On 11th March 2026, our own club member, John Wellford, spoke of the Yuille Explorers Program (YEP), a program of Yuille Park Community College (YPCC).
John was born in Kenya, has had an extensive teaching career in Africa and Australia …and, at one time, ran a mobile car tuning business. He has an ongoing interest in mentoring troubled children.
YPCC is a multi-campus, Flexible Learning Opportunities (FLO) school, catering for students from primary to year12, with values of Belonging, Effort, Empathy and Respect. Students often attend part-time and may have issues that make mainstream schooling difficult. The YEP started as a motivational opportunity, an aspirational trip for students, designed to improve attendance and engagement for students disengaged from traditional schooling.
An initial trip to New Zealand provided many new and exciting experiences for the students, including flying for the first time and rappelling into a cave. Building on that success, YEP has evolved into a curriculum-aligned, whole of school program that builds student capability in areas including personal, social in intercultural capability. In 2025 YEP went to Fiji; in 2026 the trip will be to Sydney. New in 2026 will be a Mini Explorers program providing a transition pathway for younger or incoming students to build relationships with staff, understand expectations and develop self-regulation.
Entry into YEP is based on demonstrated YPCC values. This creates aspiration, motivation, accountability and engagement in the students. Whilst not all students can participate in a trip, those who don’t go participate in a ‘Spectacular Experience Day’. In summary, YEP is a pathway, not a prize; a culture builder, not an add-on; and is a future-focused program that grows students who are ‘confident, reflective and ready for what life throws at them.’
The program won third place in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards in 2025.
YEP is largely funded by sponsorship from large organisations and government funds. Rotary Club of Wendouree Breakfast supports the school through donations.
