Monash SDS is a school for students who exhibit a developmental delay and/or moderate to profound intellectual disability and in addition also caters for students with multiple disabilities which may include autism or a physical or sensory impairment. Our students are aged between 2 years and 8 months and 18 years, after which time, students move on to post school options. The school is organised into five age based sections: Early Education, Kindergarten, Primary, Senior and Pathways.
Below are the varying volunteer and placements we cater for. Contact information can be found towards the bottom of this page.
As a general volunteer you will be assisting the classroom teacher and educational support staff to facilitate student learning. Volunteers require a commitment to the work of the school in fostering the wellbeing and education of children with intellectual and other disabilities. Volunteers support programs by assisting students in a range of activities, and being an active member of a classroom. The classroom teacher will outline what is expected for each classroom.
Monash SDS follows the Child Safe guidelines and a ‘Working with Children’s Check’ is mandated for volunteering with children.
Education and TAFE (disability related studies) students:
As an educational facility, Monash SDS is able to satisfy the university placement requirements for Education Students who are completing their placements at any level. We are also able to fulfil the TAFE placement requirements for disability related studies at TAFE.
All students at the school use the Victorian Curriculum from levels A to D and beyond according to their individual learning plan. The sections of the school are from Early Education to Pathways students. The age range is 2 years and 8 months to 18 years of age.
As a placement student we would like adequate notice of placement (preferably at least a term’s notice) so that you can be placed in an appropriate area of the school. As a placement student you are expected to know the requirements of your course and be able to articulate and discuss what your tertiary institution expects from your placement with your Supervising Teacher. This will assist the Volunteer and Placement Coordinator to plan the appropriate placement for you. This includes dates for placement, lesson planning, observation, written work, and the paper work for the Supervising Teacher etc.
We are able to take on general placements/volunteering for Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Nursing students. However, these placements are as a classroom-based placement. The therapy/ medical students on placement will be able to partake in therapy-based programs aligned with the specified classroom.
We are occasionally able to offer clinical placements for therapy students and nursing students; however we cannot commit to ongoing arrangements with universities or TAFEs at this stage.
We prefer a term’s notice if at all possible.
If you would like to discuss the possibility of an individual placement, please email the Placement Coordinator and they will pass on your information to the Therapy Team Leader or the School Nurses.