Lexis English Noosa Campus has re-opened after a two-year Covid hiatus, with students arriving this week from Europe, Latin America and Asia.
“It has been a very challenging couple of years, but we always planned on having our Noosa campus up and running again,” Lexis English managing director Ian Pratt said.
“A lack of suitable space in the Junction slowed us a little in the re-opening, but with very generous support from Michael Tozer of the Noosa Junction Association and Paul Butler from Ray White, we managed to secure a wonderful new building on Sunshine Beach Road.“
International students play a key role in the Noosa economy, bringing in substantial export income and at the same time providing a key source of workers for the region’s hospitality industry.
“We’ve had lots of contact with business owners in the Junction and on Hastings Street who have been eagerly waiting for the return of students. I hope we can now start seeing our students helping to support local industry again, on both sides of the counter,” Mr Pratt said.
“We are in the process of registering a range of new courses through our vocational training arm at the moment, with a focus on providing training for the Noosa hospitality sector. I hope that by the end of the year we’ll have courses in place in Noosa for both local and international students across Hospitality Management and Commercial Cookery.“
International students at Lexis study courses that range in length from two weeks to more than two years.
Mr Pratt said Noosa was a popular destination for students, who were attracted to the lifestyle and sense of community they find there. He expects the school to return to its pre-Covid capacity of around 300 students over coming months.
“Although the number of students coming to Noosa is obviously dwarfed by those going to the major cities, those who come are keen to connect with the local community in what they see as the real Australia,” campus manager Chris Orvis said.
“I like to think that international students are the kinds of tourists that Noosa needs – fairly invisible, high-yielding and here because they feel that they’ve found something unique and special. The community connection through our homestay program is especially rewarding,“ he said.
Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said Noosa Council’s Development Assessment team helped prioritise necessary development approvals for its new Noosa Junction site, given the significant benefit this college provides to the community.
“It has certainly been a challenging period for many Noosa-based businesses so it’s wonderful to see this important operation is welcoming back international students,” she said.
Mr Pratt said it was very nice to be home again.
“As we’ve grown over the years we’ve expanded out of the shire to locations around Australia and internationally, but Noosa remains very much a part of our corporate DNA,“ he said.
Lexis English was established as Sunshine Coast English College in Noosa in 2004. Lexis English now operates campuses in Noosa, Maroochydore, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Perth and Sydney, with off-shore operations in Japan and Korea.
