Gallery: Kairos opens doors to different pathway for Nambour students
Luke O’Sullivan, Katy Devers and Tim Robinson of Kairos Community College.
Young people who have struggled to find their place in mainstream schooling were at the centre of an Open Day held at Kairos Community College’s new Nambour campus on Friday May 29.
The fee-free senior secondary school opened its temporary campus at 66–68 Currie Street in January, welcoming its first group of Year 10 students while work progresses towards a purpose-built permanent campus at 32 Coronation Avenue, scheduled for completion in 2027.
Friday’s Open Day gave prospective students, families, carers and professionals who support young people the opportunity to visit the Currie Street campus and learn more about the college’s relationship-based approach to education.
Kairos Community College is a non-profit Special Assistance School supporting students in Years 10 to 12 who have disengaged from, or are at risk of disengaging from, mainstream education.
The college already operates campuses at Deception Bay and Caloundra, with its move into Nambour described by Executive Principal Tony Andrews last year as a long-term commitment to the town. “Kairos exists to change lives,” Mr Andrews said at a Nambour Chamber of Commerce meeting in November.
“We specialise in supporting young people who have disengaged from mainstream schooling, offering a safe, relational and high-impact learning environment. When students don’t just succeed academically but grow in confidence, wellbeing and connection — that’s the Kairos difference.”
The Nambour campus is beginning with Year 10 in 2026, before expanding to include Year 11 in 2027 and Year 12 in 2028. Kairos says the permanent two-storey campus will include modern classrooms, breakout areas, kitchen and staff facilities and a half-court basketball court, while retaining small class sizes and a low student-to-teacher ratio.
The college has already begun building local links, with staff supporting The Shack Community Centre’s Trees of Hope Appeal before the campus opened and Kairos sponsoring two garden beds at Nambour Grown Community Garden.
Nambour students have also taken their learning into the local community, with Year 10 students recently undertaking a field study of the water quality and ecological health of Petrie Creek, supported by ECOllaboration.
Marketing, Communications and Community Engagement Manager Katy Devers said the Nambour Open Day was a brilliant success, uniting local families, community leaders, and support organisations under one roof. “We were delighted to welcome Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt MP, alongside invaluable local organisations like The Shack and Parent 2 Parent, prospective families, and community leaders. Our students were the absolute highlight of the day. They took immense pride in guiding visitors through our temporary campus, sharing their personal stories and reflecting on how the Kairos relational learning model has transformed their educational journeys since opening in January 2026. It was a powerful reminder of what happens when young people feel supported, connected, and inspired to reach their full potential.”
More information www.kairos.qld.edu.au.
