An education centre that helps secondary school students stay engaged will get a half-a-million-dollar funding boost.
The Virtues Improving Relational Behaviours (VIRB) Education Hub at Caloundra will be bolstered by $520,000 over four years from the state government.
The funding injection will subsidise fees to families and ensure at–risk students can access services if needed.
Parents and caregivers were required to pay a contribution fee of $65 per week during Terms 1 and 2 last year, and families faced paying a full-cost fee of $110 per week, until the state government continued funding.
The flexible learning hub was launched as a pilot program in late 2023 and received enthusiastic support from participating families, including from Baringa State Secondary College and Kawana State College.
Minister for Education John-Paul Langbroek said the funding would allow the centre to continue to meet the needs of students identified as disengaging from the education system, or no longer attending their mainstream school.
“Traditional classrooms may not be suitable for everyone, and the flexible learning arrangements offered by VIRB are a great alternative for disengaged or non-attending students,” he said.
Member for Caloundra Kendall Morton MP said the funding would provide much-needed support.
“The flexible learning services offered by VIRB are a great opportunity to keep students engaged with their education,” she said.
“This much-needed funding will ensure that the VIRB Flexible Learning Hub can continue their activity at a very low cost for families.”
