Bringing Life After School to Life: Practical Transition Support for Schools

When transition planning needs to be engaging, accessible and relevant, our School Leaver Incursion Program offers a practical solution.

For many schools, preparing students for life after school means helping them build confidence, understand their options and explore what their future could look like.

Yet this can be challenging when offsite visits are difficult to coordinate and transition planning needs to remain meaningful across Years 10, 11 and 12.

The Endeavour Foundation School Leaver Incursion Program brings post-school opportunities into the school environment, giving students a supported way to explore areas such as community engagement, employment, independence and self-advocacy.

Here's what that can look like in practice.

A Transition Program Designed for Schools

The Endeavour Foundation School Leaver Incursion Program was developed in response to what educators consistently tell us they need: hands-on, real‑world transition education that fits within a school context.

Delivered onsite, the program removes many common barriers such as transport, supervision logistics and time away from class. Teachers remain closely involved, and sessions are structured to support diverse communication styles, learning needs and confidence levels.

At Mitchelton Special School in Brisbane, students met with team members from Endeavour Foundation's Bowen Hills Learning and Lifestyle Hub and Geebung Supported Employment social enterprise, gaining exposure to a range of post-school pathways in a single session.

By bringing together Learning and Lifestyle programs and Supported Employment, students gained a better understanding of how independence, skill development and employment pathways can connect. Demonstrations included:

• Exploring life skills and independence through Learning and Lifestyle programs

• Understanding Supported Employment pathways through real business services and worksite activities

• Hearing lived experience through peer-led storytelling and self-advocacy activities supported by AUSLAN, delivered by Endeavour Foundation employee Chloe Haidenhofer

This modular approach allows schools to revisit topics over time or tailor sessions to align with transition milestones across Years 10, 11 and 12.

Mitchelton Special School: The Program in Practice

One of the most impactful aspects of the session for both students and staff was the inclusion of lived experience.

Chloe’s story provided a relatable, authentic example of what employment, independence and self‑advocacy can look like with Endeavour Foundation beyond school.

Teachers observed high levels of engagement and noted that students continued discussing the session afterwards, reinforcing its relevance and impact.

“Chloe was an amazing speaker and presented in a way that was engaging, relatable and easy for the students to understand,” one teacher said.

“The students remained highly engaged throughout the session and responded very positively.”

The use of video content showcasing different people and pathways was also highlighted as particularly effective, helping students visualise possibilities and reinforcing key messages.

Staff expressed interest in future sessions focusing further on employment pathways, independent living skills and self‑advocacy, demonstrating how the program can support ongoing transition planning.

The Value of Early Transition Support

Transition from school to adulthood is not a single decision point; it’s a process that unfolds over several years.

School‑based incursions allow students to build familiarity with post‑school options gradually while giving educators and families clear, consistent information along the way. For schools, the program provides:

• A transition experience delivered onsite and designed to complement classroom learning

• Reduced administrative and risk burden compared to excursions

• A flexible model that can be revisited annually or integrated into transition planning cycles

• Stronger partnerships with providers that support students beyond school

• Increased confidence and understanding for students and families, supporting more informed choices about life after school

Support Your Students to Transition with Confidence

If your school is looking to strengthen transition planning and help students explore what comes next, Endeavour Foundation can help.

Speak to us about school-based transition support and how we can work with your team to support students now and in the future.