Avoca Trust School Ships keep school aged teens in school. School attendance is a legal requirement to age 18 years.
Don't let them Drop Out.
We invite your family to join our Membership and donate your Income Tax Liability to our Tax Office-approved DGR recipient, Avoca Trust. an ATO accredited 100% Tax deductible recipient for "Education and training about the Environment of the Murray River."
The Avoca Trust PayID: capt.bouc@gmail.com
Name: The Avoca Trust Fund
Include your name, address, and email. We will send your 100% DGR receipt.
Thank you. Capt. Bouc, Principal
During the 2025 school year:-
30% of Senior high school teens dropped out of school. This is a liability risk for the parent. Fines can be issued for breaking the School Education Law. SA Gov Education law says children must attend "School" until their 18th Birthday.
A "Child" cannot make legal decisions, but they can, and do, break the law. Some leave home, say they are going to school, but don't. SA Gov Education law says children must attend "School" until their 18th Birthday.
Students' reasons for not going to their large high school.
I want to go with my older friends. They don't have to go to school.
I don't like being teased when I can't do this school stuff.
I can't get help in the large school crowds. I feel lost.
I feel really bad about going to school.
The Avoca Vocational School (VETIS) pathway, living and learning about the Murray River Environment, is legal. Avoca School ships teams of 16, with a teacher couple, removes them from their current destructive school environment, into supportive adventure learning.
A small shipboard team, isolated from the large school, in remote teams learning away from distractions, relieves stress.
School ships offer an appropriate practical skills curriculum with a teaching style specific to each person's needs and abilities.
Parental support is needed for the change from academic to practical success.
More young people find paid work and satisfaction of success from tech studies than from university studies.
Practical success is necessary for some teens to rebuild their confidence and happiness.
--- "I cannot read music, but I can play the piano."
Avoca Tech school ships provide opportunities for many different kinds of success:-
Avoca School Ships provide a safe place for school-age teens suffering from depression.
A complete change is the best solution:- (Provided by Private colleges for many years)
Change of school & learning style
A change of residence removes constant parental conflict.
Remote from toxic school (gangs) groups
Traditional schools don't fit everyone, and some homes are not a good place for teens.
Traditional schools, especially with the ever-increasing size of state high schools, are rarely the best one-size-fits-all.
Avoca Trust schoolships, with all their tax benefits, shelter teens at-risk of school dropout on peaceful river houseboats, providing a safe home, nutritious food, and a positive path forward.
Across South Australia, many capable yet unconventional teenagers are at risk of disengaging from learning. For these students, the barrier isn't a lack of potential—it’s the lack of a learning environment that fits their needs. Whether they are navigating a turbulent home life or feeling lost in the large high school crowd, they need a space designed for their specific challenges.
2025 -- Senior high school estimated dropout rate:-
--- 30% Dropout -- SA Gov Public schools (No residential care offered)
--- 10% Dropout -- Independent boarding schools (with residential care)
These percentages identify the need. Increasingly Large Public High schools are failing in their task to hold teens who need a different learning style.
The Residential Murray School ship's support meets the needs of older teens, who enjoy group adventures and learn through participation in practical tasks.
We believe every young person deserves a second chance.
Our 100% tax-deductible program provides low-cost "schoolships" that combine safe, small-group residential living with a fresh approach to education. By transitioning from traditional school settings to a supportive team environment, our students acquire the essential tools they need to succeed.
We focus on teens at risk of falling through the cracks in:-
State care or
Education systems.
Each Murray School Ship has a teacher mentor for a small cohort of 16 students (ages 15–18), providing a structured, supportive home-school environment tailored to their individual needs.
Primary Goal: Confidence, Character building, and moral development.
Teaching Style: Engaging, imaginative, adventurous, and deeply empathetic.
Philosophy: Every child is unique with an innate, untapped potential.
Curriculum: A rich blend of reading literature, English, maths, art, music, adventure play, and "imagination."
Are the Murray River school ships right for your teen?
A Living-Learning Model for Practical School-Age Teens.
The Avoca School Ships offer a unique "Living-Learning" ecosystem, merging remote residential school ship experiences with a high-trust, adventurous environment. By removing the friction of traditional campuses, we provide a specialized alternative, designed to maintain teen engagement and prevent student dropout.
Bridging the Gap: A New Practical Educational Resource
Traditional systems operate on a two-pillar foundation that doesn't always hold firm for every student:
The Traditional Government school system splits maturing teens' needs:
---1. The State provides education.
---2. The family provides a home.
The Reality of Australian Diversity:
--- For some, the traditional classroom is counter-productive;
--- for others, the home environment lacks the necessary stability.
The Avoca Solution: A Collaborative Residential Educational Support
Education/training AND safe home/mentoring for Human Feldging years
Avoca School ships Core Operations & Academic Integrity
Accredited Curriculum: We contract with state schools and other registered institutions to deliver core academic subjects, ensuring students meet all state education standards with school-ship teacher support.
Consistent Mentorship: Every vessel is guided by a dedicated teacher-mentor. They provide a "safe-home" structure and parental guidance, ensuring no student navigates their journey alone.
The Entry "Mental Reset" Term
Strong, caring partnerships and Team Building
The first 10-week term serves as a foundational Mental Reset to clear the "static" of past academic and relationship failures and replace it with the discipline of maritime life, focusing on:
Supporting opposite sex partnerships: working towards common goals.
Structured Routines: Cultivating personal discipline through the unique demands of river-based living.
Professional Documentation: Mastering accountability through daily logs and project tracking while maintaining the essentials of English and Maths through the daily Log requirements.
Crew Collaboration: Developing high-stakes communication and teamwork skills essential for the modern workforce.
Evolutionary Pathways
Following the entry term, we facilitate a tripartite conference (Parent-Teacher-Student) to map the voyage ahead for students continuing with us:
Customized SACE/VETIS Planning: We negotiate directly with partner schools to build a full progression toward vocational qualifications.
Career Readiness: We shift the focus toward securing meaningful, practical employment in the modern economy.
Our Legacy: A Modern Sanctuary
While "school ships" are a globally recognized model for youth protection and pre-tertiary transition education, we operate under South Australian Education regulations as a Remote Residential Education support Provider. (School Camp)
Historically, schools were built as sanctuaries—places to protect youth from the hardships of the industrial era. We protect teens from the dangers of the large State high schools.
The Avoca School Ships carry this legacy forward, providing a modern safe harbor where education, housing, and character-building intersect to create a purposeful future.
"One term, come and try."
If your child is restricted by anxiety or overwhelmed by their current surroundings (School or Home), the best way forward might be a step to the side.
This is a complete 10-week "Teacher Managed School Camp" commitment.
We offer more than just a different classroom and teacher; it is a turning point.
We will review the program with parents after the 10-week remote river cruise period to consider continuing enrolment with Avoca School Ships and a remote learning contract with state schools.
Parents' boats are welcome to tag along in a flotilla. Join in, but do not interfere. You have entrusted your children to our teachers, who conduct the "come-and-try" adventure.
Partnering and good close living team rules - Issues of Respect and Consent
Orientation to the TS Mundoo lifestyle, area of operations, and onboard swag sleeping spaces
Managing our safe, large family home, a close living lifestyle, and being good, safe friends.
Food planning, purchasing, preparation, research, and costings at the local supermarket (Qualification skills)
Provide first aid (Qualification skills) A
Amazing things about the Murray-Darling Basin (local research skills) A
Swimming and Kayaking training every morning (skills development)
The Daily "Time Out Log"
Repack your backpack before we leave. Throw out time?
You have to carry it with your swag roll.
7-day menu plan and costing. Team Shop to plan. Carry shopping to the boat and store it safely. (Qualification skills) A
Plan a weekly duty roster. Team skills A
Risk Assessment (Water focus - boats & swimming) (Qualification skills) A
Boat skills, boat licence, Coxswain 3NC Certificate (Qualification skills) A
Swimming and Kayaking training (Qualification skills) A
Daily Log
Human Physiology - how our amazing machine is created and works. ORAL A
Sexual Health reason and care A
Why eat? - food planning & preparation ORAL A
Why Sleep? - our brain must refresh or reboot for 8 hours every 24 hours ORAL A
Why Exercise? - must work to stay strong ORAL A
Swimming and Kayaking training - every day exercise
Daily Log.
Character & Identity
Mental Health Hygiene
Cognitive Distortions & How to Correct Them
Swimming and Kayaking training
Daily Log
Healthy Relationships being good partners ORAL A
Issues of Respect and Consent ORAL A
Importance of Teamwork ORAL A
Conflict resolution (Qualification skills) ORAL A
Caring for others ORAL A
Swimming and Kayaking training
Daily Log
Belief (Concepts of Creation) wonder.
Values for good living
Spirituality
Mindfulness
Gratitude, Compassion, Humility, Giving, Helping
Swimming and Kayaking training continues
Sunday task - Write a summary of your thoughts after this week's classes.
Daily Log
Health & Safety at all ANCOM Campuses & Adventures - Prepare a safety assessment for a kayak trip. A
Advanced First Aid Training including Oxygen (Qualification skills) Practical A
Cyber Safety
Swimming and Kayaking training
Daily Log
Risk Assessment and setting up emergency plans. Joint risk sheet required for the trip
Planning an overnight kayak expedition in partnership. General plan sheet required.
Kayaking Overnight Swag Camp - individual swags - isolated with partner only
Remember, no entry sex. Stay close to feel warm and safe.
Daily Log
Complete RLSSSA Pool lifeguard certificate (VET Qualification skills)
Aerie attachment, Lifeguarding from a boat (Qualification skills)
TIDY YOUR STUFF AND THOUGHTS
Tidy your log book
Prepare a draft for your "Time Out" experience report to home school.
Review and complete your Adventure log. Tidy your sketches. Make a cover.
Review your draft and write your report to Home school.
THEN PREPARE FOR PARTY TIME
Party time catering & Planning
Big Celebration– Invite Parents & Friends – accept your eagle feather
Go home for holidays. Think "What Next?" -
Back to home school, OR
Join Aerie TECH for River tourism learning
Try another path.
Start Residential VET training in High school, ages 15 - 17
Continue SACE Essentials English & Maths
Safe team living and support skills
Tourism Hospitality path
Care services & Catering path
Submarine Tech engineering path
Personal health and exercise essentials
Avoca Trust School ships:- A new style of Senior High school, VETIS practical adventure education.
TS Mundoo: Flagship of the Avoca School Ship Project - SACE-VETIS Tech Curriculum
TS Safety: A Very capable High-Speed Maritime Rescue & water activities support Vessel
A typical school ship hosting 16 teens + teacher
Safe & Inclusive Living: The Four-Bunk Cabin
Cookery skills are essential for all students
Water rescue skills are essential for All Australians
5 mintes to death? CPR Skills are essential learning
Kayaking with a partner is required daily exercise
Empowering Young Eagles Through Practical Learning on the Murray River.
We invite service clubs and community partners to champion a transformative journey for South Australian youth. Moving beyond the four walls of a traditional classroom, onto our residential riverboats offers a unique "school ship" environment specifically designed to forge resilience in teenagers.
The Way of the Sea Eagle
"Calm focus, inner strength, and collective resilience."
Much like the majestic Sea Eagles that patrol the Murray River, we teach our students that strength is not found in fighting the winds of life, but in learning how to use them to rise. Our shipboard teacher-mentors guide students to emulate this balance of calm focus, inner strength, and collective resilience—the essential tools for a successful transition into adulthood.
Rising Above the Storm
Our program provides the "thermal lift" older teens need to overcome the gravity of academic inability. By providing a safe, tranquil sanctuary combined with specialized emotional support, we help students navigate through personal struggles and rediscover their innate potential.
Enrolment Decision after 10 week "Come and try"
Phone Capt. Bouc 0418 836 137
To chat about our School ships and what's next.
