STaR | Lifelong Special Education

STaR Special Educators coach and mentor educators and support workers across a range of settings. This builds the capacity of these key workers to ensure that education and independent living programs for people with disability, from early childhood onwards, are progressive and meaningful.

Early years (0-6 Years)

The STaR Early Years program is modelled on a successful early intervention program that was developed over a 10-year period by Dr Coral Kemp and her team at Macquarie University Special Education Centre (MUSEC). Our program has been operating within early childhood services in the community for more than 20 years. Highly qualified special educators provide training for educators in participating early childhood services to assist them to support and include children aged 0-6 years who have disabilities or developmental delay. Families have the right to be at the centre of decision making for their child; families are also supported according to need, especially in the transition to school.

What does this Program offer to families of children with disabilities/developmental delay?

The Early Years Program

trains and supports early childhood educators to develop and implement appropriate individualised programs and activities based on ongoing assessment, across all areas of development, of the child’s current functioning within the childcare centre and the family’s priorities and the goals of therapists
supports the child to achieve optimal development within everyday play and routines
supports families to access appropriate early childhood placement, which provides parents with increased life choices and work opportunities
offers the opportunity for siblings to attend the same early childhood service
provides parents with the opportunity for learning, discussion and connection with other families of children with disabilities
prepares the child and family for the school environment via the STaR Preparation for School and Transition to School programs

More Information

Meet our STaR Families

Minaa’s Story

When Minaa came to STaR at 4 years old, she was a delightful, social little girl who seemed physically frail and passive.

Maddie’s Story

Because their daughter has a complicated medical condition, it has been hard for parents Sally and Gerard to enrol Maddison in a childcare program and trust that the educators could care for her.

Nathaniel’s Story

Nathaniel is a very sociable little boy, just 5 years old, who gets invited to the birthday parties of other children whom attended his childcare centre at Glenwood.

Emily and Ruby’s Story

Emily and her twin sister Ruby began attending a STaR affiliated centre in February 2015 and could often be found with their peers at the puzzle table or in the sandpit.

Will’s Story

Will spent the first months of his life in an overseas orphanage, neglected and undernourished. Arriving at his new home in Australia at 16 months old, Will couldn’t crawl, play or grasp his mother’s finger.

Lili’s Story

Lili was born a healthy baby but contracted severe meningitis at 8 weeks old. This caused significant brain damage resulting in a developmental delay.

Post School

Course-image-Strategies-to-support-Lifelong-learning

Lifelong learning is a human right regardless of difference.

Over our 20 years of operation, we have maintained contact with a significant number of STaR families, following with interest their educational experiences. What we know anecdotally is that the quality of learning is diluted, and incorrect assumptions are made about their child’s capacity to learn. There are limited post school choices for people with disabilities to access quality learning and to be recognised and included as valued and contributing members of our community.

STaR has therefore expanded its scope from early years to providing services across the lifespan. This is reflected in our renewed Vision and Mission.

We will do this through:

Undertaking research on post-school experiences
Delivering quality professional development
Establishing a post school education service/hub in 2023
Providing consultancy to adult post school employment and accommodation settings

Enrol in our ‘Strategies to Support the Learning of Adults with Disability’ online training course here.

Family Support

Living with disability can be challenging. We know that parents and carers can easily be overwhelmed by the unexpected journey they take with their family member. We assist our families with information and practical support on a ‘needs and wants’ basis.

Our family support

Helps families to negotiate the maze of services and systems
Offers practical information, resources, workshops
Offers intensive support during crisis
Is free to STaR families