Special School Teacher Aide

Location Profile

Waratah SDS provides educational programs for approximately 80 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 two days per week to provide support to families, facilitate home school communication and assist families to access other services.  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. A master plan for the external environment has been created and these spaces will continue to be developed as funding becomes available.  A partnership with Farm Raiser has resulted in a fully operational market garden b…