Address
Form of workWaratah SDS provides educational programs for approximately 70-75 students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities. Many students also have an ASD diagnosis, physical or sensory impairments or complex medical needs. The school community encompasses a wide range of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Almost 60% students come from non-English speaking backgrounds and our Student Family Occupation index is 0.69. Interpreters are used frequently to assist communication with families.
One of the goals in our strategic plan is to form effective partnerships between home and school to improve student independence. The school uses an app to communicate with families and employs a Welfare Officer one day per week to provide support to families, facilitate home school communication and assist families to access other services. Additional funding for a Cultural worker is also assisting us to build connections with our Somali families. Support is also provided to parents in the form of morning teas, parent support groups, information sessions and family social activities
Waratah SDS is located in Banksia St, Bellfield in purpose-built facilities which includes twelve classrooms; specialist areas for art, physical education, home crafts, music and therapy work spaces. The school has large grounds and the external learning areas include two in-ground trampolines, play equipment, swings, sensory areas, outdoor gym, cubby house and a kitchen garden.
The school also runs a Satellite Unit at Brunswick South West Primary School. We have two classrooms and play area which have been refurbished to meet the students¿ needs. The partnership with Brunswick SWPS is very supportive and provides many opportunities for inclusion.
The school aims to create a motivating and supportive environment that nurtures potential to learn and grow, experience success and enrich the community. We believe that the best educational outcomes are achieved through a strong school and home partnership. Our school provides a safe and secure learning environment in which challenging, stimulating and structured programs ensure that all students achieve success. We aim for all students to become as independent as possible and to achieve their best by participating in a broad range of activities within both the school and community settings. We recognize and value the individuality of our students.
A functional and integrated approach is taken to student learning with language/communication a key focus. Alongside speech we use a range of alternative and augmentative communication systems which include signing, picture symbols, photographs and voice generating devices. The Picture Exchange Communication System, core vocabulary and PODDS are used extensively throughout the school. Opportunities for communication are incorporated into all aspects of the school day.
Developing appropriate behaviour and social skills is also a priority in the school and the School Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SW-PBS) framework provides continuum of behavioural support that considers all students and emphasizes prevention.
Waratah SDS takes a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and is fully committed to ensuring that its strategies, policies, procedures and practices meet all Child Safety Standards as specified in Ministerial Order No. 870 (2015).
The objectives of the Welfare Officer position are:
· To provide flexible and individual welfare support that responds to the needs of students (with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities) and their families.
· To provide support, information, referral and advice to students and their families/advocates/carers that:
- promotes a shared partnership in learning and consistency of practice between home and school
- enhances their quality of life, community participation and wellbeing.
- provides them with knowledge of available services and funding opportunities
- assists them to link into those services as needed.
