Oscar Romero Flexi Schools Network
About this network
The Oscar Romero Flexi Schools Network comprises 4 separately registered Non State Schools: FAME (Flexible And Meaningful Engagement) in Christie Downs, south of Adelaide (75 young people); Edmund Rice Flexi School (70), north of Adelaide; the Geraldton Flexible Learning Centre (75) and St Joseph’s Catholic Flexible Learning Centre, Alice Springs (100 young people). The numbers above indicate the number of young people engaging with the site program as of August 2017. The aim of the Flexible Learning Centres (FLCs) is to respond to the complex needs of young people who have been disenfranchised from mainstream education. Each school achieves this aim by building honest and authentic relationships with young people and their families, while supporting and celebrating the uniqueness and dignity of each individual young person. FLCs provide holistic learning experiences that address the social needs of young people and promote their emotional, cognitive, spiritual and academic development. The purpose of the learning experiences is to empower young people to take personal responsibility for their actions and learning, achieve greater autonomy and self-reliance and to engage in the transition to further education and/or employment. Our work is part of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA). EREA is charged with continuing the educational mission of Edmund Rice in Australia.
Edmund Rice, a successful businessman in the early 1800s engaged with the poor street kids on the docks of Waterford, Ireland. This early beginning soon developed into what was to become the Christian Brothers schools, firstly in Ireland then around the world. Some 180 years later a small group of Christian Brothers and other staff began engaging with young people who had been rejected by mainstream education. This work developed into the Centre Education Program which became a registered school and the first Flexible Learning Centre of what would become Edmund Rice Education Australia. Today the Central West Flexi Schools Network caters for over 250 students (aged between 12 and 20 years of age) offering them an exciting and diversified curriculum designed to encourage and support re-engagement with the education system as well as support them to achieve positive educational and wellbeing outcomes. Our Oscar Romero Flexible Schools Network is privileged to work in partnership with the Catholic Education Offices in South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It is through this support we are able to build the capacity of our staff and young people to “have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10.
Capital Development Projects
EREA Flexible Schools Ltd is currently undergoing two capital development projects in its Oscar Romero Network, one at FAME Flexible Learning Centre, Christie Downs (SA), and the other at Geraldton Flexible Learning Centre, Geraldton (WA). Upon completion of these important projects, the young people who attend these centres will enjoy warm and welcoming places where staff will be able to provide them with greater learning, engagement and well-being opportunities as well as a pathway to positive and hope-filled futures.
Future capital works programs are being explored for other flexi schools in this network. We will share updates as these projects come to fruition.
Click on the links for construction progress updates:
Network Contacts
Oscar Romero Network, 67-91 Glen Stuart Road, Woodforde SA 5072
PO BOX 2007, Magill North SA 5072
Principal – Gerard Keating gerard.keating@ereafsn.edu.au
Head of Policy & School Improvement – Emanuela Simos emanuela.simos@ereafsn.edu.au
Assistant Principal – Staff Formation & Professional Practice – Paula Bacchiella paula.bacchiella@ereafsn.edu.au
Business Manager – Peter Romeo peter.romeo@ereafsn.edu.au
Executive Assistant & Human Resources – Rebekah Lyons rebekah.lyons@ereafsn.edu.au
Risk & Compliance Officer – Lachlan Hetherington lachlan.hetherington@ereafsn.edu.au