22 October 2023
Statement by Arethusa College Executive Principal, Lisa Coles
The purpose of Arethusa College is simple: to have vulnerable young people – students who might otherwise have been lost to the education system and not attend school – engage in education that is tailored to serve them.
We openly and constructively engage with education and health authorities to ensure we are meeting our duty of care to our young people.
This is evidenced by our invitation to Queensland Health’s public health unit to visit our College to discuss our approach to nicotine dependency, education, and harm minimisation and to ensure it remains compliant with updated smoking laws that came into effect in September 2023.
Our approach to smoking (vaping is prohibited and strictly enforced) is parent-driven, not school-driven.
It came about because parents of students with nicotine dependency (they could not get through a full school day without smoking) implored us to allow their son or daughter to be able to smoke so they would attend school.
Parents or recognised guardians must request and provide permission. The only exception to this is where a young person is separated from their family.
We are seeing increasing numbers of desperate families across the south-east crying out for help because their kids refuse to go to school (for a variety of reasons including having a smoking dependency) or schools won’t accept them.
These young people need school done differently. That’s why Arethusa College exists.
Some might consider our integrated education, health, and welfare approach unconventional – but it works for the vast majority of young people we serve.
We need to address the complex issues – mental health, health, trauma, homelessness and disadvantage – that are preventing an increasing number of young people from accessing their legislated right to an education.
It’s our great joy when our young people overcome the challenges that initially led them to our College, leaving more confident, healthier and with a plan for their future.
Our work is certainly not easy, and we don’t profess to have all the answers or achieve success with every student or family, despite our very best efforts.
Every day, our campus Principals share stories with me about how our amazing staff go above and beyond for our students, particularly those who may not have the stable home or loving guardian our traditional model of education assumes they have.
Our College is subject to greater scrutiny by state and federal agencies than most schools, and rightly so because of our growth, the government support we receive, and the vulnerability of the young people we serve.
We openly and constructively engage with education and health authorities to ensure we are meeting our duty of care to our young people, as evidenced by our invitation to Queensland Health’s public health unit to visit our College to discuss our approach to nicotine dependency, education and harm minimisation.
We would welcome a genuine and constructive public debate about how best to deal with the increasing health, social, learning, welfare and other challenges that impact a young person’s ability to access their legislated right to an education.
We are unashamedly proud of and believe in the work we do. We will always stand up for our students and advocate for them and the education they are entitled to and deserve.
About Arethusa College
Arethusa College is an accredited independent Special Assistance School.
As a condition of our accreditation, we cannot and do not charge tuition fees. This sets us apart from other independent schools.
Our College receives the majority of its funding from the Federal and State Governments. This is in recognition of the complex family, health, social and learning needs and challenges faced by many of our students – students who may have experienced lengthy periods of non-attendance at school, sometimes up to a couple of years.
We operate seven campuses serving more than 1,200 students across south-east Queensland. Our average campus size is about 180 – 200 students.
As a registered charity and not-for-profit institution all money that comes into the College must be reinvested back into the school. Our financial records are independently audited each year and like all schools, our College is required to meet state and federal legislative and regulatory requirements regarding education provision, student and staff safety, compliance and governance.
We are open and accountable and continuously strive for excellence.
Lisa Coles
Arethusa College Executive Principal
