Schools Directory
Berengarra School is a non-denominational, co-educational specialist secondary school for Years 7–12, supporting students with social and emotional complexities since 1977.
Finding the right setting for your child is the most important thing. If that’s not Berengarra School, we still hope this directory helps families find a place where their child can feel safe, supported and able to learn.
— Justin Finnerty, Principal, Berengarra School
Explore Alternative School Options
Compare School Types
Understand school settings across Independent, Government and Catholic systems.
Map Search
This map displays specialist and specialist‑category schools across Victoria’s Government, Catholic, and Independent sectors.
Victorian School Finder
Search Victorian Schools by Student Need
Autism | Intellectual Disability | Anxiety | ADHD and more.
Compare School Types
Find the right school setting for your child across Independent, Government and Catholic sectors.
Choosing the right school can be challenging when a young person has additional learning, wellbeing, disability, social, emotional, behavioural or school attendance needs. This comparison guide explains the different school options available across Victoria’s government, Catholic and independent education sectors.
Use the comparison below to understand:
- • Which students each school type is designed to support
- • Eligibility and enrolment requirements
- • Common learning, wellbeing and disability needs served by each setting
- • The key features and support services offered
- • Suitability for autism, ADHD, anxiety, school refusal, trauma, disability, learning difficulties or disengagement
Every young person is different. This guide helps families, carers and professionals understand available pathways and identify suitable school settings to explore.
Independent Schools
Non‑government schools with distinct missions, governance structures, and registration with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA).
📌 Important: How students are grouped
Students are not grouped just by diagnosis. They are supported based on:
- • Functional impact — how the condition affects learning and daily activities
- • Level of adjustment required — substantial or extensive support needs
Independent Special Assistance Schools
Serve young people disengaged from education whose needs aren’t met by mainstream schools or education services. These schools provide alternative settings for students with high-level social and emotional needs, behavioural difficulties, or who benefit from flexible learning structures.
Independent Special Schools
Non-government schools offering specialised education for students with specific needs, disabilities, or learning differences. These schools provide tailored curricula and targeted support within an independent school framework.
Alternative Schools Map
Victoria Search alternative Victorian schools near you
This map shows the geographic distribution of specialist and alternative schools across Victoria, including Special Assistance Schools, specialist schools and flexible learning settings. It helps families explore school options across Melbourne and regional Victoria based on location, school type and student needs.
- View school locations across Victoria’s education sectors
- Identify nearby specialist and alternative schools
- Explore options based on your location
This interactive map includes specialist and specialist‑category schools across Victoria’s government, Catholic and independent education sectors, helping families find suitable learning environments that match their child’s learning and support needs.
*Markers are not clickable.
Answer a few questions about your young person’s learning, wellbeing and support needs to explore specialist, supported inclusion and alternative schools across Victoria, including Melbourne and regional areas.
This interactive school finder helps families identify suitable school options based on student needs such as autism, ADHD, anxiety, trauma, school refusal or learning difficulties, as well as location and available supports across government, Catholic and independent education sectors.
Use the School Finder to: Identify school types suited to your child’s learning and wellbeing needs Explore specialist, supported inclusion and alternative school options Understand which settings support autism, ADHD, anxiety, trauma or school refusal Find pathways for students who are disengaged or struggling in mainstream school
Victorian School Finder
Did we miss something?
Email us: marketing@berengarra.vic.edu.au
FAQs
Finding the right school
What are the different school options in Victoria for students with additional needs?
In Victoria, students with additional needs can access a range of school settings across the government, Catholic and independent sectors. These include mainstream schools with support, specialist schools, supported inclusion schools, and independent specialist settings such as Special Assistance Schools.
What is a Special Assistance School (SAS)?
Special Assistance Schools are independent schools designed for young people who are disengaged from education or whose needs are not being met in mainstream settings. They typically support students with social, emotional, behavioural or mental health needs and provide flexible, trauma-informed learning environments.
How do I find alternative or specialist schools near me in Victoria?
Families can:
- Use a school finder tool to filter by student need (autism, ADHD, anxiety, school refusal / can’t, etc.)
- Explore comparison guides across government, Catholic and independent sectors
- Use interactive maps to identify nearby specialist and alternative schools
Student needs
What school options are available for school refusal / can’t in Melbourne?
Students experiencing school refusal / can’t may benefit from specialist or alternative settings such as Special Assistance Schools or flexible learning environments. These settings provide smaller classes, wellbeing support, and flexible attendance pathways to help students re-engage with education.
What kind of school supports anxiety, trauma or emotional regulation difficulties?
Schools that support anxiety, trauma and emotional regulation typically:
- Use trauma-informed approaches
- Provide strong wellbeing and counselling support
- Offer small class sizes
- Focus on safety, relationships and gradual engagement in learning
Are there schools for students with autism or ADHD who struggle in mainstream classrooms?
Yes. Some specialist and independent schools support neurodivergent students by providing structured environments, individual learning plans, and adjustments based on functional needs rather than diagnosis alone.
Fit and suitability
Who is a specialist secondary school like Berengarra School suitable for?
A specialist secondary school like Berengarra may be suitable for students who:
- Are capable learners but not managing in mainstream settings
- Experience anxiety, school refusal, trauma or emotional distress
- Are neurodivergent (e.g. ADHD, autism)
- Need a smaller, more supportive learning environment
How does Berengarra School support students differently?
Berengarra School provides:
- Small class sizes
- Individualised, skills-based learning programs
- Trauma-informed wellbeing support
- On-site counselling at each campus
- A focus on helping students feel safe, regulated and ready to learn
Do students need a diagnosis to attend a specialist school?
Not necessarily. Students are often supported based on functional needs and the level of adjustment required, rather than diagnosis alone.
Pathways
Can students transition back to mainstream school?
Yes. Many students use specialist settings as a pathway to re-engage with learning and may transition back to mainstream education or continue into other supported pathways.
How do I know which school type is right for my child?
Choosing the right school depends on:
- The student’s primary challenges (learning, anxiety, trauma, attendance, etc.)
- The level of support required
- The type of environment where they feel safe and able to learn
Comparison guides and school finder tools can help families understand options and identify suitable pathways.
Important Information
ℹ️ General Guidance This School Finder provides general guidance only. Results may vary depending on individual circumstances, availability, and enrolment criteria.
💬 Professional Advice This tool does not replace professional advice. We recommend contacting schools directly to confirm suitability.
⚠️ Accuracy and Availability While we aim to keep information accurate and current, completeness and availability cannot be guaranteed.
Data Source
© Copyright State Government of Victoria.
School location data sourced from the Victorian Government open data portal (CC BY 4.0).
Last updated: 17 June 2026