Allied Health Update
Professional Development
Professional Development Day
During our recent Professional Development Day, staff participated in engaging hands-on sessions led by our Speech Pathologist, focusing on the use of Boardmaker and the Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) approach. These practical workshops provided staff with valuable opportunities to explore communication supports, create visual resources, and develop a deeper understanding of how AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) tools can be used to support student communication and participation. The sessions encouraged collaboration, skill development, and the sharing of strategies that will help enhance communication opportunities for students across the school.
TEACCH Training
This term, one of our Speech Pathologists attended a three-day TEACCH training workshop. TEACCH is an evidence-based approach that supports autistic individuals through structured environments, visual supports, and strategies that promote independence and engagement.
The workshop provided practical tools and strategies to enhance classroom participation, communication, learning, and self-regulation. These learnings will support our ongoing work with students and staff to create inclusive, accessible learning environments that build on each student's strengths and support meaningful participation across the school day.
Astris PME
This term, our Physiotherapy team and one of our Occupational Therapists attended the Astris PME Clinical Summit, focusing on assistive technology, mobility, and participation for people with disabilities.
Key learnings included the benefits of cycling and other mobility programs, the importance of postural support, and emerging evidence-based approaches to assistive technology and gait training. These insights will help us continue to enhance physiotherapy programs and support students to maximise their participation, independence, and engagement in school activities.
Kids Safe Training
At the end of last term, our Allied Health Team participated in Kidsafe Victoria’s Transporting Children Safely professional learning workshop. This hands-on training provided staff with practical knowledge and skills in the selection, installation, fitting and adjustment of child restraints, as well as specialised postural and behavioural support harnesses for students with additional needs.
The workshop strengthened our team’s understanding of current Victorian road safety requirements and best-practice approaches to supporting students during transport. The knowledge gained will assist staff in assessing individual student needs and implementing safe, appropriate transport solutions to support access to school, community-based learning opportunities, and other educational experiences.
Physiotherapy Update
Congratulations to Abhi, who has been successful in securing a short-term position with the Royal Children's Hospital Gait Clinic. This is an exciting professional opportunity that will allow her to further develop her expertise and gain valuable experience in a specialist clinical setting.
Abhi will be on leave from mid-June until April next year, when she will return to our school community with a wealth of new knowledge and skills to share. We are incredibly proud of her achievement and wish her all the best in this exciting next step of her professional journey.
Speech Pathology Update
This term, the Speech Pathology team has been focusing on making our school environment even more communication accessible for all students. We have been working closely with classroom teams to review learning spaces and identify ways to better support communication throughout the school day.
One exciting development has been the introduction of large communication boards in every classroom. Students have been enthusiastically exploring these boards and using them to support their communication, participation, and engagement in classroom activities. It has been wonderful to see students and staff embracing these resources, and we are already seeing growth in students' confidence to communicate, make choices, and interact with others across a range of settings.
AAC Device Reminder
Many of our students use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices to support their communication at school. To help ensure students can access their communication systems throughout the day, we kindly ask families to send devices to school fully charged each morning. If possible, we also encourage families to send in the device charger so that we can recharge devices at school if needed. Having charged and available AAC devices helps us maximise opportunities for students to communicate, learn, and connect with others throughout the school day.