EDUCATION
Our foundational belief that underpins our Philosophy of Care for children and young people in out-of-home care is that education is a prime requisite for instilling confidence, self worth, healing and the ability to enter adulthood fortified with a standard of education and learning that is the basic right of every child.
As a result of this belief in education it was determined that this out-of-home facility should take the form of a College to remedy the associated lack of literacy and numeracy skills evident in children and young people taken into care. In order to ensure each child and young person attains their optimum learning ability and has the ability to find their natural talents, a high priority for learning is instigated to facilitate the very best outcomes.
All children and young people in our care have the opportunity to receive formal education at the College which offers them a number of extra-curricula opportunities for learning agriculture, horticulture, permaculture, aquaculture, music, art, craft, IT and sports. No child or young person however, is pressured to take up extra-curricula on-farm schooling unless they specifically choose to accept the opportunities offered. Under legislation no child can be coerced into attending our school facilities and therefore would attend, at their request, community schooling.
Empirical evidence together with our own research and experience with children in care including the Founder, Bill Campbell’s personal experience, reveals the absolute necessity for children in out-of-home care to receive an education of the highest caliber to eliminate behavioural issues that have manifested throughout their childhood emanating from total neglect of their educational needs. The College considers that education and spirituality are the two most important tools in the healing and progression of each child’s stability, growth and achievement.
Our service model of accommodation, care and education is the dominant factor which is fundamentally interwoven to create an holistic result in providing the wholeness, confidence and maturity, empowering each child or young person to compete with their peers.
In June 2010, the NSW Board of Studies issued our School with 5 years registration under the classification of "special assistance" School.