Since their first school opened in 2020, The BUSY School has supported hundreds of young people to complete their schooling, find career paths or progress to tertiary education. The success of the schools and engagement with local communities to support outcomes for disengaged youth has propelled their seventh campus in Queensland to open in Cleveland this year, in time for Term 2, 2023.

The BUSY School is a network of independent Special Assistance Schools providing an alternative school option for Year 11 and 12 students who have disengaged from mainstream education. With smaller classroom sizes and a highly supportive environment, The BUSY School educational program combines academic studies, vocational training, and personal and professional development to support the social, educational and employment outcomes of young people. All costs are covered at The BUSY School and there are no fees for students.

The Redland City community consulted with The BUSY School in early 2021 to outline issues with youth disengagement, school refusals and the need for more alternative education solutions in the area. Thanks to this collaborative community-focused approach, in particular the close consultation with the local education leaders, The BUSY School was able to respond by establishing the Cleveland campus in 2023.

The Redland community highlighted the rising number of ‘school refusals’ and youth who were disengaging from education. According to a recent ABC 7.30 report, since COVID, a rise in ‘school refusals’ (students are motivated to attend school but cannot due to anxiety and other mental health issues), has concerned educators around the country and resulted in a parliamentary inquiry.

Alternative education models which offer small campus, smaller classroom environments and highly personalised teaching and learning experiences such as The BUSY School is ensuring these students maintain their chances of completing high school.

Alex is a prime example of the kind of student The BUSY School support.  After experiencing issues with mental health and bullying at his previous school, Alex had disengaged with his education. When his mother Emily found out about The BUSY School and suggested this as an option, things began to change for the better following his enrolment with The BUSY School Shailer Park campus.

His mother Emily quickly noticed a difference in Alex stating, “Since being at The BUSY School, I’ve noticed a general improvement in Alex’s attitude, health and wellbeing, and his positivity about the future.”

Alex went on to graduate in 2022 with straight A’s and this year he has enrolled at JMC Academy to continue his studies in a Diploma in Film and Television.

The BUSY School will open their seventh school in Cleveland in time for Term 2, 2023. The school will offer the same successful educational formula as other BUSY School campuses throughout Queensland which include Cairns, Coolangatta, Salisbury, Shailer Park and Brisbane City, along with Southport Girls+ school which is also set to open for Term 2, 2023.

CEO for The BUSY School, Lee Aitken, stated, “We are excited to open our seventh campus in Cleveland this year, to enable us to support more young people to reengage with their education, complete high school and make meaningful progress in their careers. We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to collaborate closely with the local community for their needs, and ultimately provide support for the young people of Redland City. We expect there to be a large interest in Year 11 enrolments for the Cleveland campus and encourage people to enquire as early as possible.”

The BUSY School new Cleveland campus will be located at 32 Enterprise Street, Cleveland Qld 4163.

All inquiries are welcome – contact 1300 176 451 or email cleveland@busyschools.com.au

Alternatively, you can make an enrolment enquiry through our website.

Embracing and valuing diversity of the school community is one of the cornerstones of The BUSY Schools success in reengaging young people to complete high school. A new BUSY School campus in Southport, opening in April 2023, is set to extend this support to female students, including all students who identify as female.

The BUSY School is a network of independent Special Assistance Schools providing an alternative school option for Year 11 and 12’s who have disengaged from mainstream education. The BUSY School educational program combines academic studies, vocational training, and personal development to support the social, educational and employment outcomes of young people. All costs are covered at The BUSY School, there are no fees for students.

The Southport campus will be The BUSY School’s sixth campus in Queensland and will offer a unique support for female students. When assessing the community need at the northern end of the Gold Coast, The BUSY School identified the opportunity to better support disengaged female students, including any student who identifies as female such as non-binary and transitioning students who prefer to attend a ‘girls’ school. The BUSY School anticipates a higher than average volume of enrolments at this campus of transgender, transitioning and gender fluid young people who will be supported to reengage and complete their senior schooling.

The BUSY School campuses provide a supportive, inclusive learning environment that combine learning, training, practical experience and recreational activities with a focus on academic and employment outcomes. The new campus in Southport will open in term two (17 April), 2023 at 139 Nerang Street in an engaging and newly refurbished site.

The BUSY School works closely with local schools and the community for an inclusive and mutually beneficial approach to providing supportive, alternative education for students most in need. The BUSY School program is often a student’s last chance to complete high school. Disengagement is often a result of anxiety-based school avoidance and The BUSY School Southport campus aims to address this by providing smaller classroom sizes, access to health and learning supports, and education that aims to ensure students complete their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), while also commencing on their career paths.

CEO for The BUSY School, Lee Aitken, stated, “We recognised the need for an all-girl campus in the area which included the support of students who identify as female and who may have very specific and unique support needs due to the issues they are encountering.

“The BUSY School has already supported hundreds of young people who were previously disengaged from their education to graduate and find a meaningful career pathway or progress to further study. These are students who otherwise may have fallen through the cracks.

“The schools are really making a difference for young people in Queensland (and Northern NSW) and we are excited to be able to continue establishing these schools where more young people are given the opportunity to succeed with their education and ongoing career paths.”

Amanda, mother of Billie, a former student of The BUSY School, said that when her daughter started disengaging from her education leading up to her final year of schooling and wanted to drop out before completing her QCE, she looked at other education options for her daughter.

Hearing great things about The BUSY School, they approached their local campus to see if Billie would fit the criteria for attending so she could complete her senior schooling. Once Billie started at The BUSY School, her mother was amazed at the turnaround in her daughter’s education, with Billie completing her QCE at the end of 2022.

Amanda said of the school, “The culture of the school is like a community of people wrapped around the students in support of their learning and success. Billie’s grades improved unbelievably. I am very impressed and would recommend it to anyone.”

Enrolments are open for The BUSY School Southport Girls + campus for year 11 students and the school will be opening in Term 2, 2023. Make an enquiry

Find out more and watch what people say about The BUSY School. 

When Billie started disengaging from her education leading up to her final year of schooling and wanted to drop out before completing her QCE, her mother Amanda looked at other education options for her daughter.

Hearing great things about The BUSY School, they approached their Cairns campus to see if Billie would fit the criteria for attending so she could complete her senior schooling. Billie was accepted and once starting at The BUSY School campus, her mother was amazed at the turnaround in her daughter’s education.

Amanda said of the school, “The culture of the school is like a community of people wrapped around the students in support of their learning and success. Billie’s grades improved unbelievably. I am very impressed and would recommend it to anyone.”

At the end of Year 12 Billie graduated with her QCE and she is now taking a year off to decide her next direction and further study. Currently Billie is working in the catering industry which is keeping her busy.

When asked what Amanda would say to other parents whose children are struggling with traditional schooling, she stated, “Definitely give The BUSY School a try. It works!

“As I looked around at the graduation ceremony, at all the graduates seated with their family and friends, I realised that without the effort and extra support put in by all members of The BUSY School team, not all these students would be here tonight.”

Naomi Vucas, Principal at The BUSY School Cairns campus, said “Since our Cairns campus opened in 2020, we’ve supported over 80 students to complete their schooling and move into career pathways, and across our Queensland campuses we’ve assisted hundreds of young people. As mentioned by Billie’s mother Amanda, many of these students may not otherwise have finished their schooling or found their career path. All the staff here are so incredibly honoured to be in the position where we are contributing to better futures for young people. We wish Billie, and all our graduating students, the very best in their future endeavours!”

Amanda with her daugther Billie who graduated in 2022.