When School Feels Too Hard: Finding Another Way
Gentle online support that combines mentoring, passion projects, and individual interests to help children reconnect with learning and build confidence.
I’m Cristina, the founder of Think Bright Education. I support children and young people who are experiencing school refusal, school can’t, or anxiety about school. Many of these children feel overwhelmed by the demands of a classroom and parents can feel stuck, not knowing what to do next.
I am not a psychologist or social worker. Instead, I am a trusted adult and mentor with over 15 years of teaching experience in leading Australian schools, as well as lived experience as a step-parent to neurodivergent children who have faced school refusal. I understand how stressful and uncertain this can be for families.
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My work is about building trust and rapport with young people and gently uncovering the stressors and barriers that make school attendance so difficult. This is not a long-term replacement for school, but short-term, flexible support that helps during the transition period — giving parents breathing space and children a chance to re-engage with learning and confidence without pressure.
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Sessions look very different from mainstream classrooms. They are interactive, creative, and often include activities, weekly routines, and even exercise. Sometimes my dog joins in too, which the kids love. One of the most powerful tools I use is passion projects. Whether it’s starting a small business idea, building a website together, exploring a hobby, or diving into a topic they love, these projects spark ownership, joy, and purpose. Many young people who felt disconnected from school have rediscovered their passion for learning through this approach, and it has been a privilege to support that transformation.
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My role is to walk alongside young people as a mentor, helping them feel capable and purposeful again, while parents remain in charge of school decisions. By combining connection, mentoring, and interest-based learning, I provide a bridge of support in those difficult times when school feels impossible and families are searching for a way forward.
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Testimonials
"Bright Education has been a game changer for us. My ‘school can’t’ daughter has really struggled with her mental health, but Cristina’s daily sessions have helped re-establish a routine and reignited her interest in learning. Working on a passion project she loves has given her joy again — and it’s given me a much-needed break."
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Parent of a Year 7 female navigating school can’t
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"Our son, had been refusing school and eventually stopped going completely for a whole term. This was very hard to say the least. Just keeping him occupied during the days was very stressful. However, Cristina joined our “team” with immediate effect.
She brought a vibrancy to his days. A focus which he didn’t have despite our best efforts. Cristina’s gently approach allowed our son to start exercising his mind again. She was able to beautifully direct him towards areas of interest to him and to build on his strengths which no doubt built his capacity and in turn awoke his desire to be back in a classroom setting.
Her very personalised approach meant our son felt very seen and heard and they would have wonderful banter and laughs and this just continued to feed his recovery so to speak.
We were really taken by the amount of approaches Cristina came up with, the flexibility of these approaches too if they were not quite getting anywhere and the ease of learning through a screen. She very quickly built a strong rapport even though she was a thousand miles away. Quite extraordinary.
Our son is now attending school again, however we still check-in with Cristina and organised sessions as we see the benefits of this very special on-going connection."
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Parent of a Year 5 neurodivergent male student experiencing school avoidance and transitioning to a new school
School Refusal Sessions & Pricing
Ongoing Support Packages for Flexible and Transitional Learning
We offer flexible learning options to suit your child’s learning needs and your family’s schedule
Steady Starter Package
Best for families who are new to homeschooling and online support.
2 × 60-minute personalised sessions per week
Gentle introduction to structured learning
Weekly check-in summary with suggested follow-up activities
1 session a week $100
2 sessions a week $95​
Loyal Learner Package
Perfect for families looking for consistent, tailored support across multiple subjects or learning goals.
3 × 60-minute personalised sessions per week
Customised weekly learning plan aligned to your child’s goals
Passion project support and integration
Email and message support between sessions
3 sessions a week $90
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Custom Support Package
Need something different? Let’s build a plan that works for your family.
Whether you’re travelling, easing into school, or juggling a unique schedule, we’ll tailor a learning and mentoring package that suits your child’s needs and your lifestyle.
Get in touch to design a flexible, personalised solution.
5 + sessions a week $80​
Get in Touch to Learn More
​​Interested in our Weekly Support Packages or Session Packs?​
We would love to help you create a flexible learning plan that fits your family’s needs. Get in touch today to explore how we can support your child’s learning through personalised, consistent online teaching, tutoring and support.​
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