Alex is a cheeky girl, who loves swimming, dancing and reading.
The 10-year-old, who lives with autism, started prep at specialist school St Paul’s College in 2020. Her mum, Liz Turner, says while 2020 was an unlucky year to begin schooling, once remote learning moved back to the classroom, her daughter has thrived.
“Before, we would have considered her non-verbal, but now, Alex can express what she needs in three or four words,” Liz says. “She’s come quite a long way because the teachers have really encouraged her. Communication is so important because it reduces her anxiety and she gets what she needs, when she needs it.”
The Australian Government is currently considering a recommendation made in the Disability Royal Commission’s final report to phase out segregated education by 2051.
St Paul’s College has run a dual-school program for many years (where students can try both a mainstream school and St Paul’s as part of their educational experience). Liz says this was one of the drawcards for enrolling Alex at St Paul’s, but in the end, mainstream school didn’t support her needs.
Alex has quite specialised needs and behavioural issues. At the moment the small class size is really helping her. I don’t think she could cope with the noise (in a mainstream school) because of her sensory issues and I don’t think she’d learn a lot. She’d probably need two staff members with her at all times. St Paul’s is the right place for Alex and her abilities.”