Culture & Inclusion

Head of Special Education Services

 Respecting people with disability

Our words shape attitudes, and using thoughtful language fosters dignity, equity, and belonging in our school communities.

In Australia, 4.4 million people live with disability, but the stories told about these people in the media often don’t reflect the reality of their lives. Words like “victim” or “sufferer” suggest that they are unhappy or should be pitied, which is not true. People with disability live meaningful lives — they work, have families, and contribute to our communities just like anyone else.  They are proud of who they are and deserve to be spoken about with respect.

People with a disability want to be described in ways that are fair and accurate. For example, instead of saying “confined to a wheelchair,” it is more respectful to say “uses a wheelchair.” Instead of saying “the disabled,” it is better to say “people with disability.” And instead of saying “suffers from autism,” it is respectful to say “is autistic” or “has autism,” depending on how the person identifies. Using the right words shows respect and helps break down harmful stereotypes.

For guidance on person-first, identity-first, and community language, as well as examples of strength-based communication, we encourage you to explore the following resource:

People with Disability Australia Language Guide: A Guide to language about disability

NDIS Support

Are you having difficulty navigating the NDIS journey?  If so, help is available.  

Please see details below.

Cultural Committee

Have you seen our new First Nations shirts?

This term, we proudly received our beautiful new shirts featuring the stunning artwork created by the children last year with Aunty Cheryl. Our staff wear them with pride, celebrating culture, creativity, and connection. Keep an eye out for us.