Online learning happens best in the most beautiful places.

For teenagers struggling with depression or a lack of direction, the path to recovery lies in rediscovering purpose and building practical resilience. Our program offers a clear trajectory toward a successful career in the Murray River tourism industry and can extend into the State Submarine project.

To keep older teenagers engaged in learning, we must move beyond the traditional classroom. For this age group, the "key" to retention isn't a desk—it’s a dynamic environment built on social connection, safety, and real-world application.

For simplicity the "Time Out" program operates as a school camp "Come and Try" with individual student enrolment arranged by parents or through home school student counsellor with Aerie, to arrange with the home school student counsellor. .... Family Conference follows to consider the student Aerie future.

The Murray River’s recreational and commercial fleet is extensive, yet the industry faces two critical challenges:

• Aging Infrastructure: Most maintenance facilities in the SA Riverlands are outdated or closed.
• An Aging Workforce: Experienced tradespeople possess invaluable knowledge but often find the physical demands of the work challenging.

The Solution: Physically capable students from Aerie Tech College can learn directly from veterans, providing the "heavy lifting" while absorbing decades of specialized expertise.

Mannum is the major tourism industry focus for the Murray in SA

• The Slip: The long standing slipway & maintenance works serves as a primary training ground.
• The skills Pipeline: With the Adelaide submarine project expected to increase river recreation, the demand for boat maintenance and shipbuilding skills is at an all-time high.
• The Location: Mannum is centrally located and close to Adelaide, making it a convenient "cruise-to" destination for houseboat maintenance from both up and down-river.

Traditional classrooms often fail students aged 15–17 who require more intensive support. 

• Residential Training Ship model offers a controlled, immersive environment for complete student management.
• Mobile Campus Ships act as relocatable skills hubs for salvage and repair work anywhere on the Murray.
• Integrated Learning Curriculum covers river tourism, hospitality, and technical maintenance.
• Industry Support The Avoca Trust Tug provides towing capabilities to bring vessels back to the slipway for student repair work.
• Accessibility Government Tech College support ensures the program remains affordable for less affluent families.

• For Boat Owners: Access to a motivated, supervised workforce for maintenance and "recreational boat helpers."
• For the Government: Efficient use of existing workshops to upskill youth to support a major tourism industry, and river waters maintenance.
• For Youth: Creating a considered future plan, team building skills and a transition from isolation to a high-demand career path in shipbuilding and tourism.