Workshop first

Acommunity disability workshop four years in development is set to make Horsham its first rural Victorian visit later this month.

Independent community advocacy organisation STAR Victoria is offering Wimmera educators and parents two sessions of ‘The ABC’S of Inclusive Education’ on March 17.

The free information sessions are at Horsham Church of Christ, with the first from 10am to noon and the second, 7pm to 9pm.

Combining resources from the State Government’s Inclusive Education Policy with Department of Education and STAR Victoria presenters, the sessions aim to help people understand the options and support available for children with additional learning needs who are in or transitioning to mainstream school.

STAR Victoria vice-president Carolyn Vimpani said the Horsham seminars would be the first of eight for the state, which follow three trial sessions in metropolitan Melbourne.

She said from the trial sessions, the organisation had learnt that many educators and families were unaware of the ‘wonderful resources’ available to support children with a range of disabilities access education.

She said the workshop’s focus was on sharing that information with as many people as possible.

“The information at these workshops links in with what is there already under the government’s disability education standards, and we really want to make that more accessible to people,” she said.

“This is for people in family situations where the child has a disability and they would like to know what to do and what is out there in terms of schooling, and how they approach main-stream schooling. It’s also for educators.

“We’ve been fortunate to meet up with the early childhood providers in Horsham, and we’re very keen for them to be involved because they’re at the grassroots for families – that’s where children are before they transition into mainstream school.

“We have been very impressed by what’s already going on in Horsham, we’re just bringing something that perhaps will give a bit more structure to what’s there. “We are really looking forward to it.” The program is presented in an ABC format, including ‘Awareness: Inclusive Education Policy, Rights and Standards’, ‘Beginning Your Journey: Next Steps’ and ‘Connecting: With Schools, Information, Peers and Support’.

Bookings are essential and can be made online at https://starvic-abc.eventbrite.com.au.