The career aspirations and action behaviours of Australian adolescents in out-of-home-care

We surveyed 202 adolescents who were in out-of-home care, and compared them with 202 adolescents not in care (matched for age, gender and school achievement) on career-related aspirations (occupational aspirations, educational aspirations, life barriers) and career action behaviours (career exploration, career planning). The out-of-home care adolescents reported lower occupational aspirations, less career planning, more career barriers, lower educational aspirations for themselves, lower parental aspirations, and more school engagement. Further, career exploration was lower for out-of-home care children who had higher aspirations, lower self-efficacy, parents who communicated higher aspirations, and low aspiring friends. Results are discussed in the context of providing career development and supports for out-of-home care adolescents so that their career aspirations and behaviours can mirror more normative levels.

► Study compared 202 youth in out-of-home care with matched sample of 202 not in care. ► Youth compared on career aspirations, barriers, planning and exploration. ► Out-of-home care youth reported lower aspirations and career planning. ► Out-of-home care youth reported more career barriers and more school engagement. ► Out-of-home care youth reported lower perceived parental aspirations.