Reimagining public education beyond mainstream schooling
Consultation has concluded
We are seeking views on additional sites, services and programs outside of mainstream schools to explore how these provisions currently support children and young people and identify areas where new or different approaches may be needed.
What's being decided?
A review is underway to ensure sites, services and programs outside mainstream education are truly delivering on the promise of public education for every child and young person.
Contribution of lived experiences and insights from staff, families and young people is vital to the review. A range of targeted stakeholder activities are planned to hear from cohorts currently engaged at an in-scope settings and key stakeholders across government and supporting associations/organisations.
We are also interested in hearing from people who will not be captured in these activities including:
Former staff, children/young people and families who were engaged with the in-scope settings
Children/young people and families engaged in mainstream sites who are unable to access non-mainstream settings or face barriers to engagement in both mainstream and non-mainstream settings.
Organisations who support children and young people experiencing additional complexities to engagement in mainstream education (including disability, behaviour challenges, mental health concerns, long-term illness, incarceration and geographical isolation).
Broader views from children/young people, families and staff engaged in mainstream settings.
Background
The Department for Education, through the Schools and Preschools Division, is undertaking a systemic review of the sites, services and programs that operate alongside mainstream schooling.
This review is a significant opportunity to collectively reflect, reimagine, and design for the future. It will celebrate what is working well and uncover why it works, while identifying where different or new approaches may be needed to strengthen alignment with our strategy. The review will explore how these sites, services and programs currently support children and young people and how we can amplify high-quality, equitable and innovative practices across the system.
The following sites, services, and programs are included in the scope of the review:
Home Education
Hospital School SA
Better Behaviour Centres
Learning Centres
Open Access College
Youth Education Centre
Bowden Brompton Community School
What are the next steps?
Further information will be released in early 2026.
We are seeking views on additional sites, services and programs outside of mainstream schools to explore how these provisions currently support children and young people and identify areas where new or different approaches may be needed.
What's being decided?
A review is underway to ensure sites, services and programs outside mainstream education are truly delivering on the promise of public education for every child and young person.
Contribution of lived experiences and insights from staff, families and young people is vital to the review. A range of targeted stakeholder activities are planned to hear from cohorts currently engaged at an in-scope settings and key stakeholders across government and supporting associations/organisations.
We are also interested in hearing from people who will not be captured in these activities including:
Former staff, children/young people and families who were engaged with the in-scope settings
Children/young people and families engaged in mainstream sites who are unable to access non-mainstream settings or face barriers to engagement in both mainstream and non-mainstream settings.
Organisations who support children and young people experiencing additional complexities to engagement in mainstream education (including disability, behaviour challenges, mental health concerns, long-term illness, incarceration and geographical isolation).
Broader views from children/young people, families and staff engaged in mainstream settings.
Background
The Department for Education, through the Schools and Preschools Division, is undertaking a systemic review of the sites, services and programs that operate alongside mainstream schooling.
This review is a significant opportunity to collectively reflect, reimagine, and design for the future. It will celebrate what is working well and uncover why it works, while identifying where different or new approaches may be needed to strengthen alignment with our strategy. The review will explore how these sites, services and programs currently support children and young people and how we can amplify high-quality, equitable and innovative practices across the system.
The following sites, services, and programs are included in the scope of the review:
Home Education
Hospital School SA
Better Behaviour Centres
Learning Centres
Open Access College
Youth Education Centre
Bowden Brompton Community School
What are the next steps?
Further information will be released in early 2026.
Thank you to all respondents who took the time to share their views and experiences.
Feedback regarding strengths, challenges and opportunities at in-scope settings have been collated in a consultation report.
Findings and themes from the YourSAy consultation were provided to the review team for consideration, alongside other qualitative and quantitative data, while preparing the final report.
Further information about the outcomes of the review will be shared in 2026.
