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This chapter reports on the experiences of a cohort of young people during their transition from secondary school to further education and work in Australia. It describes current youth transition patterns and outlines the higher education policy context for postcompulsory and lifelong learning. The findings from the Australian Youth Research Centre’s Life-Patterns study on the experiences of transition into further education and beyond and their changing approaches to education and work are presented. The common themes emerging in the attitudes of Life-Patterns participants to education and work and their idea of self were: striving for balance in life; new meanings of ‘career’ (valuing flexibility and mobility); personal autonomy; and reflexivity. The chapter concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for policy development in postcompulsory education and lifelong learning in Australia.