We spend a lot of time talking with families whose young person doesn't fit the mainstream classroom, and one thing comes up again and again: parents wish they knew about more options sooner. So when a new one opens up close to home, we want to make sure people hear about it.
In 2026, ECG Secondary College launched a new Virtual School, based right here in Gippsland - a fully online campus for young people in Years 9 to 12 who learn better away from a traditional school setting. Back in January we wrote about the alternative schooling options across East Gippsland - smaller schools, distance ed, homeschooling, TAFE and more - and this is a genuine new one to add to that list.
We're not affiliated with the school and we don't get anything for sharing it. We're passing it on because it's the kind of option we get asked about all the time, and because it's built for exactly the young people we work alongside every day.
What it is
The new Virtual School is the latest campus of ECG Secondary College, an established independent Special Assistance School built specifically for students who find mainstream learning difficult. It joins a network of campuses already running across Gippsland and into the south-east, but this one delivers everything online, so students learn from home.
It's not a distance-education worksheet pack left at the kitchen table. It's a real school, with real teachers and timetabled classes, designed from the ground up around students who need more support, more flexibility and a calmer environment than a mainstream school can offer.
Who it's for
Almost every student across the school has a disability - formal or imputed - or a challenge that makes learning in a mainstream school hard. That includes neurodivergent young people (ASD, ADHD), students living with anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges, young people who've reached school can't or school refusal, those who've become disengaged, and students carrying a background of trauma.
If any of that sounds like your young person, and if mainstream school has felt like a daily battle, this is a setting designed with them in mind rather than one they have to squeeze themselves into.
How it's different
The things that make this school work are the same things we believe in at ESports Collective - small numbers, high support, and wellbeing treated as part of the learning, not an afterthought.
- Small classes. Class sizes sit at around 12 to 15 students, with low staff-to-student ratios so nobody gets lost in the crowd.
- Three adults in every class. Each class has a teacher, an education support worker, and a wellbeing support worker (a youth worker) - so help is always there, whether it's the maths or the moment.
- Trauma-informed staff. The team is trained to understand what students are carrying and to respond to it, not punish it.
- Wraparound wellbeing. Beyond the classroom, students can access counsellors and a broader wellbeing team, with a Student Engagement and Support Coordinator helping tie it all together.
What the learning looks like
The program runs across two stages.
Middle Years - Years 9 & 10
Students follow the Victorian Curriculum in English, Maths, Humanities and Health. Alongside the core subjects there's a wellbeing program and a Passion Project - space for young people to build learning around something they genuinely care about.
Senior Years - Years 11 & 12
Seniors work toward the Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC), a hands-on senior certificate covering Literacy, Numeracy, Work-related Skills and Personal Development Skills. It's a practical, achievable pathway for young people for whom a traditional VCE isn't the right fit.
Running through both stages is a social and social-skills program - deliberate time for students to stay connected and build confidence with other people, which matters just as much when learning happens from home.
Why virtual works for some young people
For a lot of the families we talk to, the classroom itself is the barrier - the noise, the crowds, the sensory load, the social pressure. Learning from home takes that away and leaves the learning behind. It's flexible and self-paced, the support is shaped around the individual, and the environment is calm, safe and inclusive by design. And because it's a real school with teachers and peers, students stay connected rather than isolated.
The practical details
A few things worth knowing before you enquire:
- Age. It's for young people aged 14 and over, across Years 9 to 12.
- Readiness. It suits students who can take some responsibility for their effort during independent learning sessions and are willing to reach out for support when they need it. A parent or carer also needs to be able to provide appropriate supervision through the school day.
- Where. The campus is designed primarily for families from Greater Dandenong through to the Wellington Shire, which takes in Sale, Maffra and Stratford. Because it's delivered virtually, it's worth an enquiry even if you're a little further east - just ask whether it's an option for your area.
- Cost. Fees are $750 per year, or $150 with a concession.
- What you'll need. A laptop with a camera (one can be provided if needed), a suitable space to learn, and an internet connection (support is available if that's a hurdle).
It's also a Child Safe organisation with zero tolerance for child abuse - a baseline we'd expect of anywhere a young person spends their days.
Where we fit in
Whatever schooling looks like for your young person, they still need places to connect with people who share their interests - and that's true for virtual learners most of all. Our after-school sessions, social gaming, D&D tables and tournaments are exactly that kind of space: somewhere to make friends and be yourself, away from the screen you learn on. Learning from home and having a community aren't opposites, and we're glad to be part of the second half of that.
And if mainstream school hasn't been the right fit, this is just one of the paths worth knowing about. Our January guide to alternative schooling in East Gippsland walks through the wider landscape, and this new Virtual School is a strong addition to it.
How to find out more
You can read more and register your interest on ECG Secondary College's virtual learning page. Enrolments and enquiries go through the school directly - you can also reach them on 03 5622 6000 to talk through whether it's the right fit. And if you'd rather start with a friendly chat about where it might sit alongside everything else, we're always happy to help point you in the right direction. You can reach us at hello@esportscollective.com.au, on 0499 330 836, or at 58 Macleod Street, Bairnsdale.