About Our Program
The Hearing Support Program encompasses a network of staff within the Strathcona community who are dedicated to maximising opportunities for girls that are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). Students are supported by staff within the multi-disciplinary Learning Enhancement Team. This includes Teachers of the Deaf, Learning Enhancement teachers, and Integration Aids.
The Learning Enhancement team ensures that DHH students can participate in all aspects of the curriculum and the wider school community. They work collaboratively with Strathcona staff, students, parents, and other stakeholders to improve student learning outcomes and support student wellbeing. Intervention lessons, taught by a Teacher of the Deaf, are timetabled using a needs-based funding model and are based on the Expanded Core Curriculum for DHH students.
The Wellbeing of students is a high priority to the School community. Students are supported through a strong Wellbeing Team in both the Junior and Senior campuses. Our ELC, Junior School, and Middle School SOUL (Self, Others, Us, Love) Wellbeing program ensures students are connected with their social and emotional needs and allows a high standard of pastoral care. In the Senior School, students are under the care of the Heads of House in a vertical House system. The Senior Mentor oversees the PAW (Pathways, Academics, Wellbeing) coaching model which facilitates a wholistic approach to their care. In addition, Teachers of the Deaf work closely with the students to develop a sense of connection and belonging within the cohort of DHH students.
Services we offer
- Individualised programs
- Literacy and language skills development
- Functional Skills for Educational Success.
- Self-determination & Advocacy
- Development of Social Skills and Social Thinking
- Conversation and public speaking skills
- Access to school-based psychologists
- Program Support Group Meetings and Parent consultation
- Friendly and open, maintaining regular communication with parents
- Career counselling, work experience and transition education
- Advocating for students
- On-campus visits from Hearing Australia
- Deaf Awareness Education
- Data-informed teaching practice to determine areas and levels of intervention required
- Special provisions for VCAA examinations and NAPLAN assessments
- Assistive Hearing Technology for assemblies.
- Teacher training and ongoing support using students’ personal Roger Microphone devices
- Ongoing teacher professional learning on the needs of deaf and hard of hearing students including appropriate adjustments and modifications
Beth MacLaren Smallwood Scholarship Program
The Beth MacLaren Smallwood Scholarship was established by a former student of Strathcona, the late Mrs Beth Smallwood (nee MacLaren). The recipient will be a girl with significant hearing impairment who would benefit from an education at Strathcona. The recipient of the Scholarship will be determined by interview and, dependent on financial circumstances, will be valued at up to 80% of the tuition fees in any one year. The Scholarship shall be available to each scholar for the period of her enrolment, subject to satisfactory conduct and progress.
Applications for the Beth MacLaren Smallwood Scholarship may be submitted at any time of year. Notification of scholarship may be provided in the year preceding entry.
To learn more about this scholarship please visit our scholarship page.