Sept 12, 2024, The Educator: New autism-specific school to open in Sydney
A new autism-specific school in Sydney will open its doors in January 2025, offering state-of-the-art facilities and support tailored learning for more than 70 autistic students.
Australian Bureau of Statistics census data shows more than 675,000 people live with autism, and this number has been rising significantly in Australia.
According to a 2023 paper from an Australian National University scholar, estimates of autism prevalence in Australia are some of the highest in the world and have grown faster than the global average.
Despite this increase, experts say much-needed support is lacking.
Professor Andrew Whitehouse, the head of the autism research team at the Telethon Kids Institute and the University of Western Australia said development among children with disabilities is “plateauing if not going backwards”.
“It’s beyond time to take a serious look at how we can support schools to support kids and their families to thrive,” Professor Whitehouse told The Guardian. . . .
Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia) supports people on the spectrum and their families by providing information, education and a variety of services aimed at meeting the specific needs of each individual.
In Term 1 2025, Aspect plans to open its tenth autism-specific school in the Hills Shire, NSW. Aspect Hills Shire School will cater for 72 students on the autism spectrum from Kindergarten to Year 6, helping meet a growing demand for special needs students amid Western Sydney’s population boom.
According to state government data, Western Sydney comprises over a quarter of the NSW population, making it one of the state’s most rapidly expanding regions. Coupled with Aspect's updated estimate that more than 1 in 40 Australians are Autistic, this growth is driving a significant increase in demand for specialised services, including education. . . .
The new school will feature 12 purpose-built, autism-friendly classrooms, a multi-purpose hall, a covered outdoor activity area with sensory-friendly facilities, state of the art computer facilities for students, and a fully outfitted kitchen to teach students practical life skills alongside a brand new library.
Gosling said Aspect schools specifically cater for Autistic students, with targeted early intervention, provision of highly specialised learning pedagogies, small class sizes, purposeful designs and dedicated resources. . . .
“In fact, Aspect is currently implementing a pioneering new initiative – the Aspect Learning Improvement Collaborative [ALIC] - in conjunction with global education leader, Dr Lyn Sharratt, where her renowned mainstream learning framework is being adapted to our autism-specific education environment.”
Gosling said Aspect also maintains small class sizes to ensure a personalised and high-quality teaching environment, which appeals to dedicated educators.
“Our teaching teams, including teacher aides in every classroom, work together towards a shared goal of student-centred learning, and this collaborative approach fosters a supportive workplace culture and sense of community among all staff members and the families and students we support.”
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