Why WA Needs a “Whole-Person” Approach to Alternative Education
In Western Australia, schools are more than just places to learn maths, science, or history. They are the spaces where young people build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging. For many students, mainstream schooling provides a safe and stimulating environment. But for vulnerable youth, those navigating trauma, anxiety, family instability, or complex life circumstances, the traditional classroom can often feel like a barrier rather than a bridge.
The Limitations of Mainstream Schooling
Mainstream education systems excel at delivering curriculum content. Yet, for students who are struggling to manage emotions, regulate behaviour, or navigate personal challenges, rote learning and rigid structures often fail to meet their needs. For these young people, success is not measured by test scores. It is measured by their ability to engage, regulate, and envision a future beyond the classroom.
"Mainstream schooling doesn’t always work for students facing complex challenges. By embedding trauma-informed, whole-person practices, we’re creating an environment where learning and personal growth go hand in hand." - Paul Jones, Principal.
Too often, mainstream schools unintentionally punish the symptoms of trauma. A student who acts out in class may be disciplined rather than supported to understand and manage their emotions. Attendance issues, disengagement, and behavioural challenges are often treated as “choices,” ignoring the deeper barriers these young people face.
Why 2026 Calls for a New Approach
The educational landscape in WA is changing. By 2026, there is a growing recognition that young people need more than curriculum delivery. They need education that prioritizes regulation, connection, and wellbeing. This is especially crucial for students who have experienced adverse childhood events, family instability, or systemic disadvantage.
A “whole-person” approach focuses on the body, brain, and emotional regulation of young people alongside academic learning. It is about creating an environment where students feel safe, seen, and supported so they can access learning fully and sustainably.
Enter the Berry Street Education Model
Youth Futures has recently introduced the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) to guide our approach to alternative education. Berry Street is built on trauma-informed, evidence-based practice that understands behaviour as communication, not defiance. It emphasizes:
- Regulation before learning: teaching students to recognise and manage their emotions before expecting academic engagement.
- Strengths-based practice: identifying and building on students’ skills and interests rather than focusing solely on deficits.
- Relationship-centered education: fostering trust and connection with adults who care so learning can happen in a safe environment.
- Whole-person engagement: supporting physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development together, not in isolation.
"At Youth Futures, we believe that every young person deserves an education that meets them where they are. The Berry Street approach allows us to prioritise wellbeing and regulation, so students can engage fully, build resilience, and reach their potential." - Paul Jones, Principal.
By embedding BSEM principles, our alternative education programs can finally bridge the gap for young people who have struggled to thrive in mainstream settings. It allows students to develop resilience, learn self-regulation, and experience academic success, all in the same framework.
Young people deserve schools that see them as more than test scores.
"Youth Futures is committed to this approach, integrating BSEM into all alternative education programs across WA. Because when regulation, relationships, and wellbeing come first, learning follows naturally, and our young people are empowered to reach their full potential." Paul Jones, Principal
They deserve education that builds skills for life, not just school, and provides pathways to meaningful futures. By adopting trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches like Berry Street, WA can ensure that every young person, no matter their circumstances, has the opportunity to thrive.