After opening its doors just six months ago, The BUSY Schools Salisbury has successfully completed its very first school year and recently hosted the Year 11 Awards Ceremony where families and friends gathered to watch the students receive awards chosen by their teachers and Principal, Toni Banfield.

The student who walked away with not one, but five awards was Sophie who exceeded everyone’s expectations this year, including her own.

“I dropped out of school because I frequently suffered from anxiety attacks but then I came across The BUSY Schools where I gained a lot of support from my teachers and now I am getting straight As.” said Sophie.

Sophie was presented with the Work Experience Award, Year 11 Essential Mathematics Award, Year 11 Social and Community Studies Award, Academic Excellence Award and Encouragement Award.

“The BUSY Schools has definitely made a big difference in both my life and my education,” added Sophie.

Tyler, another student at Salisbury, also feels The BUSY Schools has helped him, saying it is enjoyable and better for his mental health. Similar to Sophie, Tyler also received an Encouragement Award for demonstrating commitment to The BUSY Schools program and, despite personal challenges, remaining engaged to complete his Year 11 studies.

“I feel proud to be here and see how the environment and people around me change for the better,” said Tyler.

Owen, another Year 11 student, received the Certificate I in Construction Encouragement Award for helping to build the campus kitchen benches.

Chris, Trainer at Registered Training Organisation, Skill360, delivered the Construction course at The BUSY Schools Salisbury and said, “Owen is a natural; he ran the workshop and showed everyone else how it should be done, it’s clear we couldn’t have built the kitchen benches without him.”

Owen has always had an interest in construction and helped his Pop build things around the house growing up. He’s also recently helped build a small two bedroom house for work experience, which he really enjoyed.

Another year 11 student, Isabella, is thriving in both her work experience and studies, saying “I’m happy, socially engaged and excelling towards my future in community services.”

Isabella also received this year’s Principal Award for consistently modelling The BUSY Schools values, demonstrating excellence and dedication to both the academic and industry programs, maintaining consistent attendance, and going ‘above and beyond’ in the life of a BUSY School student.

“I am forever grateful to The BUSY Schools for supporting me and guiding me to be a better version of myself.”

Principal, Toni Banfield, and the teaching staff found it quite difficult to pick just one award winner for most categories, as many students performed to a high standard and all to the best of their abilities.

“Since welcoming students onto campus earlier this year, we have experienced much success. We have tripled in student numbers, have laid the foundations for our campus culture and we have witnessed each and every young person take steps along the road of success,” said Toni.

“Our students continue to grow in character and in demonstrating our BUSY values of excellence, resilience, innovation, inclusivity and integrity. It is a pleasure and a privilege to walk beside them on their journey.”

In attendance on the day were Members of The BUSY Schools Board, including Kerry Gibb and CEO, Lee Aitken, Managing Director of The BUSY Group, Paul Miles, Chief Operating Officer of The BUSY Group, Leonie Carlisle, and Acting CEO of Group Training Organisation, Skill360, Mike Bareham, who each presented awards from a particular category.

Lee Aitken, CEO for The BUSY Schools said, “More families are hearing about the positive effect BUSY Schools has on students, so much so that the number of students enrolled is growing every day. The Salisbury campus currently has 85 students enrolled for 2022 across both Years 11 and 12.”

The Year 11 students are excited to meet all the new students attending The BUSY Schools Salisbury campus next year and strongly encourage more teenagers to consider enrolling at The BUSY Schools if they are struggling in mainstream schooling.

For more information or to enrol for 2022, visit https://www.busyschools.qld.edu.au/

MEDIA CONTACT:                     

Michelle Ryan, BUSY At Work

0407 169 029 or email michelle.ryan@busyatwork.com.au

Thanks to the support and guidance of staff at BUSY Schools Salisbury, a group of Year 11 students are building more than just their career pathways, as they work towards completing a Certificate I in Construction.  The course is delivered through Skill360, a Registered Training Organisation and also a part of the BUSY Group. During the course, over two school terms, the students are learning to build cabinetry for the school kitchen.

Sebastian and Taylor are two students whose attendance were low at their previous schools, but now find themselves more motivated and actually wanting to show up to their classes.

“It’s a really good environment to be in, everyone is super friendly and accepting which is a nice change,” said Taylor.

“The teachers are also more involved in your schoolwork and offer one-on-one support for those students who require further assistance.”

Sebastian recently passed a Mathematics assessment for the first time in a long time which he was really proud of, especially since it is one of his favourite subjects.

“The teachers took the time to sit down and go through the work with me so I could understand it better, rather than just telling me what to do and expecting me to figure it out on my own,” said Sebastian.

“BUSY Schools has helped me out so much since I have been here, especially with this Construction course which will hopefully lead to a career in Carpentry or Plumbing.”

Taylor is also really enjoying the Construction course as she is learning new skills and has become more confident. In addition, to the Certificate I in Construction, Taylor is also completing a Certificate III in Automotive Refinishing Technology as part of her school-based apprenticeship which she attends every Friday.

“I find the hands-on work quite interesting and the best part about this experience is being able to get out into the workforce and learn everything about it,” said Taylor.

Lee Aitken, CEO for BUSY Schools said, “BUSY Schools prepares students for life after school by providing real career support with planning for each individual pathway, relevant vocational education and training courses, work experience and school-based apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities. This not only builds their confidence, but also prepares and gives them a head start with the vocational skills and experience to kick start their careers.”

For more information, visit https://www.busyschools.qld.edu.au/

Sebastian (L) and Taylor (R) are students at BUSY Schools Salisbury and are completing a Certificate I in Construction as part of their school curriculum.

MEDIA CONTACT:                     

Michelle Ryan, BUSY At Work

0407 169 029 or email michelle.ryan@busyatwork.com.au

Education Minister Grace Grace today congratulated ‘The BUSY Schools’ on the opening of their new school campus in Salisbury, Brisbane, at the location where parts of Brisbane’s iconic Story Bridge were once built.

“This new special assistance school is building bridges of a different kind today, creating engaging pathways between school and employment to forge brighter futures for young students,” Ms Grace said.

“The Queensland Government will provide around $500,000 of recurrent funding this year towards supporting The BUSY Schools to operate across Queensland, with sites already open for business at Shailer Park and Cairns.

“We also provided $10,000 to The BUSY Schools this year as part of the 2020-21 Spotlight Schools initiative, upon recommendation from Independent Schools Queensland,” Ms Grace said.

“The Spotlight School initiative highlights quality standards in alternative educational settings, and emphasises collaboration across all sectors to identify, scale-up and showcase evidence-based best practice.

“I acknowledge The BUSY Group not-for-profit, together with the Federal Government, which fund the bulk of the costs required to keep ‘The BUSY Schools’ special assistance schools open.

“The Queensland Government operates 42 Special Assistance Schools across Queensland along with two other sites located within mainstream non-state schools, together supporting some 4,100 students.

“This is one of our key strategies for keeping students, at risk of disengaging, active and involved with their education and connecting them with real career possibilities that interest them.”

The BUSY Schools Salisbury Principal Toni Banfield said that currently about 40 students have started attending, with an expanded capacity of around 140 students expected within a few years.

“Our school offers purposeful academic and vocational skills pathways to support students to re-engage in senior schooling and explore career pathways leading to employment outcomes. Students have access to specialist staff who help keep them engaged by giving them individualised support and by encouraging them to set and achieve meaningful goals.

“Five of our students have already achieved school-based apprenticeships in areas ranging from commercial cookery, engineering and construction to community services and hairdressing.

“We’d like to thank both the Queensland Government and local employers for their support.”

In 2019, the Department of Education formed a Statement of Commitment with non-state schooling peak bodies to support high quality standards for alternative education settings, in both the state and non-state sector.

Education Minister Grace Grace was represented by Peter Russo, Member for Toohey, at today’s official opening.

In Photo from L – R: Lee Aitken (CEO for BUSY Schools), Peter Russo (Member for Toohey), Bella Scia Scia (Student), Mackenzie Johnson-Cremin (Student), Dr Kamal Dhaliwal (Director of BUSY Schools) and Toni Banfield (Principal, BUSY Schools Salisbury campus. 

Media Enquiries:

Michelle Ryan, The BUSY Group
Phone: 0407 169 029
Email: michelle.ryan@thebusygroup.com.au