Western Autistic School

Western Autistic School, Laverton, Australia, is an educational organisation for students who have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which was established in 1979 in a church hall with six pupils.[1][2] In 2014 it has 320 pupils.[3] The school caters for students up to grade 3.[4][5]

Western Autistic School
Location
Laverton
,
Victoria

Australia
Information
TypeSpecial school
Established1979
PrincipalMary Thomson
Gradesprep-3
Colour(s)Green and white
Websitehttp://www.westernautisticschool.vic.edu.au

It has two campuses, the main campus at Laverton with 200+ students and the original school at Niddrie with 100+ students. It also has a full-time adolescent program called Wattle at the Autism Training Institute in Flemington. Its second campus was previously based in the former Deer Park Primary School site on the corner of Station and Ballarat Roads in Deer Park, however that closed upon moving to their main campus in Laverton.

The long serving and now retired principal Val Gill, won the Outstanding School Leadership Award of the Victorian Education Excellence Awards, and received a Public Service Medal as a Queen's Birthday Honour in 2007.[4][6] Gill was a vocal opponent to the creation of an autism P-12 school for Western Melbourne despite it being revealed in the Autism Education Provisions Review that approximately half the students from WAS transition to Special Education Schools.

The new purpose built school in Laverton with a swimming pool, was completed in late 2010, and opened on 9 November 2011.[7][8]

Between 1994 and 2015, the school ran an adolescent program called the Baseroom out of a room at Essendon Keilor College's Niddrie campus. It was closed down in 2015 due to budget cuts.[9] The Baseroom allowed students to attended EKC as usual, in full EKC uniform, while using the Baseroom at lunch breaks. The school also ran an adolescent art and music program for some years, which too was axed in 2015.

References
  1. Gill, Val (30 January 2005). Challenges Faced by Teachers Working with Students with Asperger Syndrome. Learning And Behavior Problems In Asperger Syndrome by Margot Prior. Guilford Press. ISBN 9781593850777. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  2. "Issue 3 – Western Autistic School, Victoria". Making Every School a great School Ezine. Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Commonwealth of Australia. November 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  3. "Western Autistic School - School Number 5290" (PDF). 2010 Annual Report to the School Community. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Victoria. February 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  4. Twining, James (1 March 2012). "MP Bernie Finn calls for autistic school's principal to be sacked". Hobsons Bay Leader. News Community Media. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  5. Topsfield, Jewel (12 March 2012). "Reading, writing and politics". The Age - National. Faifax Media. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  6. Williams, Kristen (12 June 2007). "Recognition". Star. Star News Group. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  7. "New school facilities to boost learning at Western Autistic School". Press Office - Media Release. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Commonwealth of Australia. 9 November 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  8. "Western Autistic School". Projects. Hede Architects. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  9. "Students with autism at Essendon Keilor College to lose specialised support as Western Autistic School program cut". Moonee Valley Leader. 27 October 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2015.


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