For some young people, traditional schooling systems just don’t fit. That’s why the Brotherhood of St Laurence opened the David Scott School in Frankston, offering students a more hands-on learning approach while helping them navigate challenges beyond campus life. And on 1 April 2025, it unveiled a brand new learning centre – an evolution supporting its mission to produce confident and competent learners.

The project (in a nutshell)

Opening its doors in 2017, the David Scott School was founded by the Brotherhood of St Laurence: a not-for-profit organisation addressing the root causes of poverty.

After many years operating the David Scott School out of infrastructure that was not fit for purpose, the Brotherhood of St Laurence was keen to more permanently stitch its school into the Frankston community. To kick off this new era, the school had its sights set on a campus expansion and a learning centre – specifically tailored to the people who use it.

The process

Once we had dug into the school’s long and complicated town planning history, our first step was to absorb land formerly occupied by the St Paul’s parish manse into the existing permit. And after running a critical amendment to ensure the school’s ongoing capacity, we worked with VIA Architects to orchestrate an all-encompassing permit application for a staged development – one that would bring all the pieces together for the school’s future.

To get things moving along quickly, we ran this ‘omnibus permit’ approval via Clause 53.19 – a fast-tracked planning pathway for non-government schools. And within 4 months, the entire permit was approved.

Why we love this project

Everybody deserves an education, and it’s great to be a part of the school’s mission to support young people with complex personal circumstances. Working alongside VIA was a privilege, as the architects worked hard to understand exactly what the school’s students and teachers needed – and build a space that feels good and functions well.

This meaningful first stage of the fit-for-purpose campus is just the beginning, and we’re looking forward to the future of the David Scott School as it equips its students with tools for life.

Cover image courtesy of Brotherhood of St Laurence

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