New flexible school opens in Werribee with huge waitlist

Today marks the official opening of the new Hester Hornbrook Academy school campus in Werribee which welcomed 160 students and approximately 40 staff on January 29 this year, with capacity to increase to 220 by term 2. This new school is desperately needed in an area where there are few alternatives for students who are not thriving in traditional mainstream schools. The Werribee campus is the fifth Hester Hornbrook Academy campus in addition to existing campuses in Prahran, Sunshine, South Melbourne and in Melbourne’s CBD.

The Productivity Commission’s recent report shows school refusal is increasing and school retention rates are dropping in Australia. Hester Hornbrook Academy has a proven track record of successfully educating hundreds of students who otherwise may have ended up in school refusal and drop-out rate statistics.

The proof of Hester Hornbrook’s success is in the tangible outcomes for students: in 2023 75 per cent of Hester Hornbrook Academy students exited to further education or employment, and in 2024 this figure increased to 86 per cent of students.

Hester Hornbrook Academy offers a unique educational model to support students who have experienced school non-attendance due to a range of reasons, including anxiety and mental ill-health, family violence and homelessness.

The school features individually tailored learning programs and class sizes of 22 students with a multidisciplinary team supporting each student. Each classroom is allocated a teacher, youth worker and educational intervention specialist to ensure that every single student is given the best opportunity for success.

Innovative and ground-breaking in its unique model of flexible learning, Hester Hornbrook Academy provides an alternative secondary education for disengaged students aged 15 to 25 who have faced significant barriers to education. The school includes wrap-around support services such as medical care, counselling and legal advice. Each campus also has a fully stocked kitchen pantry, showers and laundry facilities for student use. The school takes a holistic approach to ensuring that every student has equal access to an inclusive, quality education and the best opportunity to reach their full potential.

Hester Hornbrook Academy, part of the MCM Group, became an independently registered Senior Secondary School in 2017. This fee-free Special Assistance School is majority funded by the federal and state governments, with support from philanthropic partners and donors. The school has seen an explosion in growth over the past five years, starting with less than 40 students in 2017 at the South Melbourne campus, to almost 800 students enrolled across five campuses today – highlighting the need for more places to support Victorian students.

The Werribee campus, like all Hester Hornbrook Academy campuses, is purposefully designed to support the Healing Oriented Program of Education (HOPE); a holistic, student-centred approach that nurtures both individual and educational needs. Designed by Gray Puksand, every aspect of the campus intentionally fosters a sense of safety, calm, and healing.

Recognising the diverse needs of students, the campus is structured to feel approachable and supportive. Nine classrooms are arranged into three distinct neighbourhoods, anchored by a central kitchen and a variety of breakout spaces, creating a sense of community and belonging. Additionally, hybrid teaching spaces provide flexibility, integrating adaptable layouts and technology to allow a seamless transition between in-person and online learning.

The philosophy underpinning Hester Hornbrook Academy is that to achieve equity in education, the barriers to education faced by disadvantaged students need to be removed. Hester Hornbrook Academy is equipped with the resources to address the health, nutrition and wellbeing of every student alongside the educational needs of each student.

Personal circumstances such as gender, neurodivergence, ethnic origin and family background should not be obstacles to achieving educational potential. Hester Hornbrook Academy is a school that prioritises fairness, inclusion and equity in education.

Quote attributable to Sally Lasslett, Principal of Hester Hornbrook Academy

“There is a great need for a school like ours for students who have diagnosed emotional and mental health needs. Our students may have experienced family violence or homelessness, they may have experienced a death or be from refugee communities. They might be suffering from social anxiety and struggle to fit into a traditional educational setting. We acknowledge that our students need wrap-around supports and we provide this by having a teacher, a youth worker and an educational intervention specialist in every classroom. The main goal is to remove as many barriers as possible so that student can engage in learning and reach their potential.”

“Hester Hornbrook Academy operates with a philosophy of “Wellbeing for Learning and Learning for Wellbeing”, guided by its Healing Oriented Program of Education (HOPE). This holistic approach emphasises the importance of student wellbeing to foster meaningful engagement in education. Through HOPE the academy re-imagines education as deeply human-centred, inclusive, and focused on building life skills that will support students both within the classroom and beyond.”

Quote attributable to Ian Khoo, Senior Associate at Gray Puksand:

"Building on the success of Hester Hornbrook Academy’s Sunshine campus, the Werribee campus sets a new benchmark for future learning environments. Its dynamic design ensures that both students and teachers can connect, collaborate, and engage in ways that best support their learning journey.

“Safety and wellbeing have been a priority from day one. The campus features secure outdoor areas and a welcoming social kitchen, with spaces that encourage interaction and help break down the traditional school environment. By fostering collaboration, creativity, and a strong sense of belonging, this design truly enhances the learning experience for both students and teachers.”