Following concerns from local principals after the release of data highlighting the low aspirations of young people in the area, staff at Woorinen District Primary School sought support from the Murray Mallee LLEN to address the issue.

As part of the project, children were asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Former students were also asked what they wanted to do as a child, where they are and what they are doing now.

The project aimed to explore the theory that a child’s aspirations were a good indicator of what they would end up doing with their lives, especially at work.

A unit of work was specifically developed for upper school students, which included tasks and activities such as:
•    Identifying their interests
•    Researching industries and occupations that included these interests
•    Imagineering using images and dress ups as props
•    Researching what skills and education they will need
•    Blocks they might encounter, and;
•    Values that are leading them towards their interest

With supportive funding from the Murray Mallee LLEN, students were taken to a Melbourne university, visited Melbourne based business organisations and were provided with talks by those in their chosen field. A Facebook page with past students sharing their career pathway journey was established with over 200 members together with mentors in local industries and businesses.

Woorinen District Primary School students have now been equipped with the initial tools required to seek and attain their career destination with the aspiration to achieving it.

Read about the Woorinen Research Project