Damian Foley (CEO, YMCA Queensland), Lily (YMCA Vocational School student), Heather Allan (President, YMCA Queensland Board), Rella Taylor-Byrne (YMCA Vocational School Principal) and Hon Keith Pitt MP (Federal Member for Hinkler) at the official opening of the YMCA Vocational School Bundaberg Senior Campus.
YMCA Queensland has officially opened its 10th Vocational School campus, in response to the increasing need for alternative education pathways for students in the State.
The new $6+ million Vocational School senior campus, located in Bundaberg, was officially opened at a ceremony on Thursday 27 July 2023.
The campus is already empowering more than 30 students in years 10–12 on their journey to employment, with enrolment numbers growing rapidly.
Shelly Flemmet (School Administrator, YMCA Vocational School), Richard Begg (Wellbeing Caseworker, YMCA Vocational School), Jack (YMCA Vocational School student), Nicole Hawkins (Senior Youth Worker), Jana Hadlow (Business Services Manager), Rella Taylor-Byrne (YMCA Vocational School Principal) and Katie Taylor (School Administrator, YMCA Vocational School).
“The demand for our School has grown exponentially since inception due to an increasing need and our overwhelmingly positive impact on students and their families,” said YMCA Vocational School Principal, Rella Taylor-Byrne.
“Our mission is to positively engage young people in education and lifelong learning in an inclusive environment, empowering them to become well rounded, confident and healthy human beings who are able to gain employment or enter into further education.”
With nine well-established campuses already supporting students across South East Queensland, the Y identified a need to extend its reach and support to students further north in the State.
“The Y completed extensive research to establish that there was a need for additional opportunities for individualised education in the local [Bundaberg] community,” said Jana Hadlow, the Y Queensland Business Services Manager.
“We continue to grow, evolve and adapt to remain effective in catering for the changing needs of our young people in an agile landscape and unique communities,” Ms Taylor-Byrne said.
Jana Hadlow, (Business Services Manager, YMCA Queensland), Jack Dempsey (Mayor, Bundaberg Regional Council) and Damian Foley (CEO, YMCA Queensland)
More than $6 million has been invested into the new Vocational School campus, with $1,450,000 of funding received from the Australian Government under the Capital Grants Program (CGP) and $118,000 in Commonwealth EIS Funding.
The YMCA Vocational School promotes a flexible, supportive learning environment for young people, especially tailored to those who struggle in conventional classrooms.
A classroom set up at the YMCA Vocational School Bundaberg Senior Campus.
Each campus offers an adjusted education program for students to obtain a Queensland Certificate of Education and gain vocational certificates, in a unique, supportive learning environment that focuses on individual needs.
The YMCA Vocational School has campuses located in Acacia Ridge, Bundamba, Ipswich, Kingston, Mango Hill, North Lakes, Parkinson and Victoria Point.
Enrolments for the YMCA Vocational School are open all year round.
