Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that our non-state democratic school, Darlingia Forest School, was forced by the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB) to close mid-year. Darlingia provided hands-on, outdoor education for active and creative learners, with many students having a background of school refusal/can’t. Our community is devastated. Sixteen children are unable to return to school and their friends, 13 families have been severely negatively impacted, and six staff members have lost their employment. Our local community needs Darlingia as it caters for the minority of children in our community that are not well served by the state system.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to do all within its power save our school; implement recommendation R.2.1 (from the recent Non-State Schools Accreditation Framework Review which the Queensland Government has agreed to in-principle) that NSSAB’s functions are expanded to include a focus on supporting the non-state schooling sector to achieve and maintain compliance; and direct NSSAB to deliver education, advice and support to Darlingia.