Where Every Young Person Is Seen
Southern Skies Montessori is a Sunshine Coast alternative school supporting neurodiverse, anxious, and school-disengaged young people to reconnect with learning in a calm, safe, and relationship-based environment.
About Us
Southern Skies Montessori is preparing to open its doors in 2027.
Families across the Sunshine Coast are increasingly searching for calm, flexible, relationship-based education that better supports neurodiverse young people. Southern Skies Montessori is a not-for-profit Special Assistance School being created for students in Years 4–9 who need an alternative to conventional schooling.
Through small, Montessori-inspired learning communities and real-world experiences, we support young people experiencing anxiety, school refusal, overwhelm, and barriers to belonging to rebuild trust in education—and in themselves.
We're building this school with our community. As we work toward opening in 2027, we're inviting individuals, families, businesses, and community organisations to help bring this vision to life. Every donation and partnership helps create a new pathway for young people who simply need a different way to learn.
Our Journey
A Place Built for Young People Who Need Something Different
Southern Skies Montessori was founded on a simple belief: education exists to support the natural development and wellbeing of young people.
After many years working in schools across Australia and internationally, we saw capable young people on the Sunshine Coast and throughout South East Queensland struggling in environments that did not honour their emotional, social, sensory, and developmental needs. Many families were searching for alternative education pathways for young people experiencing anxiety, school refusal, neurodivergent learning needs, disengagement, or overwhelm within mainstream settings.
We believed that smaller, relationship-based learning communities could make a meaningful difference.
Today, we are building a trauma-informed, Montessori Special Assistance School for Years 4–9 on the Sunshine Coast — a calm and connected alternative school where belonging comes before achievement, independence grows through purposeful work, and young people reconnect with learning at their own pace.
Supporting Neurodiverse Young People
We recognise that many young people experience learning differently. Southern Skies Montessori is being designed to support neurodiverse learners — including young people with ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, executive functioning challenges, or school refusal experiences — through calm environments, flexible learning pathways, strong relationships, and meaningful work.
Community at the Heart of Learning
We believe education flourishes within a connected community built on trust, collaboration, and shared purpose. Families, carers, and community partners are integral to each young person’s development. Together, we cultivate environments that are consistent, relational, and safe — where young people feel valued and confident to grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Special Assistance School is a school designed to support young people who may not be thriving in conventional educational environments. These schools provide smaller learning communities, wellbeing support, and flexible approaches that help students reconnect with learning, belonging, and confidence.
Southern Skies Montessori is being developed as a trauma-informed Special Assistance School on the Sunshine Coast for students in Years 4–9 who may be experiencing school disengagement, anxiety, overwhelm, or barriers to participation in mainstream education.
Yes. Southern Skies Montessori is being designed to support neurodiverse young people, including students with ADHD, autism, anxiety, sensory sensitivities, executive functioning challenges, and diverse learning profiles.
Our calm, relationship-based environments, small class groups, flexible learning pathways, and Montessori-informed approach aim to support each young person’s emotional wellbeing, independence, and natural development.
Southern Skies Montessori is being created specifically for young people who may be struggling with school anxiety, school refusal, disengagement, or overwhelm within mainstream settings.
We understand that many young people need safety, trust, connection, and time before meaningful learning can occur. Our approach prioritises belonging, emotional regulation, strong relationships, and purposeful work within a calm and supportive learning community.
Southern Skies Montessori combines Montessori-informed education, trauma-informed practice, and small relationship-based learning environments within a Special Assistance School setting.
Unlike many traditional schools, we prioritise wellbeing, connection, independence, and meaningful engagement before academic pressure. Our approach is designed for young people who may benefit from a more personalised, flexible, and developmentally responsive alternative to mainstream education on the Sunshine Coast.
Opening Our Doors in 2027!
The countdown marks the beginning of Southern Skies Montessori — a new, trauma-informed Special Assistance School for Years 4–9. We are preparing to welcome our first students into a small, relationship-based learning community where belonging comes before achievement and young people can reconnect with education in a meaningful way.
Contact Us
Acknowledgement of Country
Southern Skies Montessori acknowledges the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) people as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we learn, grow, and gather. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, culture, and community.
We are committed to walking respectfully alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and honour the wisdom of the world’s oldest continuing cultures as the first educators of this country.
Southern Skies Montessori hopes to support families across the Sunshine Coast and Hinterland, including Nambour, Buderim, Maroochydore, Caloundra, Maleny, and surrounding communities.