Educational research about the middle years has identified Year 9 as an important year for students to experience personal growth within an integrated curriculum. At this stage students face an enormous amount of personal change, encountering the world as emerging young adults. Formal schooling at this point does not easily provide a holistic, supportive environment to help students address the range of issues with which they are confronted; thus the need for an innovative year of discovery and growth.

The Year 9 Expanding Horizons Program is designed to encourage active and responsible citizenship, provide students with an exciting and engaging curriculum, build up their independence, confidence and resilience, develop life skills and encourage them to work outside their comfort zones.

During Term 1 students attend a camp of approximately three weeks duration where they participate in a range of challenging activities includingl overnight hikes, day walks, canoeing, abseiling and environmental education sessions. The Rural Community Project is also an integral part of the camp program. While a camp students carry out research for this project and visit a variety of rural communities to assist in this.During Term 2, 3 and 4 for an afternoon a week they are engaged in activities related to the themes, Community Service, Mind and Body, City Investigation, Bonding with nature and the City Project, The program allows students the opportunity to guide their own learning, to undertake independent research directly from their environment, to justify their decision making and brainstorm ideas while developing individual independence and group interdependence.

The Year 9 Expanding Horizons Program runs concurrently with core and elective curricula and offers students a series of challenging projects that require them to develop a range of skills to prepare them for life beyond school and to enhance their ability to make informed, responsible, adult decisions.