Inala Flexible Learning Centre
Inala Flexible Learning Centre
Inala Flexible Learning Centre (FLC) is an Edmund Rice school that offers a variety of educational pathways for students who have chosen this as the best path for them to achieve their goals. The school program provides young people with interactive, real life learning activities that are relevant to them and their interests. The school provides a number of learning and co-curricular choices with special attention given to Numeracy, Literacy, Key Learning Areas such as Science, embedded within other studies of Society and the Environment and Sport and Recreation. Young People (YP) are further supported by wellbeing programs, which enable YP to take part in the learning programs and succeed. The school is guided by a philosophy of common ground where YP and workers come together to resolve conflict and negotiate “how we want to work together and how we want to be together” at the Inala FLC. Principles of Respect, Participation, Honesty and Safe and Legal are central to the running of the school and play a vital role in establishing common ground between all community members. It is important to note that the concept of common ground applies to both young people and the staff.
History
Superintendent Tonya Carew APM OAM, from the Oxley District of the Queensland Police Service (QPS) approached Youth +, Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) as she was interested in establishing a flexible learning program for disenfranchised youth in the Inala community. Her motivation was to break the cycle of young people being excluded from mainstream school, offending, entering the juvenile justice system, being released, re-engaging in mainstream school and being excluded again. In July 2010, a Memorandum of Understanding was established between Commissioner Robert Atkinson of the QPS and Dale Murray the National Director of Youth + to establish a flexible learning outreach. The outreach was originally run from the Inala PCYC. QPS supported the program with the fulltime secondment of a Police Officer to work in a support capacity. In 2013 the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board granted the Inala Flexible Learning its secondary school accreditation and thus the original flexible learning outreach formally became a school. The Inala FLC is currently constructing new school buildings at Poinsettia Street Inala and will take ownership of those buildings during the 2017 school year. From its humble beginnings, of three staff and nine students, Inala FLC now has 70 students with a view to growth over the first years of the new site. Inala FLC is a non-fee paying Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition.
Services
Inala FLC is a multi and interdisciplinary staff team consisting of youth workers, teachers, administration, catering staff and health professionals. The school has established strong relationships with Child Youth Mental Health Scheme, Inala Youth Service, Headspace, Mission Australia, Inala Elders, YUMI Maths QUT, Deadly Choices, Indigenous Youth in addition to other organisations that support our community. We also maintain effective relationships with local mainstream schools in order to provide successful transitions to other schools for our community members. These relationships also ensure there are opportunities for others to join our community.
Learning
Inala FLC acknowledges the gifts and opportunities for growth of every young person who chooses to join our community. It is incumbent upon us to provide new and challenging ways for YP to learn and reach their full potential in our school community. We strive to provide self-paced, real life and interactive learning opportunities to young people as well as providing immediate and longer term meaningful feedback. Inala FLC is a visible learning community that strives to offer young people the most appropriate pedagogical framework for each young person. Our classes generally consist of 15 young people as well as a teacher and youth worker. Smaller class sizes enable young people to receive greater feedback on their progress as well as access more support with their studies. Youth Workers focus on health and wellbeing of young people in addition to supporting them to engage in the learning choices program. In our Senior School we offer both QCE and VET subjects and it is the goal of many within our community to complete their Year 12 Queensland Certificates of Education and/or VET Certificates.
Our School
The Inala FLC has a long and proud history of operating Mobile Learning Communities (MLCs). Inala has used MLCs to work with those young people who find it difficult to engage in the FLC. This may be due to a long period of absence from school, feeling able to operate more successfully in smaller groups as well as the freedom that is associated with working in an MLC. An MLC provides YP with an opportunity to form strong relationships with their peers and staff in their own unique setting. During the building of the Poinsettia Street school site, the Inala FLC operated 3 MLC communities. By late 2017 construction was completed and the school returned to the Poinsettia site to be welcomed by new or freshly renovated buildings. Planning has ensured a smooth reintegration of Young People and staff onto the one site. Further MLC’s in future years will continue to be a part of the way Inala FLC meets the needs of the diverse group of students who seek to reengage in schooling. Our commitment to meeting the needs of all Young People through various modes of engagement is a testament to our mission to cater for all young people who wish to access the education we offer.
Address
79 Poinsettia Street, Inala QLD 4077
PO Box 2005, Inala Heights QLD 4077
Contact Details
Head of Campus: Ben Ebert
Phone: 07 3548 5800
Email: inalaflc@youthplus.edu.au
Student Protection Officers: Ben Ebert and Harmony Domaille
Policies
EREA Student Protection Processes and Guidleines CLICK HERE
Code of Conduct for Interacting with Children and Young People CLICK HERE
EREA Screening Policy and Guidelines CLICK HERE
Complaints Policy for Parents and Volunteers CLICK HERE
Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy Checklist CLICK HERE
79 Poinsettia Street, Inala QLD 4077
Phone: 07 3548 5800