The thought of leaving their bedroom, let alone their house, is overwhelming for some young people.

The anxiety about dressing, packing a bag, catching a bus, interacting with other passengers, walking into a school building, sitting at a desk, and talking to teachers and fellow students can be too much to bear.

This is where Hester Hornbrook Academy’s Hybrid Classroom Program comes in - slowly but surely building the students’ confidence and connections through individual support from a multi-disciplinary team of professionals.

Hester Hornbrook is an Independently Registered, fee-free specialist assistance school which has six campuses across Melbourne.  Hester Hornbrook began in 2011 as a small community education provider for young people connected with the Melbourne City Mission programs and services. Today, with 650 students, it is an independent flexible senior secondary school that provides year-round enrolment for students who do not flourish a traditional school setting

Hester Hornbrook’s Executive Principal Sally Lasslett said the hybrid classroom program, introduced in 2024, was carefully designed to provide support to students who need a balance of online and in-person engagement to develop their learning and wellbeing. 

The pilot program had one classroom with 22 students. The students spend two days a week learning from home and three days of in-person learning at campus.  The initial phase saw significant increases in attendance and parent engagement, Sally said.

The Ross Trust has just committed $490,000 to expand the program over the next two years. Funding will go towards refitting of hybrid classrooms at the new Exhibition Street Campus in the CBD, vehicles for individual outreach and visits to students in the program, student resources to allow them a place to work in their own homes or place of safety, and external consultancy to enhance program development and evaluation.

“This generous funding means we will be able to help many more students and their families,” Sally said.  “It will allow us to set students up with a desk at home for their remote learning days and to have staff in place to support developing their social and emotional capabilities. Sometimes that includes literally walking with them to the front gate one day, to the bus stop the next, and onto the bus on day three.”

Hester Hornbrook ultimately aims to have six classrooms of 22 students in the program. Each student will be supported by a teacher, a youth worker and an educational support officer, as well as wraparound learning and wellbeing services from a mental health nurse, school lawyer, psychologist, a Learning and Wellbeing Team Leader and the Head of Campus.

“Bringing students into full-time learning is always our aim, but it’s wonderful when programs like this also led to new friendships,” Sally said. “We have two young people who are now catching the train and hanging out together at weekends. This is what we want: young people developing healthy relationships and being part of the community, and then ultimately moving on to positive pathways.”

The Ross Trust Grant Manager Meghan Weekes said that school avoidance and social anxiety was a harsh reality for many students.

“Victorian data submitted to the recent Senate Inquiry into School Refusal shows that school refusal increased by 50% between 2018 and 2021, particularly affecting students with mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression,” Meghan said. “This is a holistic and flexible program that is already showing great results, and we are very pleased to support it.”

Find out more about Hester Hornbrook Academy.