From country music singer to principal of a Gold Coast independent school dedicated to stopping at-risk students from slipping through the cracks, her love of the arts and passion for social justice have been the constants in her diverse career.

Only recently stepping into the position as head of Arcadia College in August, Ms McGahey said there was more need than ever before for alternative education providers to reconnect with disenfranchised youth on the Gold Coast.

Home to around 250 high school students, the school has grown from operating as a pilot program small community centre to moving into a multimillion-dollar complex at Robina next year.

“I often forget to say I was in a previous life a country music artist, singer-songwriter before I became a teacher, but arts forms a background of a lot of what we do,” Ms McGahey said.

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“I am a huge advocate for social justice and inequality. I guess from what I have seen in the past 10 years in education, all students have a right to learn and should have an equal access to education and that has not always been what has happened.

“That is what we do at Arcadia – make and adjust the system to work for them.”

The Tweed Heads woman said she found herself at the school by chance in 2016.

“I was working at Southern Cross University when I answered a call form Arcadia College looking for an English/music teacher with a psychology background.

“I was only taking the message but it turned out I actually fitted all of those things.

“When I found out what the school was all about, it was such a great thing, engaging at risk youth.

“I have been there ever since and loved it.”

With bachelor degrees in education and in behavioural studies (psychology), and a masters degree in forensic mental health, she has found the flexible education program benefits many students who might not have otherwise continued their education.

“It is quite scary when you read in the literature how many of these young people are not attending school and are disengaging,” she said.

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“So in my opinion there is a problem – and there is a problem with the system. It doesn't suit everyone.

“It isn't always the curriculum, it can be the learning design or class size where students are slipping through the cracks and gaps in their leaning.

“Through Arcadia, we can push through.

“While an education background is important, I think being able to build relationships with staff and students at a school like ours and an underpinning psychology that it is all about the kids is the main thing.

“There are so many disengaged youth on the Gold Coast, I really think we need to be catering for more.”