Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools Ltd

What Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools Ltd does

Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools Ltd (EREAFSL) is a private, not-for-profit Catholic educational entity headquartered in Eagle Farm, Queensland, and operating under the governance of its parent organisation, Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA). The company was incorporated as a standalone legal entity in 2023 following a restructure of EREA, though its operating history traces back to 1987 when the Christian Brothers opened the first Flexible Learning Centre in Kingston, Queensland. EREAFSL is the largest national provider of alternative education in Australia, operating 24 Flexi School sites and 2 Special Education Schools (St Edmund's College and St Gabriel's School, both in NSW) across all states and territories except the ACT and Victoria, with regional offices in QLD/NT, SA/WA, and NSW/TAS. It serves more than 2,400 young people who have experienced disadvantage, exclusion, or marginalisation, with 33%+ identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

The organisation's core product is the Flexi Schools network, which delivers trauma-aware, relationship-based education under the Flexi Practice Framework (launched June 2025) and Transformative Learning Model, supported by a Research-Informed Approach that includes Collaborative Problem Solving, Creating Calm techniques, and Strengths-Based Language. Complementary offerings include Flexi RTO (a Registered Training Organisation providing vocational training such as barista certification) and special education programs at St Edmund's and St Gabriel's for students with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities, autism, and sensory impairments.

EREAFSL generates revenue primarily through Australian government educational funding arrangements and Catholic Education system funding channels, with no direct tuition publicly disclosed. Its go-to-market relies on referral-based enrolment from mainstream schools, juvenile justice systems, and community services, supplemented by family-initiated Expressions of Interest, distributed through its own regional offices and direct school network rather than third-party channels. The organisation is led by Acting CEO Kathleen Jones (during Dr Matt Hawkins' Professional Renewal Leave until October 2026), CFO Anna Thompson, and a Board chaired by Helen Spain, with no venture capital, private equity, or public market ownership disclosed.

Name

Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools Ltd

Legal name

Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools Ltd

Website

https://flexi.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools Ltd is a not-for-profit Catholic alternative-education provider operating 24 Flexi Schools and 2 Special Schools across Australia, serving 2,400+ young people experiencing educational disadvantage, exclusion, or marginalisation through trauma-aware, relationship-based pedagogy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education Online / Virtual Schools & Remote Programs (EDAKAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

College & Career Transition Services (Bridge Programs, Dual Enrollment Pathways) (EDAAABAK)

Keywords

• Alternative education services
• Flexible learning programs
• Special education schools
• Trauma-informed education
• Vocational training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Eagle Farm

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Educational Services (Primary): Not-for-profit Catholic education services funded primarily through government educational funding arrangements and Catholic Education channels. No tuition pricing publicly disclosed as this is a flexible education provider for disadvantaged youth.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

EREAFSL delivers alternative education to young people who have disengaged from mainstream schooling across 24 Flexi School sites nationally. It operates 2 Special Schools (St Edmund's College and St Gabriel's School) for students with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities and sensory impairments, and Flexi RTO for vocational qualifications such as barista training. Education is built on a trauma-aware, relationship-based approach codified in the Flexi Practice Framework and Transformative Learning Model.

Product overview

Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools Ltd operates 24 Flexi School sites and 2 Special Education Schools across Australia (excluding ACT and Victoria). The organisation provides alternative education to young people who have disengaged from mainstream schooling through its Flexi Schools network. These schools operate on a shared Flexi Practice Framework with core principles of Respect, Honesty, Participation, and Safe & Legal, supported by the Transformative Learning Model and Research-Informed Approach. The portfolio includes 21 Flexible Schools offering trauma-aware, strengths-based education, 2 Special Schools (St Edmund's College and St Gabriel's School in NSW) for students with intellectual disabilities, and Flexi RTO for vocational training. The organisation supports over 2,400 young people, with more than 33% identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Flexi Schools Network Alternative education programs for young people who have disengaged from mainstream schooling, delivered across 21 Flexible Schools nationally. Programs are grounded in radical inclusion, strengths-based learning, and trauma-aware practice with the four core principles of Respect, Honesty, Participation, and Safe & Legal.
• St Edmund's College Year 7-12 co-educational special high school in Wahroonga, NSW serving students with mild-to-moderate intellectual disability, autism, and sensory impairments. Delivers individual programs addressing academic and personal wellbeing, with technology forming a significant part of educational program delivery.
• St Gabriel's School Special education school in Castle Hill, NSW, founded 100 years ago, serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing, blind or low vision, autistic, or with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities. Delivers tailored curriculum in a purpose-built environment.
• Flexi RTO Registered Training Organisation offering vocational education and training programs, including the Certificate in Fundamentals of Barista Workshop, to support young people's workforce preparation and real-world skill development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 33%+ of students identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, demonstrating reach into priority communities
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia): Leading autism-specific education provider operating specialist schools and programs across Australia, with overlapping special education focus that intersects with EREAFSL's St Edmund's and St Gabriel's special schools segment.

Others

• Caritas Australia: Catholic agency for overseas aid and development that shares Edmund Rice's Catholic social justice orientation; adjacent thematically but focused on international development rather than domestic alternative education.
• headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation): Federally funded youth mental health organization providing early-intervention services to young Australians aged 12-25 - a complementary ecosystem player often co-serving EREAFSL's trauma-affected student base.

Broad incumbents

• Mission Australia: Large national charity providing housing, employment, and education services including youth programs - operates in overlapping space with EREAFSL around disadvantaged young people, though broader in service scope.
• Sydney Catholic Schools: Catholic education system operating across NSW/ACT region, serving as part of the broader Catholic education ecosystem from which EREAFSL draws referrals and funding - related system but mainstream K-12 rather than alternative education.
• Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA): Parent organization and broader Catholic education network running traditional K-12 schools alongside the Flexi Schools subsidiary, making it a comparable incumbent in the alternative education space with wider scope.
• Jesuit Social Services: Catholic social services organization operating education, justice, and community programs for disadvantaged Australians, including alternative education settings, with comparable trauma-informed and relationship-based methodologies.

Direct peers

• The Smith Family: Australia-wide charity focused on breaking the cycle of educational disadvantage for children and young people through learning support, mentoring, and scholarships - serving a similar beneficiary cohort via complementary education interventions.
• Berry Street: Major Victorian social services organization delivering education, residential care, and family services for vulnerable children and young people; operates alternative education programs for disengaged youth in a comparable model.
• Youth Off The Streets: Australian Catholic-founded charity providing alternative education, accommodation, and support services for disadvantaged young people, with very similar mission and operating model to EREAFSL's Flexi Schools network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edmund-rice-education-australia-flexible-schools-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Edmund Rice Education Australia Flexible Schools Ltd