Rockhampton Flexible Learning Center (FLC)

The Rockhampton Flexible learning Center (FLC) commenced in 2014 as a mobile program and then as a registered secondary school in the Edmund Rice tradition in 2015 to support the community in providing education to young people who are disengaged from education. The journey since 2015 has been to develop a curriculum that is appropriate, responsive and relative to the needs of the YP. It has also seen the development a school culture where the YP can take pride in their school, feel accepted, reflect, heal, and move forward in their education. In this short period, the school has grown both in the number of YP that attend and the staff employed. Initially there were approximately 50 enrolled in 2015, which has grown to 70 at the end of 2017. The growth has been slow and steady to allow time for the school to gain momentum and settle as a school. YP who attend RFLC come from Rockhampton, Mount Morgan, Yeppoon and a significant number from Gracemere. The school operates three buses to pick up and drop off the YP each day. Currently over 50% of the YP are indigenous. It is important therefore that we have focused on ensuring that cultural understandings and experiences are a part of the school’s programs. Initially, the school went through a smoking ceremony by Uncle Bill Mann, traditional owner and local Elder for Darumbal. Included in the ceremony was the official opening of the school’s yarning circle which was designed by one of the YP who previously attended the school. The school operates within a set of four principles: Respect, Participation, Honesty and Safe and Legal. All conversations, negotiations and behaviours are aligned with these four principles, allowing YP to learn to govern themselves within this framework. Staff are also expected to work within this framework ensuring that our way of operating with the YP is on common ground.