Our FLOW Campus (Flexible Learning Options Wonthaggi) is situated at 26 McKenzie Street, Wonthaggi. The site is known locally as “Webbs Shed.” FLOW provides specialist programs for students requiring a setting outside of the local mainstream schooling environment. This includes an Outreach program that supports approximately 15 students each year who’s individual circumstances place them “at risk” of non-participation. We also work with the two Wonthaggi primary schools to supply an intervention/transition program for chronically absent students in Years 5 to 10. In 2019 we introduced a Pre-CAL program to accommodate a number of ‘at-risk’ students in Years 9 and 10. Mental Health support and Individual Education Plans are central to all work at this campus.

What is FLOW’s history and its purpose?

In 2018 Bass Coast Health in conjunction with Wonthaggi Secondary College set up the Pathways and Transitions program (PATs) to meet the prevalence of a cohort of students whose attendance was of particular concern. At this time there were an increasing number of students who were not attending school due to serious mental health issues and anxiety, and it was determined that in order to support these students maintaining their connection with education, the opening of an alternative program designed to meet the needs of these students was a priority for the Bass Coast region. The PATs program commenced in term 4 in 2017 as a pilot program running from a portable classroom onsite at Wonthaggi North Primary school. The successes the program had in reconnecting students with education and supporting them in transitioning back into mainstream led to the program becoming permanent.

In 2020, the PATs program expanded to form what is now known as the Flexible Learning Option Wonthaggi (FLOW). The addition of a Senior PATs program and a class to support students with additional needs related to behaviour (Next Step program) meant the school was now supporting a wider range of students stay connected to education, with the opportunity to work towards returning to mainstream a priority. FLOW students also had the option to remain at FLOW in order to pursue an alternative pathway to placements such as TAFE, VCAL, apprenticeships, and employment or other viable options.

FLOW moved into its new home at the Webb Shed in Wonthaggi in August of 2020 and became an official third campus of Wonthaggi Secondary College. FLOW continues to grow and is currently supporting 60 students in maintaining a connection to education. In 2019, FLOW had 2 staff members working for the program, now, FLOW staff consists of 5 teaching staff and 2 education support staff. FLOW will continue to grow, as does the needs of young people within the Bass Coast Community.