Bulleen Heights School
Supporting young students with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Bulleen Heights School supports students aged 5 - 18 with the lifelong neurodevelopmental condition, Autism Spectrum Disorder. Based in North East Melbourne, the school provides diverse and supportive education for 280 students, as well as community access programs and inclusive learning programs with other schools.
2016 Pitch
Funds raised: $30,170
At the April 2016 event presented by The Funding Network and Kindred Spirits in Melbourne, Bulleen Heights raised $30,170 to go towards the purchase of a new people mover for the school's secondary campus, to assist with student transport and community access.
The impact...
Bulleen Heights students love their weekly trip to the Hub Cafe and the fitness circuit at a local Council Reserve and community centre. This weekly ritual starts with the students walking independently to the school's new people mover, finding their seat and buckling up. The trip to the Community Reserve is short and everyone is keen and excited to arrive. Once inside the centre, the students can choose and purchase their morning tea independently and find an enjoyable place to sit together and enjoy a social context which supports the development of their personal and interpersonal skills. Visitors to the community centre often join in for morning tea providing conversation and social interaction - and the students can also enjoy some time on the fitness circuit before climbing back in the vehicle and head safely back to school.
The new vehicle provides access to off-campus classes and activities and with this new flexibility (which doesn't require a large vehicle licence), teachers and students are better equipped take their learning and generalising of skills out into the community. Those who are reluctant public transport users or otherwise require a more adaptable timetable are able to participate fully in the activities available.
For curriculum based learning in the community - whether at the beach, the local community centre, or heading off a farm - it's great to have the 'bus'!
Read their Impact Report
Learn more about Bulleen Heights School.
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals:
