Education Support for At-Risk Young People
At Anchor Point Joondalup, teacher Audrey Geste brings passion and expertise to education support for at-risk young people, building a community where creativity, resilience, and belonging thrive. With strong leadership from Head of School Jennifer Achari, the CaRE school empowers young people to succeed on their own terms.
Youth Futures Anchor Point Joondalup: A Safe and Inclusive Learning Environment
For Audrey, teaching at Youth Futures Anchor Point Joondalup is more than a job; it’s a calling. She sees every day as a chance to deliver education support for at-risk young people, creating safe, inclusive spaces where students who haven’t thrived in mainstream schools can succeed. “It’s a job where I love coming to work and no day is the same. I love the young people, their positivity, energy and commitment to community,” she says. At Anchor Point, students who have faced exclusion, bullying, or challenges linked to neurodivergence find a place where their strengths are recognised and nurtured.
Building Resilience and Creativity in Students
At Anchor Point, students are welcomed into a community that values their strengths and supports their growth. “We’re a community of outliers, which means creativity isn’t limited by the status quo,” Audrey explains.
That creativity shines through the students’ projects. One young person built a bench from reclaimed wood, so others had a place to sit outside the school doors. In the process, he developed literacy and numeracy skills, problem-solving, and confidence in his dream of becoming a tradie. Another student produced a university-level research dossier on sex trafficking as part of her literacy certificate. A Māori student explored his land and heritage, with his findings celebrated by the whole school.
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) for Student Success
Anchor Point’s intensive support and Individual Education Plans (IEP) give each student the chance to succeed on their own terms. “No student leaves us without support. When they’re out our door, we’re still here for them,” Audrey says. Many former students go on to train as teachers or social workers, giving back to their communities.
Expertise in Urban Education and Curriculum
Audrey brings deep expertise to her teaching, holding a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction in Urban Education from the US, where she worked in the first desegregated school district and later at ECU. She says strong leadership also shapes Anchor Point. “(Head of School) Jennifer Achari’s leadership brings great depth to the Clarkson Hub. With both of us holding PhDs, we bring different ways of looking at things to find the best outcomes for young people.”
Fostering Educational Resilience and Community Engagement
Audrey will present at our next professional development day on building educational resilience, with plans to establish a monthly community of practice. “Education is a two-way street,” she reflects. “With agency, young people learn not just to advocate for themselves, but for their families and communities.”