Program Beats School Refusal

A revolutionary new Queensland school designed to re-engage young people who can’t attend mainstream schools due to severe anxiety, bullying, neurodivergent diagnosis or burnout will open in July after receiving the formal endorsement of the state’s Education Department.

BlendED is Queensland’s first dedicated program to combat the national trend of student disengagement.

More than 70 students have already pre-enrolled in the innovative BlendED program, with most enrolments coming from Year 9 students, followed by Years 8, 7 and 10, 11 and 12.

Interest has come from young people and parents across the state, led by the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Greater Brisbane, Central Queensland and Far North Queensland.

BlendED Queensland has been approved by the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board and combines teacher-supervised online learning with face-to-face educational gatherings, wellbeing support and community connection, offering a structured pathway back into education for students who have struggled to remain engaged in conventional classrooms.

BlendED Queensland will open in July in hubs in Brisbane and Cairns. The program will initially be available for Years 7-9 from July, with up to 150 students expected to enrol in its first intake. Future expansion is planned, with Year 10 to be introduced in 2027, followed by Years 11 and 12 in 2028.

The launch comes amid growing concern about student disengagement across Australia. Recent national data shows that only around 60 per cent of students attend school more than 90 per cent of the time, meaning a significant proportion of young people are regularly missing school and at risk of falling behind.

The Queensland launch builds on the success of the BlendED model already operating in other states, including Victoria and Tasmania.

BlendED Chief Executive Officer, Chloe Hand said the program had been designed specifically for young people who wanted to learn but had been unable to thrive in traditional schooling environments due to anxiety, depression, bullying and other wellbeing challenges.

“Our commitment is to provide inclusive and accessible education opportunities for young people who have become disenfranchised from mainstream education,” Mrs Hand said.

“Across Australia we are seeing a growing number of young people who want to learn but are facing significant barriers to attending school each day. BlendED is designed to meet them where they are and reconnect them with education.”

“By combining high-quality teacher-led online learning with regular face-to-face gatherings and strong wellbeing support, we are creating a pathway for young people to re-engage with learning while also supporting their health, confidence and connection to community.”

BlendED is part of Edmund Rice Education Australia’s national BlendED initiative, which is attracting interest from educators across the country seeking new approaches to addressing student disengagement and the rise of “school can’t”.

The program is subject to regulatory approval and includes teacher-supervised online classes, regular educational gatherings, excursions and wellbeing programs, alongside personalised support for each student.

Every young person enrolled in BlendED is supported by a dedicated support worker, who works closely with the student and their family to identify and remove barriers to education and strengthen connections with their local community.

Brisbane Catholic Archbishop Shane Mackinlay welcomed the initiative, describing it as an important response to the changing needs of young people.

“BlendED reflects the Church’s commitment to ensuring that no young person is left behind. It offers a compassionate and innovative model of education that reconnects vulnerable students with learning, community and hope for their future.”

Cairns Catholic Bishop Joe Caddy said the Diocese of Cairns recognised the need for new approaches to supporting vulnerable young people.

“The Diocese of Cairns is keenly aware of the complex educational and pastoral needs of some young people in our region, particularly those for whom traditional schooling structures have not always been able to provide an effective or sustaining response. In this light, I welcome the intention of EREA BlendED National in Queensland to offer flexible, inclusive and innovative pathways that remain faithful to the mission of Catholic education and attentive to the dignity of every young person.”