Pathways for the Future Program
The Pathways for the Future Program analyses de-identified demographic, education and employment data to help improve the education and training system. The program aims to better prepare our students as lifelong learners and equip them with the knowledge, skills and attributes for meaningful work and life.
About the Pathways for the Future Program
Our aims
The Pathways for the Future Program provides insight into the journeys that students and learners take from education into work. The Pathways dataset provides a comprehensive evidence base for the department to understand and improve the education and training system.
Insights from the program can be used to:
- identify the barriers and drivers of education and employment outcomes
- support students and learners to make decisions about their studies and careers
- evaluate the effectiveness of government policies and programs
- shape policy development and targeted interventions for students who may be experiencing barriers to education and employment.
The Pathways Pilot Project
The Pathways for the Future Program began as a pilot in 2017. The pilot was a pioneering data linkage project that brought together de-identified data on young people in NSW aged 15 to 24 from 1996 to 2016.
Publications and tools
3 publications were released from the Pathways Pilot Project:
- The summary report provides an overview of work undertaken by the Pilot Project, which identified the most common pathways from education to work and circumstances that influence employment and earning outcomes.
- The Career Pathways Tool (BETA) is an interactive data tool that shows how students have moved through education and training and into the workforce. Explore the pilot data and learn about the journeys students have made in the past.
- Further pilot insights are now available in Pathways Outcomes for Learners (BETA) is an interactive dashboard that provides insights into the outcomes of the most common pathways students take from senior secondary school through to tertiary study and into employment. The dashboard is accompanied by 3 fact sheets that highlight key cohort-specific insights.
The public benefit of the program
The Pathways Program provides insight into NSW students’ education, training and employment outcomes and actual end-to-end pathways from education to work.
Students and learners can use tools such as The Career Pathways Tool (BETA) to explore the pathways of past students. Pathways data can also be used to improve supports for students and learners who may be experiencing barriers to education and training.
Careers advisors and teachers can use insights from the Pathways Program to advise students on future career paths and HSC subject selection.
Policymakers can use insights from the Pathways Program to develop evidence-based policies and programs. Data can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs.
What type of data is included in the Pathways Program dataset?
The Pathways Program dataset includes de-identified demographic, education and employment data from NSW and Australian Government agencies as well as private sector educational and training providers.
Before being released, data are aggregated (grouped) so results are de-identified before being published by the Pathways Program. For example, the 2023 early school leavers fact sheet published high-level trends and findings, such as:
- 30% of students left school early
- 81% of early school leavers enrolled in vocational education and training (VET)
- the top occupation for early school leavers was technicians and trades workers.
To understand the different pathways from education to work, the program includes data on people who attended early childhood education and care, primary school, secondary school, undertook a vocational education and training (VET) qualification, an apprenticeship, traineeship or higher education qualification in NSW. This cohort includes students and learners aged between 0 and 67 within NSW from 1996 onwards.
The Pathways Program includes the following types of data:
- Early childhood education data: data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Government Department of Education, and NSW Department of Education, including enrolments, funding, demographic, and development information.
- School data: data collected by the NSW Department of Education, NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) including on enrolments, attendance, standardised assessment information including NAPLAN and Higher School Certificate, Post-School Destinations and Experiences Survey, VET delivered to secondary students, participation in programs helping disengaged young people into education, training and/or employment, school characteristics profiles, school staffing profiles and demographic features, including disability support classes, disability adjustments and characteristics of students’ parents and carers. VET data: government-funded VET, apprenticeships and traineeships, TAFE NSW data, NSW Student Outcomes Survey and data from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) Student Outcomes Survey.
- Higher education data: University Admissions Centre (UAC) data on university preferences and offers, and ATAR.
- Employment data: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data on income, employment, support payments and demographic features, including data from the census, the Australian Tax Office, Services Australia and the Australian Government Department of Social Services and Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
This list will be updated if other types of data are added to the Pathways dataset.
Data de-identification and linkage
What is de-identification?
De-identification is the process of removing or changing information in a dataset to protect people’s identities.
There are generally 2 steps to de-identification:
- Removing personal information that directly identifies people, such as names, dates of birth and addresses.
- Making sure the right controls are in place so that it is extremely unlikely that people could be re-identified. This includes storing the dataset securely, controlling access to the dataset, and modifying the data before publication. In Pathways publications and outputs, data are always aggregated (or grouped).
For more information, see our fact sheet on de-identifying research data.
What is data linkage?
Data linkage is a process of bringing together information from different data sources. For the Pathways Program, data linkage allows a complete picture of the education and training system by combining demographic, education, and employment data.
How is the Pathways dataset created?
Data for the Pathways Program are linked and de-identified by accredited linkage agencies, the NSW Centre for Health Records Linkage (CHeReL) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The process of data linkage includes the following stages:
- NSW data custodians (agencies that collect and hold information) provide data to the CHeReL.
The Pathways Program does not collect data from people directly. The program uses existing data that has already been collected by NSW and Australian Government agencies as well as private sector educational and training providers. Further information on this process can be found in the What type of data is included in the Pathways Program dataset? section of this webpage. - The CHeReL links and de-identifies the NSW data. The CHeReL protects privacy by separating the linkage of personally identifying information from the data that will be used for analysis. Further information on data sources can be found on the CHeReL website.
- The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) links NSW data to Commonwealth datasets. The Pathways dataset is stored securely in the ABS DataLab. Personal data (such as your name, date of birth and address) are only used during the linkage process and is not contained in the dataset.
Before being released, data are aggregated (grouped) to ensure results are de-identified before being published by the Pathways Program. Techniques for reducing the risk of re-identification in publications include:
- generalising information and combining categories. For example, instead of listing data for each age (20, 21, 22 and so on), insights can be categorised into age brackets (21–25, 26–30)
- suppressing data, which involves deleting or not releasing cells that may have a higher risk of re-identification
- changing the data in ways that do not impact the accuracy of the results but make it harder to re-identify. For example, rounding involves slightly altering small values in a table so that the original values are unclear. Swapping may involve exchanging values with similar characteristics.
Data storage and security
The Pathways Program dataset is stored securely in the Australian Bureau of Statistics DataLab and can only be accessed by approved analysts.
Analysts can see anonymised, unit-level data, without any direct identifiers such as names, dates of birth, or addresses, which are removed during the linkage process. When data are removed from the DataLab, the ABS applies strict output clearance rules to make sure results are aggregated (or grouped together).
The ABS has a range of measures in place to keep the DataLab safe and secure, including:
- data encryption at rest to mitigate against unauthorised access to microdata
- Azure Storage Accounts to securely hold individual research products and allow querying from authorised users
- cloud servers (including backup servers) hosted exclusively onshore, with access only authorised for use in Australia unless approved by the ABS
- closed network virtual machines to provide secure, isolated research spaces for the analysis of microdata
- guarded access through multi-factor authentication and workspace segmentation inhibiting data sharing between projects
- a DataLab Product Storage Account protected with Microsoft Defender providing threat detection against malicious/unusual behaviour.
More information on the ABS DataLab can be found on the ABS website.
Who can access the Pathways dataset?
Only authorised analysts for the program can access the de-identified dataset in the ABS DataLab.
In order to be authorised, analysts must be approved through the program’s governance processes and meet ABS safe people criteria. They must:
- only use the data for an appropriate purpose, with a valid research aim and public benefit
- undertake ABS training in confidentiality and the conditions of data use
- sign a legally binding undertaking to maintain data confidentiality
- comply with all conditions attached to specific data being accessed
- comply with all relevant departmental policies and legal requirements
- in some cases, secure additional ethics approval.
Data oversight and privacy
All program partners are committed to upholding the privacy, confidentiality and security of the personal information they collect and provide to the program in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) (PPIPA), Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW) (HRIPA), NSW State Records Act 1998 and other relevant legislation.
The program has obtained ethics approval consistent with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans from a Human Research Ethics Committee. Under section 27B of the PPIPA and clause 11 of Schedule 1 of the HRIPA, the department is permitted to depart from the requirement to obtain consent of individuals under this legislation relating to collection, use and disclosure of personal information.
Data oversight
The program's internal practices, governance, methodologies and technology are designed to maintain the confidentiality and security of the Pathways dataset.
This includes:
- undertaking privacy impact assessments (PIAs) to identify and mitigate the risks and impacts to personal privacy of each stage of work
- restricting access to approved analysts
- applying strict threshold rules on data outputs, to ensure individuals cannot be re-identified in any research outputs
- approving projects that deliver a clear benefit to the public.
How to withdraw your data from the program
The Pathways Program provides comprehensive insight into education-to-work pathways and helps the department make better decisions in supporting students and learners through their lifelong learning journey.
Personal information is used by the CHeReL and the ABS for linkage (see the Data de-identification and linkage section of this webpage for more information), but once the data have been linked, the Pathways dataset only includes de-identified data and does not contain an individual’s personal information. All outputs are aggregated to minimise the risk of re-identification.
It is not possible to remove data that have already been linked and de-identified in the Pathways dataset.
In 2025 the Pathways dataset will be refreshed to include the most recent data available, including for early childhood education and care, primary and secondary schooling, vocational and higher education, employment and disengaged young people who need support to stay in work, education and training, and other types of data as described under the What type of data is being used for the Pathways Program section of this webpage.
If you wish to have your data removed from the 2025 refresh and future data refreshes, please complete this short online form by 28 August 2025.
Frequently asked questions
The Pathways Program provides an evidence base to improve our understanding of the education-to-work pathways of NSW students.
Program analysts use the data to help improve the education system as a whole. Areas for investigation include:
- better understand possible education-to-work journeys based on different cohorts and regions
- understand the pathways to positive employment outcomes
- understand the different challenges faced by students including barriers to education and work, and where students may need additional support
- highlight areas of success that can provide guidance and insights to help improve the system
- evaluate how well existing policies and programs are improving outcomes for students, and inform policy improvement
- provide students with better career guidance to suit their aspirations and needs
- use evidence-informed practice and standards to impact positively on priority areas
- understand issues such as skills shortages with a view to helping to overcome them.
The NSW Department of Education is not only responsible for schools but also for early childhood education and care, tertiary education, including vocational education, training and university. Currently, education data are disconnected, which limits the department’s understanding of how students transition between different learning stages and how they successfully transition into further education and employment.
Other data sources, such as census data and individual education datasets, do not provide clear information about the real pathways students take through education to work.
The Pathways dataset provides unique insight into which educational choices lead to more successful outcomes in further education and employment. Improving our understanding of education-to-work pathways can help us to provide students with more accurate career information, develop better policies and programs, and support students throughout their lifelong learning journeys.
The linked dataset can also provide a robust evidence base for government to understand the areas where students may need additional support and areas of success that others can learn from. The asset can help shape policies to address issues like youth unemployment and help to prevent unintended consequences of such policies.
De-identification is the process of removing or changing information in a dataset to protect people’s identities.
There are generally 2 steps to de-identification:
- Removing personal information that directly identifies people, such as names, dates of birth and addresses.
- Making sure the right controls are in place so that it is extremely unlikely that people could be re-identified. This includes storing the dataset securely, controlling access to the dataset, and modifying the data before publication. In Pathways publications and outputs, data are always aggregated (or grouped).
For more information, see our fact sheet on de-identifying research data.
Individuals will not be identified in any program outputs. Personal information is removed from the Pathways dataset during the linkage process before any analysis is undertaken.
For more information, see our fact sheet on de-identifying research data.
The NSW Department of Education is not only responsible for schools but also for early childhood education and care, tertiary education, including vocational education, training and university. Currently, education data is disconnected, which limits the department’s understanding of how students transition between different learning stages and how they successfully transition into further education and employment.
Other data sources, such as census data and individual education datasets, do not provide clear information about the real pathways students take through education to work.
The Pathways dataset provides unique insight into which educational choices lead to more successful outcomes in further education and employment. Improving our understanding of education-to-work pathways can help us to provide students with more accurate career information, develop better policies and programs, and support students throughout their lifelong learning journeys.
The linked dataset can also provide a robust evidence base for government to understand the areas where students may need additional support and areas of success that others can learn from. The asset can help shape policies to address issues like youth unemployment and help to prevent unintended consequences of such policies.
Yes, the program is fully compliant with NSW Privacy Legislation.
The NSW Department of Education and its partners are committed to meeting all legal and privacy requirements. All program partners are committed to upholding the privacy, confidentiality and security of the personal information they collect and provide to the program in accordance with the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW) (PPIPA), Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW) (HRIPA), NSW State Records Act 1998, and other relevant legislation.
The Pathways Program sought and received approval from a Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) to use data that have already been collected by NSW and federal government agencies for the Pathways Program to further improve our students’ outcomes. For most of the datasets, consent was not sought for data to be used for the Pathways Program at the time of collection. Monash Health HREC assessed the risks and benefits and approved a waiver of consent for the Pathways Program. This is permitted under NSW Privacy legislation and provides an exemption for the requirement to seek consent from all individuals for the purposes of the linkage process which is the only time where personal information is used. As noted above, the final dataset does not contain personal information.
The department plans to refresh the data in the Pathways dataset annually.
Data refreshes will update current datasets to include the most recent data. New datasets, as approved by Monash Health HREC, may also be included.
The NSW Department of Education does not hold your personal information in the Pathways dataset and authorised researchers for the program cannot access your personal information within the dataset.
The dataset is held securely by the ABS within the ABS DataLab and does not include your personal information. Outputs (such as analytical results) from the ABS DataLab cannot report on individual people. Outputs report on groups of people with strict rules about the minimum number of individuals per group.
Outputs are further checked by the ABS before we can use them to ensure that they adhere to the DataLab’s strict output rules to further minimise any risk of re-identification.
Personal information is only used by the CHeReL and the ABS for the linkage process. It is not included in the analytical dataset that is accessible by program researchers.
At the completion of the program, your personal information will be securely and permanently destroyed in accordance with government requirements and legislation.
Opportunities will be given for the individuals to withdraw their information from data being added to the Pathways dataset before each annual refresh. It is not possible to identify and remove your data once it has already been linked and de-identified for use in the Pathways dataset, as there is no personal information in the final dataset.
Further information about withdrawing your information from the dataset is available under the How to withdraw your data from the program section of this webpage.
1 Reserve Bank of Australia, June 2018, Labour Market Outcomes for Younger People. Available at: Labour Market Outcomes for Younger People | Bulletin – June Quarter 2018 | RBA.
2 Pennington A & Stanford J (2019), “The Future of Work for Australian Graduates: The Changing Landscape of University-Employment Transitions in Australia”. Available at: The Future of Work for Australian Graduates - The Australia Institute.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the Pathways Program, you can contact the team at Pathways.Project@det.nsw.edu.au.
More information in relation to the department's management of privacy can also be found on the Privacy information and forms page.
If you would like to contact the Monash Health Human Research Ethics Committee directly about the Pathways Program, you can contact their team at research@monashhealth.org.