Teachers Assistant

Western Autistic School provides an intensive teaching program for students with autism, in their early years of schooling. Our philosophy is to place the child at the centre of their learning and work collaboratively with the families of our students, to provide a strengths-based, student-centred education for all students who attend our school. Over 1-4 years our students develop critical foundational skills, that build a sense of self, others and the world around them, alongside working towards the Victorian Curriculum Standards. Throughout their journey the Student Support Group (SSG) develop a clear vision for the pathway of the student into a more integrated setting.

School Values

Our school demonstrates commitment to the following values:

- Diversity

- Respect

- Learning as an ongoing process

- Sharing and growth of knowledge

- Collaboration

School Profile

The Western Autistic School is a large, vibrant and unique school in the western suburbs of Melbourne. We offer an early years program for 300+ young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Prep to Grades 3.

Our school caters to students in grades Prep- Grade 3, and synthesises an evidence base drawn from the Victorian Curriculum, Victorian Early Years Developmental Framework and contemporary research from the fields of autism and inclusive education to develop Individual Learning Programs for each student.

Key features of our program include:

• The individual child is the focus of our teaching.
• Each child is provided with an individual learning plan, in consultation between parents and staff.
• Foundation skills in social communication, emotional intelligence, and language are an emphasis alongside academic skills.
• Small classes of 8 students – with two teachers and an aide.
• School-wide support by expert therapists and a psychologist.
• Individualised transition program for children to move on to their local neighbourhood school.
• Ongoing outreach supports.

As part of our school’s mission, WAS is actively involved in research and training. It has a registered training provider The Autism Teaching Institute (ATI) which provides post graduate qualifications to educators working with students with ASD.

Further information about WAS and its branches is available at: