

Mrs James was hopeful the initiative would be carried out again later this year with the help of Deakin University.