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Aspect South Coast School is a thriving learning community of students, parents, teachers, teacher aides, learning support team and school administration staff who are committed to providing a rich, challenging and rewarding education that is specifically designed for children who are on the Autism Spectrum.
At Aspect South Coast School, we believe that every child can achieve when given the right support, educational environment and time. With this belief, the school’s staff place a high value on literacy and numeracy as the building blocks for learning and success across the curriculum, and upon providing opportunities for our students to prepare them for life at, and beyond school. We are committed to meeting the needs of children on the autism spectrum and supporting their families.
In many cases, over time, students build their life and educational skills and are able to transition from their Aspect class to their local school or a similar “mainstream” class (this could also be a support unit within the Department of Education). This arrangement gives students the opportunity to transition into a mainstream environment while maintaining small class sizes and additional autism-specific learning support to guide the students along their educational journey. Having learnt many valuable lessons from the online learning environment of recent years, teachers and students at Aspect South Coast School continue to explore and implement new technologies to develop students learning capacity across all Key Learning Areas. We aim to develop the strengths and interests of each student through understanding and implementing the Aspect Comprehensive Approach, and the development of each student’s Individual Plan using the Aspect Five Point Star, which focuses on each student’s individual likes, preferences and strengths. In doing so, we get to know each child deeply, sharing and celebrating their successes with you along their educational journey.
I am proud to be the
Principal of Aspect South Coast School; a caring and thriving learning
community where we see each child as “a different brilliant!”.
Rowena Perritt
Principal, Aspect South Coast School
Aspect South Coast School offers a range of services to support children on the autism spectrum and their families. It currently caters for approximately 113 students who are supported by a highly dedicated and knowledgeable staff.
Aspect South Coast School has provided specialised autism education programs and services for over 32 years in Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven. Our school operates from a main site at Corrimal which consists of an administration office and five lower primary classes. The school also has satellite classes which are Aspect run and operated. They are located within the NSW Department of Education Schools based in Barrack Heights and North Wollongong, in NSW Catholic Education Schools based in Albion Park and Unanderra and an Independent school in Farmborough Heights.
Our specialised education program uses the Aspect Comprehensive Approach (ACA) to provide individualised programs that understand, engage and celebrate strengths, interests and aspirations of people on the autism spectrum. Class programs are delivered and supported by a team of teaching and non-teaching staff who continuously improve their knowledge and practice through ongoing professional learning and collaboration with colleagues.
Aspect South Coast School is a Language Acquisition through Motor Planning (LAMP) model classroom school. We have approximately 50 students who are using the LAMP device to assist with more effective communicative interactions. Our school is assisted by a team of Aspect LAMP specialists.
We pride ourselves on working collaboratively with families and work together to promote the potential in each of our students. We also provide support to our families through informal meetings such as “Coffee Mornings”, Grandparents coffee mornings and Dad’s Nights. All families with a child on the autism spectrum are most welcome to attend these sessions.
Aspect South Coast School has an active Parents and Friends (P&F) Association which meets on the last Wednesday of each month and organises events and fundraising opportunities throughout the year.
Learn more about the process of enrolling in Aspect Schools, and our fees below
Enrolment Information Sessions are held regularly throughout the year. The Information Session is for families who want to know more about our education program and the enrolment process. For the schedule of information sessions, please contact the school on:
Brochure
Our South Coast school has undergone an extensive renovation under the Aspect’s Capital Works Master Plan, Investing in Our Future. The scope of works for the refurbishment included the addition of two new classrooms, a library, a sensory room, and a new school hall to allow for indoor recreation activities. All classrooms have undergone a complete refurbishment incorporating autism-specific design improvements to support sensory requirements for our students. The school also has a newly landscaped outdoor play area with new play equipment.
Aspect South Coast School now boasts a total of 7 classrooms (up from 4 classrooms) and is able to accommodate approximately 42 students on the autism spectrum from kindergarten to Year 6. For all enrolment enquiries contact us at:
Tel: 02 4285 2393 Email: southcoast@autismspectrum.org.au
In other exciting news, we have entered into a Partnership with the University of Wollongong (UoW) which allows us to host additional classrooms at the campus. UoW campus hosts two K-2 classes. In 2024 we will be opening two Secondary classrooms to meet the increasing need for high school options in the area.
