Education and the Arts - sponsored by Department of Education and Training
This category recognises an individual or organisation that has developed, implemented and promoted innovative and inclusive programs to assist people with a disability to gain knowledge and skills.
Joint award recipients
The Glenleighden School
The Glenleighden School Head of School, Dianne DrewSince 1979 the Glenleighden School, operated by the Association for Childhood Language and Related Disorders is the only school in Australia for children with a primary language disorder.
The school aims to support children and young people with a language disorder to achieve their educational and personal potential. This involves providing the best of services in education and advocating on behalf of such students in an education, government, health and community setting.
Glenleighden prepares students, wherever possible, to return to mainstream schools. Attention is given to social education as well as to their academic and therapy needs. Support for students who have made the transition into mainstream schools is available through the association's Outreach Program.
The school's curriculum integrates multidisciplinary perspectives on intervention, including specialist teaching, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, music therapy and psychology. The programs are organised at four school levels - early childhood, junior school, middle school and senior school.
The school's multidisciplinary approach towards the education of children with speech and language disability helps develop them into self-reliant and confident members of society.
Woodridge State High School Special Education Program
Woodridge State High School representative, Rebecca SeahThe integrated and enterprising curriculum of the 60 students of Woodridge State High School's Special Education Program is preparing them for lifelong learning.
The program caters for students with intellectual impairment, speech and language impairment, autism spectrum disorder, hearing impairment and physical impairment.
Middle school students are helped to develop their general knowledge and literacy and numeracy competencies in real-life contexts. Students learn about issues relevant to their lives, including environmental sustainability, Australian government, current affairs and life choices.
Senior school students focus on identifying and developing their individual career pathways, increasing their work readiness and completing nationally recognised vocational and education and training qualifications in hairdressing and horticulture. The students have created and maintained an industry-standard hairdressing salon and a horticultural garden, both of which are self funded.
The continuity of programs between middle and senior schools has cultivated a positive work ethic and confidence among the students.
The success of the program is evidenced in the number of students who have secured full-time employment in areas such as hospitality, retail, manufacturing, and in plant nursery and landscaping roles.
Last reviewed: 01 October 2009