So your Year 12 student hasn’t decided what’s next. Here’s what to say – and what not to – about career planning

For Year 12 students, final exams are getting closer and applications for university and other courses are opening. So naturally, conversations at home and with wider family and friends are turning to what’s going to happen next year.

Some young people will not have an answer yet when asked, “what are you doing next year?” This can really worry parents.

But not having a fully-formed plan in Year 12 is not a failure. For many young people, it is a normal part of moving from school into the next stage of life.

What can parents and other family members say to help – and not further increase stress on – young people at this time?

Read more: Help! I’m almost finished school but don’t know what I want to do next

Many young people are uncertain

Large international studies have shown career uncertainty is common for teenagers, and has only increased in recent years.

This increase could be due to inadequate career guidance, and the jobs market becoming more complex and uncertain.

Another part of the problem is post-school decisions are often talked about as if they are one giant choice about a young person’s whole future. In reality, they are usually a series of smaller choices. A student does not need to know their lifelong career at 17 or 18. They just need a sensible next step.

What’s helpful right now?

Rather than focusing on why they have not decided yet, families can talk about what information would make the decision feel less overwhelming.

So, avoid asking what a young person “wants to be” and instead ask what subjects, tasks, people or places seem to bring out their best.

• What do they think they are good at?

• What do they enjoy doing?

• What makes them happy?

Research shows, when parents focus on skills, strengths and interests, as opposed to specific careers, this can reduce a child’s anxiety about making future plans.

It can also help to move away from focusing on just the ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank) as the only viable pathway post-school.

A strong ATAR does not automatically mean university is the only good option.

A gap year is not automatically “avoidance” of further study. Australian data show students who take one are not less likely to finish university, and a well-used gap year can help some young people return to study with more purpose and motivation.

TAFE and apprenticeships are not “lesser” choices, they have strong employment outcomes and good salaries.

The better question is

which option gives the young person the best mix of meeting their interests, providing support, flexibility and room to grow?

What not to say

When students feel pressured to sound certain before they are ready, family expectations can become another source of stress. A calmer approach gives young people more space to think and ask for support.

Parents could explicitly say “It’s okay not to know yet”, and emphasise careers are built over time through multiple transitions.

Many adults change jobs across their working lives. As of February 2025, 57% of employed Australians had been in their current job for less than five years, and 17% for less than one year.

About 1.1 million people had also changed jobs in the previous year, with younger workers aged 15 to 24 more mobile than older workers. This means a Year 12 decision shapes the next chapter, not the whole story.

Asking more supportive questions that encourage thinking and exploration rather than demanding decisions could also be beneficial.

Here are some examples of how you can approach this.

A better conversation

So if your Year 12 child has “no idea” what they want to do next year, try not to treat it as a crisis. They may not need a perfect plan. They may need a better conversation.

Parents can also help young people test their thinking.

This might mean speaking with a careers adviser, teacher, employer, TAFE or university adviser, apprentice, recent school leaver or family friend working in an area of interest.

The goal is to help young people move from vague anxiety to informed exploration.

For more information

The Australian government’s school leavers information kit can show students there are many education, training and employment options, not just one “correct” pathway.

MyFuture – a career information service – also has resources parents can use at home to support career conversations.

Headspace – the mental health foundation for young people – also has advice for those finishing school. It reminds families this transition can involve stress, uncertainty and mixed emotions.