St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre in North Melbourne offering full-time virtual learning program for students

A North Melbourne school is launching a new education model to help an increasing number of students who struggle to engage in school.

A Melbourne school is launching a radical education model to combat high volumes of students refusing to go to classes.

School refusal is when a child finds it extremely difficult to attend, usually due to emotional distress.

It may be experienced by children who have severe anxiety, have been bullied or have sensory issues. They may live in households with domestic violence or addiction, be neurodivergent or simply feel they do not belong and cannot thrive in traditional schools.

The new BlendED program, established by St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre in North Melbourne, is a full-time virtual learning program with a face-to-face wellbeing model.

The new school model is being offered to help students who refuse to go to class. Picture: iStock

While students learn online, each is also allocated a youth worker who makes home visits and runs engagement programs. These involve encouraging the student to leave home for excursions, sport and other social gatherings.

It comes after data released on the My School website showed fewer than half of secondary students attended school 90 per cent of the time or better last year. This was a huge fall from the three quarters who did so in 2019.

Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Learning Schools Victoria director Chloe Hand said the program was in response to an “increasing number” of students struggling to engage in school and the broader community.

“School refusal behaviour is a mental health condition that requires wraparound services and support,” she said.

“We don’t want young people abandoning their education because they feel like they can’t physically go to school.”

The school will supply laptops loaded with the necessary learning software and internet access, and provide free Myki cards. There are no tuition fees, book lists or uniforms.

The program offers 20 hours of classes online weekly, including group sessions, one-on-one teacher time and individual learning plans.

“The goal is to get every young person back to school, but until they are ready to do that we are determined to keep them in the education system and learning,” Ms Hand said, adding: “If we can encourage them to take that first important step outside the home to socialise with others face-to-face in a fun environment, we can then encourage them to ­return to school.”

The program is now taking enrolments, and is available to Victorian residents aged 12-25 years. More information is ­online at stjosephs.vic.edu.au.

A Department of Education spokesman said: “Government schools work with families and carers to support the mental health, wellbeing and school engagement of all students. Schools access a range of programs and services to help vulnerable and at-risk students ­re-engage with their education, including Navigator, and tailored mental health and wellbeing programs.”