An independent community school was inaugurated by Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner on 21 November, and she describes the new institute as an educational “innovation”.
The Y Community School – part of Y Whittlesea – has been operating since July this year, but last month’s inauguration marked its official opening.
So far, the school has more than 40 young people, aged 15 years and over, enrolled.
The school is located in Melbourne’s outer suburb of Epping and is guided by an aim to “revolutionise education” for disengaged students who have struggled in mainstream academic settings.
Campus principal Sarah Abbott says that creating a supportive environment with a tailored curriculum designed to cater to the unique needs of each and every student is a positive way to help the young people discover a passion for learning – and be able to access the skills they need for both personal and professional success.
“As a school, we’ve got unconditional positive regard for everybody that comes through the door,” Abbott says.
“We’ve got such a huge mix of abilities, stories and backgrounds but all our young people connect with each other because they know they’ve had difficulties elsewhere.”
Hazel is one of the school’s new students and says that she felt she had no “hope for the future in her previous school”.
“This has given me a whole new window into life and a [shot] at a future,” she says.
“I’m here pushing myself and getting out there – I love it.”
