Montessori International College was honoured to welcome Queensland Minister for Education, John-Paul Langbroek, and Member for Ninderry, Dan Purdie, to our campus as part of a visit exploring alternative education approaches across the Sunshine Coast.
The visit comes at a significant moment in education. A recent Courier Mail article highlighted that enrolments in Montessori and Steiner schools across Queensland have grown by 12.8% in recent years, reflecting a clear shift as more families seek learning environments that are more flexible, inclusive, and responsive to individual needs.
As Montessori Australia Director Mark Powell noted in the article, this growing interest is being driven in part by concerns about “more and more rigidity in traditional education,” alongside a desire for approaches that better support each child’s unique development.
This sentiment is echoed by families themselves. As one parent shared, “it makes logical sense for a child to be able to move at a pace that suits them”—a principle that sits at the heart of Montessori education.
The Minister’s visit to MIC followed earlier discussions with Montessori Australia about the importance of educational choice and the role alternative models can play within the broader system. As part of his visit to the region, he spent time at both Montessori and Steiner schools, gaining firsthand insight into these approaches in action.
During his time at MIC, the Minister engaged with students and educators across the campus, observing classrooms and experiencing the rich, purposeful learning environments that define a Montessori education. From our youngest learners through to our adolescent students, the visit provided an opportunity to demonstrate how independence, curiosity, and responsibility are nurtured at every stage.
Importantly, the visit also reflects a broader recognition that no single model of education meets the needs of every child. As highlighted in the Courier Mail article, educators and researchers alike point to the importance of offering diverse, values-based pathways that support both academic growth and emotional wellbeing.
At MIC, we see this every day – students who are empowered to take ownership of their learning, develop confidence in their abilities, and engage meaningfully with the world around them.
We are grateful to the Minister and his team for their time, openness, and genuine engagement with our community. We also acknowledge Montessori Australia for their continued advocacy in supporting greater awareness and access to Montessori education across Australia.
As the conversation around education continues to evolve, we are encouraged to see growing recognition of the importance of choice, diversity, and child-centred learning in shaping the future of education.
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