Toowoomba FlexiSchool
The Toowoomba FlexiSchool is a unique community-based initiative that has been successful in creating educational opportunities and pathways for homeless, disadvantaged and disenfranchised young people in Toowoomba since 1998. The schools goals are:
- to engage marginalised young people to recover pathways to learning and work
- to facilitate the provision of transparent access to the full range of community education and training resources and services
- to base the provision of such education and training on principles of inclusivity (culture, gender, disability, socio economic)
The University of Southern Queensland has been closely involved with the school since before its inception. The Flexi school offers unique opportunities for partnership including:
- practicum and teacher volunteer opportunities for teaching students in alternative education situations
- Flexi has begun a Virtual Classroom project designed to enable students to undertake some of their academic programs/life skills online.
- FlexiSchool is a unique and successful community based education initiative that is closely aligned with the social inclsion focus for education. The unique situation represented by the school poses numerous opportunities for valuable research and engagement to the mutual benefit of both organisations.
Many USQ staff and students have been teaching volunteers or in the Friends of Flexi network. This network of professional and skilled people in the community provides development in:
- Access and Equity/ Pathways/ Tertiary and Industry Links
- Research and Development in Teaching and Learning
- Volunteers/ Mentoring/ Life skills
- Maintenance - buildings and facilities
- Grants/ Submissions
- Marketing/ Promotion/ Special Events
The USQ provides a number of pathways to tertiary study for FlexiSchool students. Existing programs including schools outreach and the Tertiary Preparation Program. Continuation of pilot projects such as the tertiary taster pilot for FlexiSchool students and mentoring programs support their transition into university.
The Flexi School and Its success has been recognised recently by it receiving the award for 'Excellence in Senior Schooling' at the Department of Education's Regional Excellence in Teaching Innovation Awards in May 2008.