20 Feb 2023
Our ACT public schools continue to receive important infrastructure upgrades as part of our inclusive works program. The program supports our schools to lead and deliver excellent, inclusive, and equitable education where all are safe and valued through important infrastructural upgrades and building additions.
Requirements at each school differ. The Inclusive Works Program team work closely with the school and its students to identify a need and the best possible solution.
Chapman Primary and Lyneham Preschool recently welcomed new fully accessible bathrooms, providing inclusive student access, and reducing the travel distance to other conveniences.
Isabella Plains Early Childhood school made some ‘inclusive connections’ that ensure everyone has a safe pathway to get to where they need to go – including students with physical mobility disability.
A collaborative approach was taken between the school, occupational therapists, project officers and contractors to design an inclusive environment for the students. Now, all students are enjoying the benefits of a new covered pathway leading right up to the entrance of the hall.
Students also returned to school this year to find a new accessible bathroom, a new soft-fall path to access the playground and an additional path that lets everyone access the two new swings above newly installed soft-fall footing.
Similarly, Gold Creek Senior School recently welcomed automatic sliding doors to assist with ease of access and movement to individuals with a physical mobility diagnosis. These new doors have been installed at the entrance of the main building, the library and at the entrance of the accessible toilets. The doors automatically slide open using sensor detectors and allow for increased independence for students accessing these areas.
Gold Creek School Principal Daniel Breen welcomed the upgrades. ‘The installation of these doors has already made a positive difference to the students of Gold Creek School. The fact that this work provides ease of access and allows less obstructive movement around school increases the important opportunity to develop independence in our young people during their high school years. We want the best educational experience for all of our students and we appreciate the investment from the Inclusive Works Program which contributes to this goal’.