Enhancing Agricultural Career Advice in Schools: New South Wales Secondary Educators’ Perceptions

This paper explores how educators’ perceptions of the agricultural industry and associated careers, along with their self-efficacy in agricultural career education, impact outcomes related to advising students on pursuing employment in the sector. The results of a quantitative study surveying 195 secondary school educators involved in delivering career support and advice in New South Wales, Australia is presented. Data analysis employed descriptive and inferential statistics to explore relationships between educators’ perceptions of agricultural careers and their delivery of career advice. By examining attitudinal influences on career advice, the research investigated perceptions of the agricultural industry, career pathways, and discussions with students. It also explored educators’ attitudes towards industry standards, decent work, progressiveness, limiting beliefs about agricultural jobs, and self-efficacy for agricultural career education. This paper provides insights that will inform the development of interventions that support secondary school-based educators to provide agriculture career advice to students and promote interest in agricultural career paths among students.