VETIS practical learning programs for older school age teens
Our teachers encourage progress, not the destination.
We are all on a continuous learning journey.
SA Education law:- Children (aged 6-18) must attend "school" remains our cornerstone.
Our base Curriculum + negotiated options
Essential English and Maths, Physical fitness, Healthy living, Tourism, Hospitality, Care Services, Water Safety, Maritime Operations.
We provide a pathway for students who find the traditional classroom setting overwhelming, ensuring they remain connected to the state curriculum. We maintain full compliance with state law. All School Ship students will remain enrolled with a State School for VETIS practical skills learning until their 18th birthday:
As riverboats cannot be schools, we comply with State School law with Dual Enrolment: Our students are enrolled in State High School for curriculum teaching, while "School ship learning" on board the team home school ship.
State school law: As a ship cannot be a school, our students fulfill the current state requirement with two days of recorded physical land-based school attendance per year. The teachers of their "school of enrolment" teach on the ships in a similar way to school camps.
Onboard Mentorship: Each school ship is managed by a resident teacher who lives on the ship, providing 24/7 academic and emotional guidance towards confident living.
Avoca Tech High school ship based residential path to confidence.
TS Mundoo, our leader school ship, was originally built as a novelty cruising restaurant vessel with a very small steam engine, a commercial kitchen, and restaurant seating for 130 on the carpeted top deck.
As the TS Mundoo School Ship, she will have a staff of three. Master 4ILW, a Cox.ILW. and a Teacher/Manager with adventure boating skills.
Her original function is no longer commercially viable, but with some modification and her new diesel engine, she is an ideal school ship providing group shelter, swag camping on carpet mats, overnight.
We will install full-time, advanced student crew bunks for long-term students.
In addition to her College marketing and general functions work, Mundoo will host:-
The regular one-term "Time Out." program
Special functions, marketed throughout the navigable river.
Crising between functions will be training time for VETIS maritime operations, Cookery, Restaurant table service, and Water adventure skills leadership.
TS Mundoo will be available for community events and catered functions throughout the river community. Relocation cruises are also training events for students.
An advanced team of students will be full time resident onboard to gain experience in the commercial operations. They will be gaining a strong set of riverboat industry skills and VET Qualifications, assisting with commercial functions.
All income to Avoca Trust VETIS school ship is received as 100% Tax-Deductible gifts for "Education about and conservation of the Murray-Darling River environment."
Make an instant donation (any amount) from your online bank account using the PayID in your payment options.
The Avoca PayID: capt.bouc@gmail.com
Name: The Avoca Trust Fund
Include your name, address, and email. We will send your 100% DGR approved Donation receipt for your tax return.
We invite service clubs and community leaders to help us promote this life-changing opportunity for South Australian youth at risk of dropping out of school, and to assist in repairing the damage caused by large state high schools. The project expects the school ship's student numbers to expand.
Each student's family donates a student bed licence on enrolment after the "Come and try" decision to stay.
This Bed gift donation agreement is only for the first year of enrolment.
The school ship bed is then available for your family's use until it is no longer needed. It has no resale value. It becomes part of the school ship fleet.
Bed gift donations can be spread over the first year, then a school ship bed place is available for your family's use, or school holiday rental during vacation periods, until it is no longer needed by the family. It has no resale value. It becomes part of the school ship fleet.
First year only Bed Gift: (100% DGR):-
(NB: This is the current "Startup" capital/maintenance estimate)
$15,000. On enrolment:
OR $4,000 at the start of each term
OR $700 per fortnight in advance.
We expect most students will stay with us full-time to complete their Senior High school years.
A school ship bed is available for the family to use for each subsequent year with us. (They may change school ships during their years with us. The licence is the family gift. Siblings can continue to use the bed licence during their enrolment.
Consumable Donations (100% DGR Gift):-
"Boarding costs" - $700 /fortnight when in residence.
(This provides supervision, student care, sustenance, and asset maintenance.)
NB:
This donation amount is a budget forecast and may be adjusted according to costs.
If the bed is not used, the Trust reserves the right to rent it to another student.
The Mannum Community College (State School) provides the required teaching.
We invite families to join us in the Avoca Trust Community to help the next generation through innovation, river education, and unwavering support for teens at risk.
Principal, Capt Bouc, invites questions by email to capt.bouc@gmail.com or phone. 0418 836 137
This form will provide the appropriate information to open a discussion for enrollment.
We believe many parents have a very good idea of the important things their children should learn. We discuss these things during the enrolment meeting, and offer parents the opportunity to suggest additional topics to consider with their children. We welcome perental discussion with children present.