Children at disadvantaged schools are worried about getting a job

STUDENTS at disadvantaged schools rate getting a job as one of the things they value most.

STUDENTS at disadvantaged schools are six times more likely than their counterparts in wealthy schools to rate getting a job as one of the things they value most.

And alcohol, drugs and bullying are significantly bigger issues for students at disadvantaged schools, while kids at richer schools worry more about coping with stress and body image.

The findings are contained in new research commissioned by one of the nation's largest welfare organisations. Mission Australia looked at the responses of more than 1000 school students aged between 11 and 19 across four low and four high socio-economic schools that shared a common level of advantage or disadvantage on the national index.

The 2011 National Youth Survey found that young people at schools at the bottom of the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA) were twice as likely as kids at wealthier schools to say they didn't feel they had anyone or anywhere to go to for advice and support about their worries.

When students at low ICSEA schools were asked what they valued most, 36.4 per cent considered getting a job to be of major importance compared with 6.5 per cent of students at high ICSEA schools.

When asked about their leading concerns, 19.8 per cent of students at low ICSEA schools were worried about alcohol, 24.9 per cent about drugs and 28.9 per cent about bullying.

Students at high ICSEA schools were far less concerned about these issues: 7.9 per cent considered alcohol a leading problem, 8.1 per cent were concerned about drugs and 17.6 per cent were worried about bullying.

Body image (37 per cent) and coping with stress (47 per cent) were much greater concerns for students at high ICSEA schools than those in the other group.

Mission Australia spokesman Martin Thomas said the results demonstrated the different challenges facing children in disadvantaged schools and highlighted the need to boost social inclusion through education.

"The major difference between the percentage of students in disadvantaged schools worried about getting a job and those with similar concerns in advantaged schools is something we should be looking at very closely. What does it say about fairness in our society when young people from disadvantaged areas are worried about getting a job, any job, at such a young age?"

Mr Thomas said the higher rate of concern about alcohol and drugs among students in disadvantaged schools was a great concern, given these children felt they didn't have anywhere to go for support and advice.

"Whether it relates to personal use or the use of alcohol and drugs by family and friends, we know these issues can have a huge impact on a young person's development," he said.