Since their first school opened in 2020, The BUSY Schools 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 Schools are 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 Schools 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 Schools and there are no fees for students.

The Redland City community consulted with The BUSY Schools 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 Schools 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 Schools are ensuring these students maintain their chances of completing high school.

Alex is a prime example of the kind of student The BUSY Schools 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 Schools and suggested this as an option, things began to change for the better following his enrolment with The BUSY Schools Shailer Park campus.

His mother Emily quickly noticed a difference in Alex stating, “Since being at The BUSY Schools, 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 Schools 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 Schools 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 Schools, 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 Schools 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 Schools 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 Schools are 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 Schools 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 Schools, 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 Schools 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 Schools anticipate 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 Schools 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 Schools work 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 Schools 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 Schools 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 Schools, 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 Schools 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 Schools, 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 Schools, 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 Schools, 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 Schools 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 Schools. 

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 Schools, 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 Schools 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 Schools team, not all these students would be here tonight.”

Naomi Vucas, Principal at The BUSY Schools 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.

Paige, a Year 12 student at The BUSY Schools – Salisbury, has big hopes for the school and intends to do everything in her power to ensure it remains a place where students feel they belong and have a say.

Prior to coming to The BUSY Schools, Paige did not feel supported with traditional schooling, so she sat down with her mother to discuss alternative options. That’s when she decided The BUSY Schools would be the best solution.

The BUSY Schools offers an alternative learning and supportive environment to re-engage students with a focus on vocational pathways while also completing their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).

Since arriving at The BUSY Schools, Paige has achieved many outcomes including receiving The Principal Award for 2022, gaining a Certificate II in Hospitality, a Certificate III in Hospitality and Business, and becoming student leader for 2023.

“Coming here, I really want to do my teachers proud and strive for my best, especially with being student leader,” said Paige.

The responsibilities of Student Leader include having frequent meetings with the Campus Principal, continuously checking in with students and teachers about any concerns they may have or thoughts as to how they can help improve the school, and always making sure the students feel heard.

“I really want to make this school the best it can be because not only are the students deserving of a school that treats them well, but the staff also deserve the best working environment,” Paige stated.

With a passion for cooking, baking and all things hospitality, Paige is currently doing a school-based traineeship at KFC which is a great career pathway towards her ultimate dream of one day owning a café.

With all that she has achieved so far in her BUSY Schools experience, Paige has discovered that “I wasn’t failing school; school was failing me.”

Liza Page, Campus Principal at The BUSY Schools Salisbury campus, stated, “Mainstream schooling isn’t the only option out there. The BUSY Schools is a great alternative for students like Paige who have become disengaged from their learning.”

“Paige is an awesome leader, she stepped up straight away and is on the ball with everything.”

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

After experiencing issues with mental health and bullying at his previous school, Alex spent most of 2021 bouncing from job to job in Hospitality and Retail due to the impacts of COVID-19.

It wasn’t until his mother, Emily, suggested going back to school to finish Year 12 that they discovered BUSY Schools Shailer Park and how they could assist Alex with reengaging in education.

The BUSY Schools offers Year 11 and 12 students an alternative learning solution and the opportunity to re-engage with education and complete senior school, while getting a head-start into employment.

“The flexible schooling really did help, especially with being able to make it to health appointments,” said Emily.

Alex was always a smart teenager; he just hadn’t found an environment where he felt comfortable and confident in himself and his abilities.

The BUSY Schools focus on providing students with a safe and supportive environment where they can work towards their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) – as well as find a pathway to future employment.

“Since being at The BUSY Schools, I’ve noticed a general improvement in Alex’s attitude, health and wellbeing, and positivity about the future,” Emily further stated.

This year, Alex graduated with straight A’s, a First Aid certificate and is heading to the JMC Academy in February 2023, to study a Diploma in Film & TV.

His mother couldn’t be prouder and stated, “I was very impressed to hear there was a next step after school and am proud to see him taking an active interest in his future.”

Shane Blood, Principal at The BUSY Schools Shailer Park campus, stated, “Here at The BUSY Schools, we aim to progress our students into employment or further training or education following graduation.

“Alex has come so far since starting with us here at The BUSY Schools and we wish him the best of luck next year with his further studies.”

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

Alex and his cockatiel, Lavernius, who also loved The BUSY Schools.

There are very few high schools that invoke overwhelming praise from students, parents and teachers alike but, during the recent graduation period for 2022, this was the case for The BUSY Schools.

The BUSY Schools is an initiative of The BUSY Group, a not-for-profit organisation offering a range of apprenticeship, employment, training and career support programs. The BUSY Group has opened four BUSY Schools throughout Queensland – in Cairns, Shailer Park, Salisbury and Coolangatta – and are set to open further campuses in 2023, including a Brisbane City campus opening in time for Term 1, January 2023.  The schools offer an alternative senior high education (Years 11 and 12) for students who are not thriving with traditional schooling. In a relaxed but supportive environment, they aim to re-engage students with education so as to complete their QCE and move onto career pathways or further study.

During the recent Year 12 graduation period for three of the four campuses (except Coolangatta which opened in 2022 for Year 11 students who will graduate Year 12 in 2023), 161 students graduated with their Senior Education Profile (SEP), with 62.1% graduating with their QCE and approximately 75% of them gaining one or more Vocational Education and Training Qualifications.

Many of the students had previously disengaged from schooling for a variety of reasons. One parent put it succinctly when discussing her graduating daughter’s progress since coming to the school, “If you had told me twelve months ago that she would be where she is now, I wouldn’t of believed you”.

Another parent, obviously welling with pride (and holding back the tears) stated, “I’m so proud of him, I couldn’t be more proud of him, the man he is today, my son!”

While one parent believes it’s the dynamic between the teachers and the students that is key, stating, “The teachers are more like friends than teachers. The kids get to be themselves, they can open up and be accepted for who they are”.

Graduating students also had many positive things to say about their school and the difference it had made for them. Just some of the comments from students included:

“It’s a great school and I’m not just saying that, it really is a great school. They’ve helped me so much and I’m so thankful to everyone here”.

“Never thought I’d say I would miss school but I’m definitely going to miss BUSY Schools”.

“There should be more of them. Everywhere there is a high school, there should be a BUSY Schools as well.”

Shane Blood, Principal at The BUSY Schools, Shailer Park campus stated, “The best part of my job is coming here and seeing the interactions between the teachers and the students and just seeing how happy they are. The feedback from parents is very, very positive. They may have struggled to get their kids to school for many, many years. Since coming to The BUSY Schools, that’s not a problem for them anymore”.

Leigh Hollands, Youth Worker at The BUSY Schools Shailer Park, stated, “The students think they’re lucky for everything BUSY Schools has provided. I think I’m lucky for what they’ve brought me since they started. To see the change in them, I think we’re the lucky ones!”

Some students spoke of how they struggled with the culture of traditional schools before moving to The BUSY Schools, while others spoke of how the teachers at The BUSY Schools gave them the confidence to try for subjects they previously considered themselves failures in.

“Learning math is important…but whether you pass or fail, that doesn’t affect your value as a human…” their math teacher asserted. This statement sums up what so many students seemed to appreciate about The BUSY Schools — a space where they feel valued and accepted for who they are.

Graduating Year 12 students celebrating with staff and family at their end of year formal.

Find out more and watch what people say about The BUSY Schools 

In the first week of July each year, National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

Each year has a theme and this year’s is ‘Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up’. As a nation, it calls for us to continue to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! for systemic change and keep rallying around our mob, our Elders, our communities. Whether it’s seeking proper environmental, cultural and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, working towards treaties, or calling out racism—we must do it together.

You can support and get to know your local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities through activities and events held across the country. These events aim to educate all of us of the country we stand on, the language, history and achievements of our First Nations people.

National NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony

National NAIDOC Week’s premiere event is the National NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony which showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence. Every year, a different focus city is chosen to host the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony.

Previous National NAIDOC Week Award Winners come from many different communities within Australia and have different backgrounds, however they are all part of NAIDOC history and share remarkable achievements.

One such winner was the Koori Mail, Australia’s only fully indigenous-owned and managed newspaper with a circulation of approximately 10,000 and an estimated readership across Australia of close to 100,000.

In its citation, the National NAIDOC Committee said that the Koori Mail is the only fully Indigenous-owned and managed newspaper in Australia. ‘Founded by a Walbunja businessman, Owen Carriage, the Koori Mail first went to print in May 1991. Published in both printed form and digitally each fortnight, it is a trusted voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

‘Based in Lismore, New South Wales, the Koori Mail was significantly impacted by the floods this year, affecting both the organisation and those who worked for it. However, the paper immediately pivoted to distribute emergency information and provide disaster relief. Their coordination and leadership provided support to First Nations people and the wider community in and around Lismore during this difficult time.’ The support included setting up a street kitchen and serving food to community members, many who had lost everything in the floods. The Koori Maiil is a a fine example to us all of what it truly means to ‘Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up!’

References:

Echo Newspaper

NAIDOC Week 2022

National Reconciliation Week is a reminder for all Australians to contribute to achieving reconciliation for our first nation’s people in Australia, prompting all of us to learn about our shared histories and cultures.

The week always runs from 27 May to 3 June as it coincides with two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey so far: that of the 27 May, 1967 Referendum which saw an overwhelming 90% of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and recognize them in the census; and on the 3^rd June 1992, Eddie Koiki Mabo’s court challenge which lead to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands, and paved the way to Native Title.

The concept of National Reconciliation Week started in 1993, the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, as a week of prayer for reconciliation, supported by Australia’s religious communities. In 1996 the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched Australia’s first National Reconciliation Week and in 2001, Reconciliation was formed to continue to provide leadership on reconciliation.

This same year, 2001, which saw 300,000 people cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of National Reconciliation Week which prompted other cities and towns across Australia to conduct bridge walks also.

Every year now in Australia, schools, workplaces and communities come together during Reconciliation Week to support our reconciliation with Australia’s First Nations people. This year’s theme of Be Brave, Make Change, follows on from last year’s theme to Take Action. It prompts every individual, organisation and community to take steps to help bridge the gap and find reconciliation.

At The BUSY Schools (a part of The BUSY Group), our vision for reconciliation with First Nations Peoples has its origins in our commitment to have more people in jobs, more people learning new skills, and more communities exposed to positive change, in partnership with employers and industry.

We recognise that a community-led, strengths-based approach that values the experience of First Nations Peoples is the best way to accelerate improvements in their life outcomes.

To make this vision a reality it is our intention to consult with First Nations Peoples to truly understand how we can work together to create opportunities.

The BUSY Group is driven by passion and commitment to make a difference by supporting Reconciliation through our commitment to the actions outlined in our ‘Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)’ which re-enforces our genuine commitment to improve the lives of one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world and assist in driving social change.

Throughout our offices, through morning teas and group communications, we’re encouraging all of our staff this year to Be Brave, Make Change, to reach out and connect with our First Nations Peoples, and the opportunities we can provide to improve lives through career pathways, vocational skills, employment and financial independence.

More information on Reconciliation Week 2022.

The BUSY Group was lucky enough to have one of our former employees create an art piece to represent our journey. This artwork is displayed in many of our offices.

BUSY Meeting Place by Shandell Washington – Artist

This is about the journey that BUSY has taken to get where they are now.

The black symbols represent the aboriginal men and women who had lived, worked, and looked after the land before our offices came to be where they are.

I have also painted a kangaroo and emu track to represent all the animals who walked the land before we began our journey.

 The yellow circles are in a symbol that represents ‘meeting place’. For BUSY, this whole journey has been one big meeting place for everyone to come and meet with all people across the organisation to help them gain employment or start their pathway to success. 

The biggest circle in the middle is a representation of Southport where the journey began for the BUSY staff with Martin Punch, our founding director’s hand print in the middle. Below Martin’s handprint is a sea mullet. The sea mullet represents the Yugambeh people. 

While researching for my painting I got onto uncle Ted Williams and asked if I might be able to use his totem as a symbol for the head office. Uncle Ted asked if I could paint the sea mullet, as the sea mullet represents all the Yugambeh people because when the sea mullet would come in close to shore the people would go fishing and catch a big heap of fish to then take back and share with all the mob. 

The other offices are represented through totems of the traditional owners of the land that they are situated. This is to show our respect and acknowledgement of the traditional owner. Every dot on this painting represents every worker and the individuals they have helped over the years, representing the hard work that has contributed to becoming such a great organisation.

The room was bursting with sounds of cheerful laughter, lively conversation and party horns being blown with uninterrupted zeal, as students and teachers gathered to celebrate the first birthday of the school.

The BUSY Schools Salisbury campus opened on May 19th of 2021, with just 11, Year 11 students. Almost half the school year had passed, and these first students found themselves completing an entire Year 11 syllabus in just over 6 months.

A year later, these students are just a few of the 121 students currently enrolled at The BUSY Schools, Salisbury campus. Since commencing, they have completed certificates in either construction or workplace skills, acquired first aid training, white cards, or RSAs, and—in just over 6 months, they will become The BUSY Schools Salisbury’s inaugural graduating class of 2022.

After a satisfying sausage sizzle, partygoers gathered for speeches prepared by some of their teachers and peers. Students spoke of how they struggled with the culture of traditional schools before moving to The BUSY Schools, while others spoke of how the teachers at The BUSY Schools gave them the confidence to try subjects they previously considered themselves failures in.

“Learning math is important…but whether you pass or fail, that doesn’t affect your value as a human…” their math teacher asserted. This statement sums up what so many students seemed to appreciate about The BUSY Schools Salisbury—a space where they feel valued and accepted for who they are.

Founding student, Mackenzie, had some advice for his fellow students: “I think this school is pretty good. I don’t know if all of you agree. I don’t care if all of you agree. But you’re all here now so get through it, and you’ll thank yourself for it later.”

After the speeches, a special ceremony took place—the introduction and naming of BUSY BEE, The BUSY Schools Salisbury’s new mascot. Students had placed their ideas for names into a hat, with suggestions such as Bazza and Jaquaviontavious among the contenders, and the crowd waited with bated breath as Principal, Liza Page, reached into the hat and picked out the winner—Michael with his BUSY BEE entry.

The crowd burst into laughter, and the smiles stayed on their faces as they ate a delicious cake—baked and beautifully decorated by their talented classmate, Jen. This was followed by rounds of classic party games. As some students guided their blindfolded friends through a makeshift obstacle course, others tried, and mostly failed, to Pin the Stinger on the Bee. An especial crowd-pleaser was Donut on a String, where teachers, from their perch on top of the stairs, dangled donuts above the heads of their students, who attempted to eat them without the use of their hands.

“Today was insane” grins Xero, who moved to The BUSY Schools for Year 11. “Also, it was a pretty fun thing to do.”

The BUSY Schools is a unique environment where students who have disengaged or are at risk of disengaging from traditional schooling can continue to work towards their QCE with support and understanding while finding their pathway to future employment.

“I actually dropped out of school early, in the middle of Year 11” confesses Liza, Principal of The BUSY Schools, Salisbury, “I wished there was a school like this, so this really captures my passion.”

“We have these people watching our backs so we don’t fall” declared Aaliyah, a founding student of The BUSY Schools, Salisbury.

To students in mainstream schools who are finding themselves disengaging with their education, Year 11 student, Matthew, recommends making a change: “This school makes me want to come to school, and try, and actually put effort into my work. So come to The BUSY Schools. It will change things.”

In its first year, The BUSY Schools, Salisbury has supported the future education and employment direction of over 120 students who were otherwise unlikely to have completed senior school — and that is certainly worth the celebration.

Students and staff celebrated the first year milestone for The BUSY Schools Salisbury campus.

The past few years have been particularly disruptive for school students across the country (no thanks global pandemic!). For Adarlia this was even more so because, on top of trying to learn via distance education, being pregnant and battling severe morning sickness saw her in hospital 2-3 days per week for most of her pregnancy.

An indication of her determination and love of learning, Adarlia persisted with wanting to finish her schooling after giving birth to her beautiful baby boy Micah. This led to her enrolling at The BUSY Schools new Coolangatta campus.

Delivering an alternative learning solution for students in years 11 and 12 who are looking for an opportunity to re-engage and complete their studies, The BUSY Schools support students to complete their QCE and graduate onto a Vocational Education and Training (VET) career or into further study, including university pathways. The BUSY Schools program is designed for students who, for a variety of reasons, find traditional schooling difficult. Teachers work closely with students and their family to re-engage them with education in a nurturing environment that leads to career outcomes or further education that suits their abilities and passions. In a highly supportive, personalised and inclusive environment, the schools offer no fees, smaller classroom sizes, wellbeing support, access to vocational work experience and career pathway guidance.

The newly opened Coolangatta campus (one of four campuses across Queensland), was the welcoming and supportive schooling environment that Adarlia needed to help her complete her studies and fulfil her career goals.

Adarlia said, “I’m someone who really enjoys education, learning and study. I really wanted to finish Year 11 and 12 but had to wait until after Micah was born to enrol”.

I love it here at BUSY Schools! The teachers are so supportive and treat us like adults, not kids. My short term goal is to start an apprenticeship to get into legal studies as I would like to get into law – either family law or criminal law. My long term goal is to become a lawyer and help indigenous kids as there is a large percentage of indigenous kids in the court system”, Adarlia further stated.

A proud indigenous woman herself, whose father hails from Gilgandra country, Adarlia is hoping to gain a scholarship into further study to help her achieve her career goals.

With her determination, incredible maturity for her age, and the support she is receiving through The BUSY Schools, there is no doubt Adarlia will be an amazing role model for her son Micah and achieve her mission of becoming a lawyer and making a positive difference for indigenous kids in the legal system.

The newly-opened Coolangatta campus is accepting enrolments for Year 11 students. For more information regarding The BUSY Schools, including eligibility and enrolment, visit www.busyschools.qld.edu.au or contact The BUSY Schools by emailing admin@busyschools.com.au or by calling 1300 176 472.

Adarlia (pictured with Micah), is determined to fulfil her goal to become a lawyer and make a positive difference for indigenous kids in the legal system.