FREE - 

Flexible Re-Engagement Experience 

FREE is an educational setting that supports students that are deemed ‘at-risk’ or already disengaged from education. The vision of FREE is to ensure each student has the opportunity for a successful return to mainstream schooling or to pursue a pathway that suits their needs.

FREE’s main purpose is to provide targeted support so each student will develop their social and emotional skills, have a deeper connection to the school community and therefore, have significant growth in their learning.

Yearly reflection: This year, not only were we ‘back to business’ with a lockdown free year, we were also lucky enough to find ourselves in a brand-new space in the Sheehan Building.  

On top of the usual literacy and numeracy sessions, students have challenged themselves by setting clear and consistent learning routines starting with the ‘ready to learn’ wall when they enter the room. They’ve also been learning about a variety of self-care and regulation strategies that they can use when they feel dysregulated. 

We’ve embraced the new space further by utilising our surroundings with some students working in specified programs in the wellbeing area and others branching out into the library for study sessions and/or working in small groups as part of their transition.

Next year we are looking forward to developing the program further to engage, support and educate ‘at risk’ students. 

Samantha Bell

FREE Program Leader