More Than a School: Celebrating Our 2025 Education Achievements

This year has been a landmark period for Youth Futures and our CaRE Schools, filled with growth, connection, and incredible student success. As we reflect on 2025, we are proud to celebrate the profound impact of our education programs and the launch of a new, integrated approach to learning and support. The stories and statistics from this year paint a powerful picture of what is possible when education is designed to meet young people where they are.

A New Era of Support: The Hubs Model

A significant highlight of 2025 was the launch of our innovative Hubs Model, a transformational shift for the Youth Futures Community School. This new structure brings together education, youth work, VET pathways, and essential wrap-around services into one connected ecosystem. It's an environment designed specifically for young people who need school to look and feel different.

Principal Paul Jones explains the vision behind this change: “This year marked a transformational shift for Youth Futures Community School as we launched our new Hubs Model—bringing together education, youth work, VET pathways and wrap-around services in one connected ecosystem designed specifically for young people who need school to look and feel different.”

The immediate benefits have been clear. “The Hubs Model has already strengthened consistency, increased access to specialist staff, and given our students a sense of safety, belonging and continuity across sites,” Mr Jones adds. This model ensures that a young person’s needs are met holistically, creating a stable foundation for them to engage with their learning.

Measurable Impact: Our 2025 Achievements in Numbers

The success of our programs is reflected not just in the environment we create, but in the tangible outcomes achieved by our students. This year, their hard work and dedication, supported by our incredible staff, have led to some outstanding results.

Here are just a few of the key education achievements from 2025:

• 2,577 CGEA units were completed across Certificates I, II, and III. This is a testament to the perseverance of our students, with over 200 young people completing one or more full certificates.
• 19 students successfully completed their Certificate II in Civil Construction, a fantastic achievement that provides a direct pathway to employment.
• 1,889 individual literacy sessions were delivered to young people who needed foundational support, directly addressing skill gaps that previously acted as barriers to further education.

These numbers represent more than just academic progress; they represent unlocked potential, newfound confidence, and concrete steps toward a brighter future.

Voices from Our Community: The Real Story of Impact

While statistics show the scope of our work, the real story is told through the experiences of our students and staff. Our trauma-informed education model focuses on understanding the whole person, not just the student.

One student shared how this approach changed everything for them: “This is the first school where I walk in and don’t feel like I’m already in trouble. People actually want me here.” Another explained the difference in perspective, stating, “At my old school I was just the ‘naughty kid’. Here, they figured out what was going on underneath and helped me fix it, not just punish it.”

This feeling of belief and opportunity is a common thread. One young person who has excelled in their studies said, “I never thought I’d finish a certificate. Now I’ve passed more units than I ever thought I could—and I actually believe I can get a job.”

Our staff also feel the positive impact of the collaborative Hubs Model. One team member noted, “The Hubs Model means I’m not doing this work alone. I can walk down the corridor and connect with a Youth Worker, Psych, Trainer or Teacher and we can wrap around a young person in real time.”

The daily wins, big and small, are what drive our team. As one staff member beautifully put it, “When you see a student who has been sleeping rough, dealing with court dates or caring for siblings turn up, eat breakfast, sit down in class and complete a unit—that’s impact you can feel in the room.”

An alumnus of our program shared their journey: “Youth Futures didn’t ‘fix’ everything in my life, but it gave me a safe place to start again. I finished school, got my licence, and now I’m in TAFE doing something I actually like.”

A Message of Gratitude

As we close out a remarkable year, we are filled with gratitude for every person who makes this work possible. Principal Paul Jones shares a final message for the entire Youth Futures community:

“To our young people, families, carers, staff, board and community partners—thank you. In a system where too many young people are still leaving school early or not in any education or training at all, you are part of a community that refuses to accept that as the end of the story. Every unit completed, every young person who comes back the next day is a shared achievement. We are deeply grateful for your trust, your courage and your relentless belief that our young people deserve nothing less than a high-quality, trauma-informed education.”

Thank you for being part of this journey in 2025. We look forward to continuing this vital work together in the year to come.