Aerie Riverboat Adventures SACE College.

• The independent college is managed by a board of very experienced retired teachers who have seen all the problems and have the freedom of an independent residential Senior College to change the futures of a few young ones. YES Aerie College is very different.
• Residential & Immersive: Students live as a full-time backpacker team full time on our school ships with two enthusiastic, resident, care teachers. The large cohesive family model. Each small team of 16 boys and girls shares a houseboat, swag living style, as both residence and classroom. This combines the best of family living with a familiar primary school style classroom /teacher/aid environment.
• Physical & Mental Well-being: We use double kayaking daily for exercise, fostering strong partnerships, quiet reflection, and a shift in thinking.
• Life Skills & Relationships: We emphasize building safe partnerships, teamwork, and strong, long-lasting friendships – essential people skills. We also address important life discussions early, including responsible relationships and parenting. We welcome young couples or single mothers with a child, providing support and integrating childcare services into our curriculum. The baby becomes part of a large, supportive "family" with many "uncles and aunties."
• Conflict Resolution: For families experiencing conflict, Aerie provides a different home for a couple of years or more, helping to defuse tensions. Parents are welcome to share holiday resort time and cruise with the boats.
• Low-Cost Living and learning: Students experience a low-cost, minimalist "swag backpacker" living style, free from unnecessary baggage. As a Special Assistance School, the Government provides individual tuition fees support according to student needs to assist low income families and students with special needs. The combination of teaching a low cost backpacker lifestyle, catering and home style cookery skills will keep costs to families as low as possible. The strong care services sector of the Aerie curriculum leads well into community demand for care services skilled people to work with people of all ages who need care and assistance..
• Well qualified young teachers will be attracted to the challenges of the Aerie College teaching style which uses Curriculum plans from the SACE Essentials and optional curriculum units suited to the Aerie Student needs. All Aerie students are expected to achieve their SACE certificate. Normally this is a two year program. There is no time limit for this achievement with Aerie College.
• Controlled & Safe Environment: New entrants undergo a Principal's interview to ensure a good fit within our controlled group.

Our enrolment begins with a "Come and Try" decision program during the first term. Students join our  river school-ship "SS Aerie" for a "time out" cruise from our Mannum slipway marina to Renmark and back, with daily double kayaking. This term is specifically designed to clear their minds of old thinking and embrace new, positive perspectives. Following this initial term, a "Stay or Leave" decision is made in discussion with College staff and parents, determining if Aerie's learning style will truly benefit their child.

Meet the White Breasted Sea Eagle, Our mascot.

Aerie's Residential Learning Model - students live and learn on the houseboats. 

The college is planning a new residential marina  property, near Mannum. Aerie School ships will eventually home port there. In the mean time the boats will be wanderers. Aerie boats can park at any public riverside as a visiting boat with people onboard, it must move on after 21 days. This is normal rules for any overnight mooring at any site on the river. The boat can return to the same place after the relocation voyage.

Once a student decides to stay at Aerie after their "Come and Try" term, they fully immerse themselves in our unique residential program. Students live in  houseboats, forming a team of 16, guided by a resident teacher and aid. As student numbers slowly increase we will be building new College boats at our workshops. These houseboats serve as both their residence and primary classroom, based at our College marina resort. While most "Home learning" occurs on the boats, practical subjects utilise the resort's dedicated facilities. As students develop essential close-living skills, they'll have the option to transition to live on family boats at the marina. The houseboat fleets, family and college boats, stay together under the supervision of a fleet master teacher, ensuring continuous guidance. All student residential boats are under the direct supervision of Aerie teachers.

At Aerie, we offer a different form of "Home Schooling." The houseboat becomes their "Aerie" (nest), and the two resident teachers act as key parental figures. Our program fosters strong, respectful friendships and a supportive environment, focusing on personal growth and adventure learning. While we discuss healthy relationships, we clearly set boundaries regarding intimate relationships during their time with us. For families with their own river boats, these can be incorporated into the flotilla, allowing a team of 16 students to live and learn together under teacher supervision, whether moored or cruising.

Aerie offers a comprehensive SACE study program, covering essential subjects alongside a selection of interest-based choices. This flexible approach allows students to complete their SACE Certificate at their own pace, understanding that it's a journey, not just a two-year race. The SACE provides a recognised goal, offering critical focus during these formative "fledgling years," which can otherwise be challenging. We believe that large, traditional schools are often not the best environment for fostering positive team dynamics and healthy relationships. If a student's prior school experience has been negative, changing schools is often their best option.

Our teaching philosophy is rooted in guiding these "wild young birds" safely through their SACE years. We embrace adventure and close-knit, family-style living as our core lifestyle. While we encourage freedom for brilliance to emerge, we are also equipped to manage the challenges and potential "chaos" that can arise within a team with strong personalities..

Aerie students are full-time residents on our river "school-ships." Each school ship hosts a group of 16 teens and 2 teachers, embarking on cruises along the Murray River in South Australia. These school-ships provide a complete change of scenery, offering a remote, distraction-free environment essential for unhappy teens to "reboot their brain" and embrace new perspectives. Each vessel is equipped with a fleet of double kayaks, used daily for exercise and team-building. Those who choose to stay with Aerie after their initial term continue their adventure learning, actively crewing the boats and engaging in our vibrant community. 

Students will achieve their SACE with Aerie and can also pursue VET certificates to further their qualifications. For ongoing support, we offer continued community residential support in the houseboats under Aerie Boat master supervision at Berri or Murray Bridge to attend the local TAFE for VET qualifications..

We strongly welcome family participation in all our activities, however, we kindly request non-interference with the professional work of our dedicated teachers.