The effectiveness of initial vocational education and training (VET) and support services in preparing early school leavers in Australia to negotiate an effective transition from school to adult roles was examined in a study that focused on two areas of the Central Coast of New South Wales. The following three data collection activities were used: literature review; assessment of recent commonwealth and state VET policies from a social policy perspective; and interviews with 40 early school leavers and samples of local providers of VET and social services and local businesses and employers. Two groups of early leavers were identified: "positive leavers," who are generally able to make the transition on their own, and "negative leavers," who require extensive assistance from school, parents, service providers, and/or VET. The overriding conclusion from the literature review and interviews was that integration of services to assist early school leavers in making the transition to work and adult life must be improved. (The report contains 52 references and 23 tables/figures. Appendixes, constituting approximately 40% of the document, contain the following: social policy perspective; leaver vignettes; school leaver interview schedule; employer interview schedule; provider interview; and Scandinavian countries' policies regarding safety nets for early leavers.) (MN)