Small Scarborough school inspires big dreams

As the host of our coast’s famous Art Show each October, Scarborough Public School is the natural home of budding creatives. But this tiny school perched on a clifftop overlooking the sea is also nurturing scientists, fashion designers and sports stars.

“The future is bright at Scarborough,” principal Emma Hutchinson said.

“We look to do things differently here, and we really look for opportunities for kids to get excited about the future.”

The school’s Careers Expo, held on Wednesday, 5 August as part of Public Education Week, provided plenty of inspiration for young minds. 

Fire and Rescue staff from Scarborough’s Station 442 brought their fire truck, NSW Police introduced children to Murray the sniffer dog, and volunteer surf lifesavers set up games on the lawn. Bakers iced cakes in the school kitchen as treats for visitors, while over at a stall by the Royal National Park Environmental Education Centre, aspiring rangers and biologists were captivated by displays of insects, tadpoles and stuffed animals. 

Skip, in Year 6, said he wanted to be an entomologist.

“Ever since I was little, I’ve always admired bugs because they’re really cool,” he said. “Most people think that they’re disgusting and gross, but I think of them that they’re so cool and cute and lovely, and they make make up most of our Earth’s ecosystem, 50%, I’m pretty sure.”

Year 4 student Alice said: “I would like to be a baker or a cruise chef. Because I’m just really interested in making stuff and cooking.”

Her friend Zaeli said: “I either want to be a professional netball player, or I want to be a baker as well.”

Jesse, in year 5 at Austinmer Public School, said his favourite activity was making an electric toy car with Electrify 2515 volunteers. “I liked attaching the motors and gears and seeing how that makes the car move,” Jesse said.

Following in the footsteps of Rewiring Australia's Dr Saul Griffith is Jesse's dream. “He’s one of my family friends and he just really inspired me to become an electrical engineer, because I saw how amazing and cool his job was.”

It’s the second year that Scarborough Public School has hosted a Careers Expo and Emma Hutchinson said it has proved a wonderful way of broadening horizons.

“It’s been a huge success. The kids are smiling. They’re excited. They’re asking questions. So for us, that’s definitely a win.”

Visions of dreams jobs will now be fed back into the classroom. “It’s up to us as teachers to guide them on how to get there."

At the end of the day, everyone shared a firm favourite. 

“It’s the Mounted Police,” Emma said. 

“I definitely am living my dream career. I think I’ve got the best job in the world, but if I did have to career pivot, it would probably be the Mounted Police.”

Enrolments welcome

Scarborough has 51 students and would welcome more.

A teaching principal, Emma said attending a small school has several advantages. “Firstly, the culture and the wellbeing focus – we really do know every single student here. Learning opportunity – it really is an environment for high challenge and high support with our smaller class sizes. And then, you can’t go past our unique setting.”

Spring's Scarborough Art Show is a great time to visit. Students will exhibit their work as part of the ArtSpark program and the main exhibition regularly features top Illawarra artists, such as Tanya Stubbles, Ashley Frost and Christine Hill.

The Art Show will return for its 28th year on 10 and 11 October 2026. Open: 10am-5pm on the Saturday and 10am-3pm on the Sunday. Admission: $5 adults/$3 concession. Children under 13 enter free. Visit the show's website for more information.

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