Jamberoo Centre - Special Education
The Jamberoo centre is a specialist setting within Oak Flats High School that caters for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and students with diagnosed emotional disturbances (ED). There are seven onsite classrooms in the Jamberoo centre: six classes for ASD and one class for ED. We also have one ED class at the Shellharbour Hospital, catering for inpatients and outpatients.
The Jamberoo centre has students from Year 7 through to Year 12 and is built around inclusive education practices that aim to acknowledge and develop the individual ability of each student.
We believe the student comes first. Classroom layout, curriculum, social skilling, learning programs, and class dynamics are based around students' social and academic needs.
It is important to promote and encourage equity, participation and excellence on a daily basis. By facilitating an engaging and inclusive environment we believe all Jamberoo students can become successful, confident and creative learners.
Our goal is for all Jamberoo students to unlock their potential and achieve it by reaching their utmost independence and becoming informed citizens who are active and valued members of the community.
Curriculum
A key feature of the Jamberoo centre is the diverse range of subjects on offer. Students have the opportunity to experience a variety of educational settings. Individual programs usually include a balance of mainstream integration and lessons in the Jamberoo centre. Additionally, life skills learning outcomes can be developed in conjunction with a student's parents or carers. This practice ensures that all students' needs are met.
Students experience all courses deemed mandatory by the NSW and Australian curriculum's. Certain subjects will be taught in the Jamberoo centre by the Jamberoo centre's teachers, while some subjects – usually those that require specialist equipment and settings i.e. science, agriculture, technology and physical education – will be taught in the mainstream part of the school by teachers specialising in these fields. Jamberoo staff will be present in these lessons and it is their key objective to support Jamberoo students in these classes.
Students also partake in courses that are designed and run by the Jamberoo centre. These courses include living skills, community access and nutritional literacy. In addition to meeting targeted learning outcomes from the NSW syllabuses and the Australian curriculum, such courses aim to develop the social, financial and living skills needed in daily life. Students learn about personal hygiene, food hygiene, nutrition, functional living skills, budgeting and financial management. Students will experience travel training and workplace preparation, as well as coaching on how to accurately fill out forms and applications.