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The Gold Coast community has farewelled graduating Year 12 students on their last day of school, wishing them all the best for the future.

A recent survey shows that future is brighter than ever, with their predecessors, the Class of 2021, recording a major increase in engagement in education, training and employment after graduating.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the 2022 Next Step survey showed graduates from the Gold Coast are kicking goals.

“On the Gold Coast, total engagement in education, training and employment for the most recent graduates has risen to 91.4% in 2022 from 87.5% in 2019,” Ms Grace said.

“This year’s graduating Year 12 students can celebrate their success knowing a bright future of good jobs and a great lifestyle lies ahead of them.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring all Queensland students get a world-class education, regardless of where in our state they live.”

Gold Coast-based Palaszczuk Government Minister and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said the survey results show the Palaszczuk Government’s plan for economic recovery from COVID-19 is ensuring students from the Gold Coast have a strong pathway to their future careers.

“The 2022 Next Step survey shows us that young people on the Gold Coast have been highly resilient in their learning during the COVID pandemic, and they’re now in a position to prosper in life after school,” Ms Scanlon said.

“It’s pleasing to see the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates engaging in education, training or employment in Queensland has continued to improve, up 1.2 percentage points from last year to 76.7%.

“This constitutes an increase of almost 7 percentage points since 2019.

“This is an excellent result and shows the Palaszczuk Government’s continued focus on improving learning outcomes for all Queenslanders is working.

“I’d like to wish Gold Coast Year 12s all the best in their future endeavours.

“The last day of your school life is a celebration of all you have achieved at school and an exciting time to think of all that is to come.

“Between university, TAFE or employment, there are many great options for Gold Coast students in their first year out of school.”

Participation in employment by last year’s Year 12 students across Queensland increased 3.2 percentage points to above pre-pandemic levels and the highest rate since 2009, while participation in education and training has also reached pre-pandemic levels.

Bachelor Degree studies remain the most popular destination for Queensland Year 12 students after graduating.

Queensland Academy of Health Sciences Class of 2021 graduate Garlok Lu is currently studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of Queensland, with provisional entry into a Doctor of Medicine.

“School prepared me for my current study and university in general by making me feel comfortable with the unknown,” Garlok said.

“I realised that there is a lot that I don’t know and a lot to learn; but as long as I am confident enough to ask, there will always be teachers, professors, and tutors willing to encourage my curiosity.”

Queensland Academy of Health Sciences Principal Vanessa Rebgetz said the Class of 2021 was the largest cohort of Year 12 students to have graduated from the Academy.

“They have shown us that it will take far more than a global pandemic to curtail their drive for excellence in achieving their goals and dreams,” Mrs Rebgetz said.

“We are confident in the capabilities of this caring and connected cohort, sharpened in their focus by the lived experience of schooling remotely and in lockdowns during their senior schooling years, to be a resilient, future-ready workforce and with an authentic understanding of the balance needed to serve their local and global communities.”

Robina State High School Class of 2021 graduate and current Engineering student Cody Dumka said he was fortunate to have teachers who pushed him to achieve his goals.

“I have almost finished my first year of Engineering studies and whilst I am aware that there will be many challenging days ahead, I feel excited to face them on the foundation that high school has provided,” Cody said.

Robina SHS Principal Ben Weeks said he was extremely proud of the 2021 cohort.

“A high percentage of these students entered tertiary qualifications in the fields of health, engineering and information and technology,” Mr Weeks said.

“I attribute this success to not only the hard work of students, teachers and their families, but to the strong strategic priority of our school to case manage every student throughout their senior phase of learning with a focus on ensuring they transition to meaningful post schooling pathways.”

More than 51,000 Year 12 students from 2021 were invited to participate in the 2022 Next Step survey, with more than 39,000 providing a response.