About Us — Carbrook Animal Assisted Learning Centre

About our School

Carbrook Centre cultivates a place of belonging where our students can learn and grow cognitively, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. We believe that engagement in meaningful schooling has a life-long impact on young people. Our goal is for our students to grow in confidence, purpose and be able to contribute positively within their communities. Carbrook Centre is committed to demonstrating Christ’s love in the community by providing high-quality Special Assistance Schooling.

We seek to:

Partner

Partner and work with students, their families and stakeholders in a way that demonstrates our core values of love, justice, and hope

Relate

Build trusting and safe relationships within our school community as a foundational step for student development

Empower

Up skill our student’s literacy, numeracy and transition capabilities to give them greater choices in the future and better contribute within their community.

Lead

Lead the way in schooling, specialising in animal assisted learning, trauma informed and restorative practices, partnering with experts in the fields to work towards best practice.

Engage

Provide engaging and relevant learning experiences that support the individual needs of the student

Our Mission, Vision and Values

Our Vision

Transformed futures for all young people in our school community.
Our Mission

To cultivate a school community of belonging where young people with complex needs can learn and grow socially, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually.
Our Core Values

Three Christian values, love, justice, and hope are at the core of Carbrook Centre. We are motivated by and committed to applying these values in our school community.

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Explore Our Values

Carbrook Centre believe that each young person has an intrinsic value, despite their behaviour and life circumstance. We take on a nurturing role in the young person’s life- offering food, protection, support, encouragement, training, guidance and mentoring. We endure difficult circumstances and never give up on a young person. We are hopeful for better outcomes in the future.

“If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing… Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance”. 1 Corinthians 13:3,7 (NLT)
Carbrook Centre demonstrate justice through services and practical actions that address the impacts of trauma, and/ or disability on young people’s lives.
We take a relational approach and focus on understanding each young person through communication and developing trusting relationships with them, their families and stakeholders.
We take a restorative approach, modelling respectful communication, and practicing how to repair relationships when they become damaged.
“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”. Micah 6:8 (NIV)
Carbrook Centre believe all young people have a hope and a purpose, no matter their situation or life circumstance. This hope drives us to go above and beyond to ensure that students learn and grow socially, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Our History

Since 2013, the Carbrook team have developed an educational program with a strong reputation for the ongoing support of young people in the community who have been identified as ‘at risk’, and unable to attend mainstream school.

From 2013- 2017, Carbrook Centre operated as a Flexible Arrangement schooling option for young people who required more complex support. The program was based on animal assisted learning including equestrian vaulting and horse management skills. The program followed trauma informed and restorative practices underpinned by Christian values.

Feedback from community stakeholders was very positive, with many reporting improvements in engagement at school, which also resulted in encouraging changes in young people’s lives.

In 2017, Transformed Futures was established to continue the program after it ceased as a Flexible Arrangement. Transformed Futures resolved to have Carbrook Centre accredited as a school and, in 2019, Carbrook Centre commenced its first year of operation as an accredited school.

Special Assistance Schools in Queensland are independent, receiving Federal and State government funding, and do not charge tuition fees.

Meet The Team