Early school leaving is an issue internationally. In Australia, nearly one in three young people is at risk of not completing secondary education, a situation that affects long-term employment prospects and earning capacity. Not all leave early for the same reason, and their reasons are not necessarily negative ones. Six "types" of early leavers are: positive, opportune, would-be, circumstantial, discouraged, and alienated leavers. Some groups are particularly at risk. Risk factors include the following: psycho-social, behavioral, and physical factors; factors associated with the family and with the school; socio-economic and group factors; and the lack of literacy, numeracy, and study skills. Early school leavers are at increasing levels of disadvantage in employment and further training. Since 1994, a range of policy initiatives have been undertaken that have a role to play in using vocational education and training (VET) to assist the access to job and training pathways of young people "at risk" in the labor market. VET has not helped early leavers as expected, although growth in course enrollments in older age groups has occurred. Technical and further education has not picked up many early leavers because entry standards have risen. A major problem for early leavers is fragmented services at the local level. Possible solutions include preventive, integrated, community, and partnership approaches. (A workable model based on a more coordinated approach is provided, with implications for policy, research, and practice. The report contains 29 references.) (YLB)