A Brisbane independent school, which helps young women attain an education they once thought was unlikely, has always been dear to Colleen Mitrow.
She was the foundation Principal of Carinity Education Southside, a special assistance school which has supported thousands of teenagers who faced barriers to learning or struggled in mainstream schooling.
When Colleen helped establish Southside almost 30 years ago, little did she know that a family member would later benefit from the specialised education the school offers - and graduate from Year 12 there.
Colleen was "very pleased" when her granddaughter, Charlotte Minty, decided she would like to attend Carinity Education Southside part-way through Year 11. Colleen knew the school could provide the support her granddaughter required to help her thrive.
"Charlotte had been very unhappy at the large impersonal high school she had enrolled in, and her attendance was dropping off," Colleen recalls.
"Southside had been founded as a new school model that values diversity and where caring and learning go hand in hand. This indeed was the reality of Charlotte's education experience at Southside."
For Colleen, the school's Principal from 1997 to 2011, Southside "remains a very warm and welcoming environment for students". She believes it is a place where "each young person is valued for the gifts she brings to the school".
"Southside, with its holistic focus infused with a real sense of caring, works for young people. It certainly worked for Charlotte too," Colleen said.
"The teachers and youth workers were exceptional. Charlotte appreciated and had the greatest respect for them all.
"Charlotte grew in confidence after attending Southside and felt much happier at school. She began to believe in her ability to do well in her studies at secondary school and beyond."
Charlotte was engaged in the curriculum and happy with her academic success. She also enjoyed co-curricular activities in the wider community offered by the Sunnybank-based school.
She also had the opportunity to meet "many other interesting young people from a variety of backgrounds and with a diversity of experiences".
"Unlike other schools, conformity is not seen as a virtue at Southside and students can celebrate their individuality. So, the young people don't feel constant pressure to fit in," Colleen said.
Charlotte admits she didn't know much about Carinity Education Southside before she enrolled at the school which her grandmother established.
She believes she likely wouldn't have finished high school had she not found her place at Southside. She is now looking forward to attending university.
Charlotte enrolled in the school because she was "seeking a more supportive and hands-on schooling environment".
"Before attending Southside I had doubts that I would be able to complete Year 12 due to poor grades and attendance," she said.
"Southside provided more one-on-one learning opportunities, and the smaller classes allowed teachers to learn and take into account students' individual needs in the classroom setting.
"I enjoyed forming friendly relationships with my teachers and being able to have frequent group discussions within the classroom. I most enjoyed English and Maths.
"Graduating from Southside gave me the confidence to explore my career options and think about my future in a positive light."
Charlotte is currently undertaking a Diploma in Social and Psychological Science at Griffith College. She plans to study at Griffith University next year.
"I plan to use my time in university to explore my options and discover my passions and skills," she said.
Colleen was "very proud" to see Charlotte graduate from Year 12 at Carinity Education Southside in 2025. It reinforced to Colleen why she started the school in a little house at Tarragindi in the 1990s.
"I have been reminded of the wide range of students for whom Southside provides a valuable education and a comfortable learning environment," Colleen said.
"Today, so many wonderful young people with lots of potential are having negative school experiences and many are still dropping out of the traditional education system.
"The Southside Education model that we have developed together has been most successful in allowing many young people to continue and complete their education.
"The young people learn so much from each other as well as from the teachers and staff. It is a school where a young person's social, emotional and cultural needs are met.
"I only wish that there were more schools like this were available to more young people during this important period of their lives."
