An alternative senior school in Parkinson is combining flexible learning with vocational training to help students complete their secondary education and prepare for employment, as enrolments in Queensland’s special assistance school sector continue to grow.
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Y Schools Queensland’s Brisbane South Senior Campus caters for students in Years 10 to 12 who need an alternative approach to senior secondary education.
The campus uses personalised learning plans, smaller classes and practical programs to help students re-engage with learning and work towards their future goals. Its approach also includes vocational education and training (VET), giving students opportunities to develop skills relevant to further study and employment.
Y Schools Queensland’s Brisbane South Annual Report 2026, based on 2025 data, recorded 33 students awarded a Senior Education Profile. The report also recorded four students awarded a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), 17 students awarded one or more VET qualifications, and five students completing or having completed a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship.
The qualifications represent different forms of achievement. A Senior Education Profile is an official record of a student’s senior secondary results. It may include a Senior Statement and, where eligibility requirements are met, a QCE or Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement.
A QCE is Queensland’s senior secondary qualification. Students generally need 20 credits, including at least 12 completed Core credits, and must meet literacy, numeracy and academic integrity requirements.
VET qualifications give students nationally recognised training in particular fields. School-based apprenticeships and traineeships combine paid employment and structured training with school studies, allowing students to gain workplace experience while working towards a qualification.
Y Schools says its Brisbane South Senior Campus provides practical industry experience and pathways into local employment. The school identifies part-time work, apprenticeships and future careers as potential outcomes of its vocational programs.
The 2025 annual report also recorded an average Year 12 attendance rate of 53.53 per cent. The figure provides an important measure of student participation, although the report does not explain individual attendance patterns or the reasons behind absences.
Alternative education expands across Queensland
The Parkinson campus is part of a wider network of alternative education providers supporting young people who may not thrive in mainstream school settings.
Independent Schools Queensland reported in November 2026 that enrolments in the state’s independent special assistance schools had increased seven-fold since 2016. The sector had grown from 14 schools to 31, with more than 11,000 students enrolled in 2025.
The figures relate specifically to independent special assistance schools, rather than every alternative education provider in Queensland.
Y Schools Queensland operates campuses across Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, Moreton Bay, Bundaberg and Toowoomba. Its Brisbane South program includes a junior campus in Acacia Ridge and the senior campus in Parkinson.
Students seeking a place at Y Schools must be referred and attend an interview so the school can assess their needs. Referrals may come from current or former school staff, health professionals and family support services. Students may be placed on a waiting list if their preferred year level is full.
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The Parkinson campus provides a senior schooling option built around flexible learning, formal qualifications and practical training. Its 2025 results show students pursuing several different pathways, while the attendance figures underline that supporting engagement remains an important part of the work.
Published 13-November-2026
