Former teacher Katie Johns founds Bloom Tuition to help students and time poor parents

A former teacher’s business helping students catch up or stay at the top of the class is making a huge difference. Here’s why.

Katie Johns, Bloom Tuition, has relocated from the CBD to Charters Towers Rd. Picture: Shae Beplate.

A Townsville tutoring business helping students of all ages and abilities catch up to their classmates, or remain at the top of their class, has boomed in popularity since relocating from the CBD to Hermit Park.

After struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance in her time consuming role as a high school teacher for 17 years, Townsville mother-of-two Katie Johns decided to make the transition into private practice in mid-2021.

Noticing that there was a gap in the market and significant demand for quality tutors, especially due to the pandemic-caused school closures, she founded Bloom Tuition.

“We provide individual tutoring to school age students ranging from prep right through to year 12 and across all subject areas,” Ms Johns said.

“(During the pandemic) we did have students who had missed significant amounts of schooling, and were playing catch up in that respect. But … we (also) have students who are absolutely excelling and they want to maintain those results.

“We have parents who are simply just a little bit time poor, because mum and dad both work … and at the other end of the scale we’ve got students who may have an identified disability and things like that, who we can support, who for whatever reason in a class of 28 aren’t getting all of the support that they need.”

Whether students were living with ADHD, autism, dyscalculia, dyslexia, or other challenges, Bloom Tuition offers a personalised approach that was making “a huge difference for them”.

From a humble beginning where it was just herself and six students, word of mouth has propelled the business’ growth to have 11 tutors, assisting nearly 100 students.

Previously based on the corner of Blackwood St and Flinders St in the Townsville CBD, Ms Johns was ready to relocate her business at the end of her lease to a friendlier part of town, avoiding rising rent charges and exorbitant parking fees for her staff and clients.

Ben Wheeler from Colliers and Katie Johns from Bloom Tuition, which has relocated from the CBD to Charters Towers Rd. Picture: Shae Beplate.

With help from Colliers Townsville leasing executive Ben Wheeler, she was able to secure a two-year lease on a commercial property at 1/238 Charlie Towers Road, which offered plentiful free parking and excellent exposure to passing traffic.

The building’s landlord pitched in to refurbish the interior, creating multiple different learning areas for students, including a large open air space and two quieter personalised spaces.

Currently studying a masters in guidance and counselling, Ms Johns hoped to transform the business into a holistic centre in the future, focused on the academic and the wellbeing needs of students.

Originally published as Former teacher Katie Johns founds Bloom Tuition to help students and time poor parents