How perception, gender, parental occupations and role models shape Gippsland secondary school students' agriculture career choices

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47381/aijre.v36i1.843

Keywords:

rural, secondary school students, career aspirations, agriculture

Abstract

This article explores the factors influencing Gippsland secondary school students’ career aspirations in agriculture, examining the role of perceptions of agriculture and agricultural careers, gender, parental occupation, and career role models. Utilising data from the Raising Aspirations and Careers Education in Agriculture Gippsland (RACE Gippsland) project, survey responses from 495 high school students were analysed using chi-square tests and Spearman’s rank-order correlations. Positive perceptions of agriculture significantly correlated with career interest, for both males and females. Gender and parental occupation in agriculture had no significant influence on students’ career choices and the presence of a career role model within the agricultural sector was a strong predictor of career interest. The research underscores the need for targeted interventions to improve agricultural literacy, enhance career exposure, and encourage student engagement in agricultural careers. It provides valuable insights into understanding the agricultural career aspirations of secondary school students. This research analyses factors impacting career aspirations of secondary school students within the agricultural sector, which is rare in the literature.

Author Biographies

Eve Taylor, Central Queensland University

Eve Taylor is a Honours student with a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Psychology. She aims to complete a Master of Clinical Psychology to continue her passion working in the field. This is her first published article. 

Nicole McDonald, Central Queensland University

Dr Nicole McDonald is a Senior Research Fellow in the Agricultural Education and Extension Research cluster. She specialises in the Vocational Psychology of Agriculture investigating evidence-based approaches that support people to experience healthy, sustainable, satisfying work across food and fibre industries. 

Molly O'Dea, Central Queensland University

Molly O’Dea is an agricultural educator with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Master of Teaching. Her PhD explored the nature of agricultural industry school partnerships. Molly works with primary producers and other agricultural professionals to increase knowledge and skills for best practice land management.

Jaime Manning, Central Queensland University

Dr. Jaime Manning is a Senior Lecturer in Agriculture at CQUniversity driving positive change in agricultural and education sectors through her research. She has expertise across the entire educational continuum from primary school to workforce development, applying her research to improve the outcomes for the agricultural industry.  

Amy Cosby, Central Queensland University

Professor Amy Cosby is a nationally recognised practitioner and researcher in agricultural education, extension  and workforce development with extensive experience leading large research projects with diverse partners that aim to improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of the agricultural industry.

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Published

06-03-2026

How to Cite

Taylor, E., McDonald, N., O'Dea, M., Manning, J., & Cosby, A. (2026). How perception, gender, parental occupations and role models shape Gippsland secondary school students’ agriculture career choices. Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 36(1), 17–35. https://doi.org/10.47381/aijre.v36i1.843

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 1 (2026): What's Rural About Rural Education Research

Section

JOURNAL PAPERS

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Eve Taylor, Nicole McDonald, Molly O'Dea, Jaime Manning, Amy Cosby

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