Executive Summary
Beyond the Bell, in partnership with the Neil Porter Legacy, made a joint submission to the Victorian Parliament’s 2025 Inquiry into Student Pathways to In-Demand Industries. The submission draws on local evidence and youth voice from across the Great South Coast to highlight both the barriers and opportunities for regional students as they navigate education, training, and employment pathways.
We emphasised the critical need for investment in sustainable, place-based solutions — including career development professionals in every school, stronger school-industry partnerships, and culturally safe models for First Nations students. The submission also reinforced the importance of supporting not-for-profit intermediaries like Beyond the Bell and NPL to coordinate pathways work at a systems level.
Our recommendations aim to strengthen transitions into further education and employment, reduce inequities for rural and disadvantaged cohorts, and ensure young people in our region can access the skills and opportunities they need to thrive in a changing economy.
