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Mornings are devoted to English, maths and computer studies with lessons strictly geared towards getting students through their School Certificate exams ­– an achievable and meaningful goal. Volunteer teachers come in to conduct science and Australian history lessons, and the kids do art, drama and life skills. However, the day is often interrupted to manage legal issues such as reporting to police or social workers, attending counselling sessions or visiting the dentist.

The youngest pupil Key College takes is 14 and it‘s not unusual for students to be totally bereft of literacy skills. “I have a theory that if kids are having problems at home when they’re very little, they don’t do much learning,” Min says. “Why would they be switched on to lessons when they’ve got so much else going on? When they get to Year Seven and move out of that close-knit primary school environment, things disintegrate further, and that’s when real problems start.” For an example of ‘problems at home’, consider the case of another former pupil who told Min her childhood memories consisted of packing  her few possessions in a plastic bag and catching a train with her mum to yet another refuge. That continued until the day her mum disappeared.

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Eventually, the girl and her siblings were placed into care. Today that girl is a mother herself. “She looks after her children very nicely. I think she’s doing pretty well,” says Min.

Recognising that poor parenting is a behaviour Key College students experience and are likely to repeat, Min introduced a parenting program into the syllabus. The kids can be hard to engage at the best of times, so the course starts with them going into the courtyard and smashing a plate, then trying to mend it. “That demonstrates how easy it is to break relationships down and how hard it is to put them back together,” Min explains. Other initiatives include Service Learning – a form of volunteer charity work. “Living on the streets, they have to look after ‘number one’; it’s important they learn to look after others,” Min explains.

They are undoubtedly lucky to have her, but Min considers herself equally blessed. She once took two kids out for a meal and they were so astonished at being given their first ever steak, they insisted on having their photo taken to prove it really happened. “You’ve got to keep building up their self esteem. These kids have no-one to exclaim over their achievements,” she says. Well, almost no-one. Min keeps in touch with students, even after they leave. “What’s the point of going home and doing my housework?” she says. “It’s far better to drive around town and do a few visits.”

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