Department of Education - Victoria

Warragul and District Specialist School is situated in the regional town of Warragul in West Gippsland, an hour and a half east of Melbourne. The school commenced the 2025 year with approximately 125 students aged between 5 and 18 years.  All students at the school have an intellectual disability with a large percentage having multiple disabilities including Autism, sensory and physical impairments and associated conditions.  Students travel to the school from a broad geographic area, including Drouin, Neerim District, Yannathan / Poowong, and Trafalgar.

At Warragul and District Specialist School we believe that all students can and will learn, and grow in self-esteem, through fostering a climate of care, dignity and respect, using deliberate positive reinforcement, and recognition of achievement. The school promotes a curriculum that develops skills that its graduates will utilize as adults.  We believe that graduates should be actively involved in work/further education, participate in managing their own homes, and are active participants in their own local community.

The whole school commitment to build teacher capacity and improve student learning outcomes is reflected in the key improvement strategies in the schools Strategic Plan which are:

• To maximise student learning growth.
• To improve student voice and agency.
• To improve the personal and social responsibilities of students.

In 2018 the school reviewed its values in line with the School Wide Positive Behavior Supports initiative. All components of the school community were consulted coming up with 3 values.

The school's School Wide Positive Behaviour Support Values are:

· Be a Learner

· Be Safe

· Be Respectful

These values are strongly embedded into the school community and provide a framework from which the school community monitor's expectations and norms across school programs, activities and events.

Our school currently has achieved a Schoolwide Positive Behaviour Supports (SW-PBS) bronze award status.

At Warragul & District Specialist School we believe in in the principles behind our school motto, "Celebrating Difference". Acknowledging and celebrating individual difference in all students and members of the school community.

 

 

SC1    Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum, including the capacity to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated capacity to respond to student learning needs.

SC2    Demonstrated capacity to implement high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluate the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth. 

SC3    Demonstrated capacity to monitor and assess student learning. Demonstrated capacity to use data to inform teaching practice and to provide feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4    Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, wellbeing and engagement.    

SC5    Demonstrated behaviours and attitudes consistent with Department values. Demonstrated capacity to reflect upon practice and engage in professional learning to continually improve the quality of teaching.