In Wildness is found adventure and good metal health.
Staying on with Aerie School-ship helps teens 15-17 change their lifestyle and thinking.
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.
1. Addressing the Skills Gap with Aerie Tech
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- Aging Infrastructure: Most maintenance facilities in the SA Riverlands are outdated or closed.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.
2. Strategic Opportunities in Mannum
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.
The Aerie Tech Model: Residential Training Ships
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.
Key Benefits to the Community - Improving teen mental health
- 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.
Reimagining learning for "Wild" Teens (15–17)
The Core Pillars of Engagement
- A Foundation of Peer Support: Creating a safe "friendship base" where teens feel they belong.
- Practical Life Skills: Teaching essential safety and living skills for the modern world.
- Adventurous Learning: Using group adventures to build resilience and teamwork.
- Vocational Readiness: Developing the ability to collaborate effectively in professional task-based teams.
The Conflict: Classrooms vs. Reality
Traditional "classroom cages" fail to hold the interest of adventurous teens. When education feels like a restriction rather than an opportunity, students simply walk out.
The Legal & Financial Opportunity (South Australia)
- The Mandate: SA State Law requires youth to remain in an educational setting until age 18.
- The Funding: Under current law, the Government is responsible for funding "schooling" up to age 18—though the definition of "school" must evolve to meet modern needs.
The Solution: The "Training ship"
Other nations have successfully implemented "Training Ships" as viable educational institutions. South Australia should follow suit by:
- Formally recognizing Training Ships as educational environments.
- Funding these programs with the same status as a Technical College.
Avoca Trust Student residence boats - in planning
Many houseboats are for sale
The loan Licence to Occupy model
The loan Licence to Occupy model
Most Murray Houseboats are designed for large numbers of berths.
We plan to offer individual Berth Loan Licence to occupy ownership as a negotiable asset.
Students invest in a houseboat berth, use it, then sell on to another student when no longer needed.
A typical double bunk berth Loan Licence to occupy asset is worth $30,000.
And pay fortnightly for boat team living costs.
Many University College residences use this method of funding.
The loan Licence to Occupy model
The loan Licence to Occupy model
The loan Licence to Occupy model
Join us for one of our upcoming fundraising events! From galas to charity runs, we have a variety of opportunities to get involved and support our mission.