The campus will cater for 34 Year 10 students, offering them a small and supportive learning environment that focusses on individual needs, student well-being, small class sizes and high levels of student engagement.

Skillset Senior College has been successfully operating in Bathurst since 2015.

The College promotes values and behaviours that lead to mutual respect and responsibility and is aiming to develop a more adult-styled learning environment, with small class sizes, and shared responsibility across many school activities.

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New year ten student Haylie Hammond said she is looking forward to studying at the college.

“I’m excited to start at Skillset senior college because it’s a school but not as you know it,” she said.

“The student-focused model is completely different to any other school and will benefit many of us who didn’t excel in the mainstream school environment.” 

CEO of LeaderLife at Apollo House Joh Leader recommended students like Haylie study at the college due to the options it provides for them.

“We are very grateful to have Skillset College starting in Dubbo this year,” she said.

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“Having as many options as possible for young people to continue their education in their senior years is a great thing for our town.

“We all know that working with young people and guiding them into adulthood is a game of incredible care and patience, and I feel like Skillset college is a perfect fit for some of our kids in Dubbo.

“It sounds like they strive for strong relationships, and aim for only a good vibe in their tribe. 

“One trick to engaging kids is to nurture the strength of their spirit. We look forward to continuing our work with SSSC because magic happens when the right people come together.

“Together with Skillset, we will continue to work hard to help kids of Dubbo find their best way of being in this complex and challenging world.”

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The Dubbo campus will be located at the former TAFE NSW Dubbo College on the corner of Bultje and Fitzroy Streets. 

 By 2021, the Dubbo Campus will offer Years 10, 11 and 12, with Year 12 students undertaking the Higher School Certificate (HSC).

Some fit-out work has already been completed on the campus.

Skillset Senior College Principal and Skillset CEO Craig Randazzo said he is looking forward to opening the school in Dubbo following four successful years of operating in Bathurst.

“At Skillset Senior College, we partner with a range of local community organisations to provide holistic support beyond the classroom,” he said.

“We acknowledge the great work being done by mainstream schools across the state, but in a city the size of Dubbo, some students just may not fit what’s on offer. We aim to provide a school community where we can work together to overcome educational and personal barriers through a proven individual strengths-based approach to learning and support.

“Education drives economic and social mobility, and we are excited about the life-changing opportunities we can bring to Dubbo this year.”

Manager of Social Services at Dubbo Regional Council Jason Yelverton supports the opening of the new college.

“Skillset Senior College in Bathurst has shown some terrific outcomes, and we are delighted to be bringing this opportunity for years 10 to 12 students to Dubbo,” he said.

“The Dubbo community has been searching for the opportunity of a student-centred, interactive educational model for our regions young people for many years and Council has been in support of such a facility.

“Needless to say as a Council we are very excited Skillset has announced their interest in expanding to Dubbo and we were thrilled to be involved.”

Expressions of interest are now open for young people going into year 10 in 2019, as well as for Teachers and Learning and Support Staff. For more information on the college or to express interest in enrolling, visit: www.skillsetseniorcollege.nsw.edu.au or call 1300 167 794.