Social Worker

Warragul and District Specialist School is situated in the regional town of Warragul in West Gippsland, an hour and a half east of Melbourne. The school commenced the year with approximately 126 students aged between 5 and 18 years.  All students at the school have an intellectual disability with a large percentage having multiple disabilities including Autism, sensory and physical impairments and associated conditions.  Students travel to the school from a broad geographic area, including Drouin, Neerim District, Yannathan/Poowong, and Trafalgar.

At Warragul and District Specialist School we believe that all students can and will learn, and grow in self-esteem, through fostering a climate of care, dignity and respect, using consistent behaviour management strategies, deliberate positive reinforcement, and recognition of achievement. The school promotes a curriculum that develops skills that its graduates will utilize as adults.  We believe that graduates should be actively involved in work/further education, participate in managing their own homes, and are active participants in their own local community.

The whole school commitment to build teacher capacity and improve student learning outcomes is reflected in the key improvement strategies in the school¿s Strategic Plan which are:

• To improve student outcomes in Literacy and Numeracy.
• To improve student confidence and self-esteem across the school.
• To improve the readiness of students for post school life.
• To effectively manage school resources to cater for increasing enrolments and a diverse student population.

In 2018 the school reviewed its values in line with the School wide Positive Behaviour Supports initiative. All components of the school community were consulted coming up with 3 values.

• Be a Learner
• Be Safe
• Be Respectful

These values are strongly embedded into the school community and provide a framework from which the school community will continue to monitor expectations and norms across school programs, activities and events.

The school currently has achieved a Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Supports (SW-PBS) bronze award status

At Warragul & District Specialist School we believe in in the principles behind our school motto, "Celebrating Difference". Acknowledging and celebrating individual difference in all students and members of the school community