When Renee Baker left Carinity Education Southside after graduating from high school, little did she know that 15 years later she would return as the mother of a student.
Renee enrolled at the all-girls special assistance school in Brisbane after moving out of home as a teenager.
“I came here halfway through Year 11. I wasn’t living with my parents at that time,” Renee said.
“Normal schools didn’t understand that I had appointments with Centrelink or I had my own doctor’s appointments. This school was more understanding of those sorts of things, and had youth workers that would help you out.
“The meals provided by the school and the out-of-school activities were always great. We weren’t just going on a normal excursion.
“They also had the here. Things like that help a lot of the young women who are disadvantaged in society.”
Renee graduated from Year 12 at in 2007, and her daughter Elisha was born the following year. Renee has returned to the school – after Elisha enrolled there.
“When I first walked back in the gates I was like, ‘Wow’, because the school definitely looked different,” Renee said.
“The school had moved a whole block, there were extra buildings, the office is where the library used to be. But not much has changed with the way the school does like to help our youth.”
Carinity Education Southside was the first option Renee considered for Elisha when she realised her daughter was having difficulties in a public school.
“Elisha’s doing great now, she’s completely turned around with both her schooling and her personality,” Renee said.
“She was struggling and she didn’t want to help herself, but now she’s the first person to help anybody.”
Renee says has “got the good mix between schoolwork and helping the students”.
“If I didn’t find Southside I probably would have dropped out of school, and I definitely wouldn’t have completed my senior education. It’s as simple as that,” Renee said.
“This school definitely provides you with the tools to help you succeed.”
