Gumma Place independent specialist school is an initiative of ShoreTrack, which was founded in 2020 by Jill Ashley and Paul (Fatty) Ireland. They both had a strong and active presence in the community and it was clear to them there was a gap that the system was failing to fill, which was mainly affecting disadvantaged, disengaged, high risk and vulnerable young people and their engagement in traditional learning environments and their community. 

The organisation started with small steps, with Jill and Fatty volunteering for a year, securing the support of their community, and skilled staff and assets they knew were needed to make their operation a success and began working with a small group of young people who were at risk of, or already disengaged from local high schools.

Today, ShoreTrack is a recognised as providing the wrap around support and quality skills development training body needed by disadvantaged school aged students in the valley to reengage them in learning and or pathway into entry level employment.

ShoreTrack is developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to deepen our commitment to fostering respectful and meaningful relationships with First Nations communities.
Read ShoreTrack’s RAP here.

ShoreTrack is fully certified with Social Traders – a leading industry body which has been building a thriving social enterprise sector in Australia since 2008.

Through their partnership with SECNA, the Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT, ShoreTrack is a Verified Social Enterprise with People and Planet First, stewarded by the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF).

ShoreTrack is a member of the AAIFIE Australian Association for Flexible and Inclusive Education which amplifies young people’s fundamental rights to education, so they may learn and succeed.