Our Integrated Services Team comprises Allied Health staff, Wellbeing staff, and Learning Specialists. We provide a holistic, tiered system of support to maximize student learning and engagement.
Tier 3: Individualized, intensive interventions are for students who need ongoing support.
Tier 2: Targeted, supplemented supports through small group programming and adapted timetabling
Tier 1: Whole school programming supports integrated into the curriculum and classroom.
Allied Health supports include:
- Speech Pathology
- Occupational Therapy
- Exercise Physiology
- Physiotherapy
- Allied Health Assistance
Wellbeing supports address areas including:
- Out of Home Care
- Attendance improvement
- Linkage to external services
- Child safety
- Mental health intervention
Learning Specialist supports include:
- A-C Victorian Curriculum consultation
- D & Above Victorian Curriculum consultation
- Wellbeing & Engagement Curriculum consultation
As per the tiered intervention system, integrated services are accessed through professional learning and capacity building, whole-school environmental supports, small group interventions, and direct 1:1 support. Student needs are identified through assessment and observation, and there are multiple referral pathways both internally and externally.
Wellbeing for Learning (other supports):
State School’s Relief: SSR provides government school students with new uniforms, footwear, and educational resources, including learning devices. SSR works with all Victorian primary, secondary, specialist, and language schools to ensure that any students facing hardship have the necessary items they require for school.
Breakfast club/In-School Food Relief: providing fruit, snacks, and lunches for students when families are experiencing hardship.
Cultural Awareness & Support: This program links Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families with local community support. In-school programs include the Burron Guli group and the Nallei Jerring Koori Leadership Program. We proudly implement our Marrung Education Plan and work closely with our Koorie Education Support Officer.
Health and Wellbeing Promotion Days: To promote mental health and wellbeing and have fun participating in activities and spreading awareness.
Our Wellbeing for Learning program is data-driven and constantly evolving in response to changing student needs. Other programs include Posisocks, Dynamic Active Safe & Healthy Program (DASH), Zones of Regulation, Learn to Play program, PRIDE group, School-Wide Positive Behaviour Intervention & Supports (SWPBIS), Respectful Relationships, Healthy Habits and Peaceful Kids.
NDIS:
Many of our families access external therapeutic support through their NDIS plan. Some students access this therapy on-site at BSS. We welcome input from external supports and look to build strong relationships with the team of people working with our students. School observations and meeting attendance by external supports are also welcomed.
Community Networks:
We strive to work collaboratively with local agencies and organizations to support the diverse needs of our school community.
- The Orange Door
- Ballarat Community Health
- Ballarat Aquatic & Leisure Centre
- Uniting Care
- Ballarat & District Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC)
- CASA
- Headspace
Our Integrated Services Team Leader, Jessica Bothe, can be contacted for further information regarding the range of supports and services available to BSS students and families.
Ballarat Specialist School acknowledges the Wadawurrung people as the traditional custodians of these lands on which we come to learn. We pay our respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging.