Changing lives

Brendan Murray (GradDipEd(Sec)2004) has a passionate commitment to helping troubled adolescents turn their lives around.

The 37-year-old former social worker is co-coordinator of The Pavilion School, a school in north Melbourne that caters for marginalised adolescents who are disengaged from education or training.

The school is designed as a transition centre aims to provide students aged 14 to 20 with a learning environment that is supportive and productive and one that ultimately re-engages them in formal education.

Brendan said he has witnessed remarkable transformations among the students since the school opened in 2007.

"Then we had 20 students, one teacher, one social worker, and very limited facilities and resources," Brendan recalls.

"Three years later we have about 120 students, 10 staff, two campuses and demand outstripping capacity." Brendan said the school's ability to attract students came from its unconventional, relationship-based approach to education.

"We place an emphasis on getting to know our students, and see building a positive, mutually trusting relationship as the best way they can turn things around and flourish."

Class sizes are limited to 12 and students are grouped not by year level but on the basis of behavioural and circumstantial factors.

From day one students are encouraged to believe in their potential to achieve and to anticipate attending university one day – as reflected in the formula for naming particular classes.

"We don't name our classes after colours or teachers' names, like in most schools," Brendan said.

"We name them after the university the teacher attended so my classes are known as the Monash. In this way, they get the idea of university in their head – it really normalises it for them and makes it something attainable."

Brendan says he always knew mainstream teaching was not for him. He worked as a social worker for a decade before moving into education, and the values and approach of his former occupation have influenced his teaching philosophy and practice.

In between teaching and school development activity, Brendan is also pursuing a Masters of Education at Monash.