When high school student Amaliya’s family based themselves overseas to manage business and work opportunities, they faced a significant challenge in relation to Amaliya completing her schooling in a foreign country. They needed to find a schooling option that best suited the Year 10 student’s needs.
For families like Amaliya’s, living outside Melbourne and accessing a world-class education which offers a broad range of VCE subject choices can be difficult. For Amaliya, now in Year 12, Haileybury Pangea online school provided the ideal solution. The flexible study options at the School have enabled her to continue to thrive in her senior school studies.
Amaliya completed Year 11 at Haileybury Pangea in 2025. At the time, her family had moved to Sri Lanka to support their international IT business, and later relocated to Johor, Malaysia, where they are currently based.
Haileybury Pangea currently accepts enrolments from students with residential addresses in Victoria and the Northern Territory. Although travelling and residing overseas, Amaliya’s family was able to meet this requirement.
This year, Amaliya is studying five VCE subjects: English, General Mathematics, Business Management, Biology and Psychology, after completing VCE Units 3 and 4 Legal Studies in 2025. She is loving the unique advantages and flexibility of online learning.
With a subject timetable that has a blend of live, small-group classes and self-paced learning, Haileybury Pangea has given Amaliya an independence she is very much enjoying, while also providing her with structured learning and individualised support. She appreciates the advantage of reaching out to her teachers for one-on-one support, if required, while also accessing a variety of learning resources on demand.
“I love the flexibility of being able to travel around the world while still completing my schoolwork”Amaliya
“This is a great advantage that Haileybury Pangea provides for me and other students with global commitments.”
Amaliya found transitioning from a traditional school to online learning was surprisingly straightforward. “It was very easy because I value learning at my own pace and in my own space, without the noise and distractions,” she explains.
However, she has found attending an Australian school from an overseas location does pose challenges with routines and time zones. “In Sri Lanka, I was five and a half hours behind, but Malaysia gives me a two-and-a-half-hour advantage with sleep,” she explains.
Amaliya has learnt to balance the time zone challenge and manage her studies by making the most of the flexibility offered by online classes. “The time saved not dressing to prepare for school, or travelling, allows me to take breaks but focus on my work more systematically,” she explains.
Haileybury Pangea’s Head of House and Senior School, Natasha Eshuis, says “It’s been fantastic to watch the strong relationships Amaliya has built with both staff and fellow students, creating real connection and a sense of belonging no matter where she is learning from.”
Natasha also observes that the wider student community also benefit from the diverse student experiences made possible by the School’s online model. “The flexibility of the self-paced model means Amaliya can fully enjoy the countries she is visiting, then jump back online and eagerly share her experiences with us, enriching our community along the way.”
Amaliya’s favourite subjects are Biology and Business Studies. “I enjoy Biology because it helps me understand how life works, and I enjoy Business because it connects to real-world problems and opportunities,” she shares.
Looking ahead, Amaliya is interested in exploring careers related to e-commerce and digital platforms, with a focus on how technology can be used responsibly to help people.
For parents Liz and Kutila, Haileybury Pangea’s approach to flexible, online education stood out when researching school options. “After reading reviews and reading the approach that Haileybury is having for students seeking an online education, we decided Haileybury Pangea is the best option,” they say.
The family highlights the quality of teachers, access to support materials, and thorough exam preparation as top benefits of the School. “Amaliya enjoys independence, that is what she gets through online education,” they add.
Liz and Kutila say it is important for travelling families to allow their children time to adjust to online education. “Provide space mentally for the child to adjust to the online education environment. The rhythm takes time. Be there for them, but not always behind them,” is their advice.
