The interplay of parental and career counsellors’ influences in shaping immigrant children’s subject choices and career pathway decisions in Australia

Using Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural mediation theory, this study investigated the role of immigrant parents, and their children’s school Career and Pathway Transition (CPT) leaders’ perceptions of how cultural tools such as parents’ beliefs, values, expectations and acculturation experiences influence children’s subject and career pathway decisions in secondary schools in Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 parents, their 11 children and three CPT leaders. Findings revealed that parents’ past failed educational and career aspirations, high expectations to choose Mathematics-based subjects and career pathways, together with acculturation to Australian norms and educational system, played a major role in mediating children’s subject choice.