Senior College helps Cienna find her future

Her journey to graduating from high school was not easy. After years of bullying, social challenges and health issues, Cienna found belonging and purpose through TAFE Queensland’s Senior College at the Alexandra Hills Campus.

“I didn’t have a great time growing up. I’ve always been different. I struggled socially, said the wrong things, and never really knew when to stop talking,” Cienna said.

“But Senior College helped me find people who accepted me for who I am. My teachers and classmates made me feel supported, and I found somewhere I belonged.”

Senior College is more than an alternative education program - it’s a life-changing community for Year 11 and 12 students across Greater Brisbane seeking a flexible, supportive pathway to achieve their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) or an Adult Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

Over 100 students proudly graduated this year, completing two years of tailored study that prepared them for bright futures.

Director of Senior College Craig Eades said the program’s success lies in its flexibility and understanding that no two students are the same.

“For over three decades, Senior College has changed lives by offering students an individualised learning experience that meets them where they’re at,” Mr Eades said.

“There’s no single formula for success here - our role is to help every student discover their strengths, build confidence, and find a pathway that works for them.”

That approach was transformative for Cienna, who faced significant physical challenges during her studies.

“In the past few years, I was diagnosed with several physical disabilities. You wouldn’t know by looking at me, but my body hurts constantly, and I sometimes can’t even see properly when I stand up,” she said.

“I’ve had to grieve my own future and accept that I might one day be in a wheelchair - but Senior College showed me that my future isn’t over, it just looks different.”

Cienna cites Senior College’s community for helping her persevere, particularly the incredible support of her teachers and school administrators.

“TAFE supported me in ways I didn’t know I needed. My teachers respected my decisions and were there when I had no one else.”

“My drama classmates made me feel like I belonged - especially Sophie, who always reassured me when I thought I’d messed up, and Elke, who adapted with me when my body couldn’t keep up.”

Cienna's teachers, Mark, Shannon, and Ashleigh, and the administration team, were always there to adjust her schedule when life demanded it, or to make noodles or toasties when she didn’t have lunch.

Mr Eades stated that examples such as Cienna’s illustrate the significance of the Senior College program and highlight the transformative impact of education.

“Our students come from all walks of life, often with enormous personal challenges,” he said.

“Senior College gives them a safe, inclusive environment where they can be their whole selves and achieve their education goals.”

He added that seeing students grow and overcome adversity to walk the stage at graduation is the most rewarding part of his job.

“Many of our graduates tell us they wouldn’t have had a future without Senior College. Watching them leave us every year with resilience, confidence, and a sense of direction is inspiring,” concluded Mr Eades.