Banksia Secondary College

FACILITY FOR DEAF STUDENTS

Banksia Secondary College is a state secondary college in Ivanhoe which also offers a full mainstream education for Deaf and Hearing Impaired students. The Facility is resourced by Teachers of the Deaf and Interpreters. The staff in the Facility provides a needs based communication approach aiming to meet the individual needs of each student using signed and oral communication methods.

Click here for a Powerpoint presentation on the Banksia Facility
Click here to go to an online tutorial on signing with Auslan

Year 12 Facility students - 2000

Ms Bernadette Smith, Joel McLaine, Kylie Livermore, Frank Spadea, Ms Gwenda Thomas

BANKSIA SECONDARY COLLEGE OFFERS

  • Access to a broad choice of subjects from Years 7 to 12 ( The Victorian Education Certificate) -Social Education, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Arts, LOTE, English, Physical Education.
  • Tafe Vocational and Educational Training program, dual recognition in Years 10 to 12 studying Engineering, Agriculture, Building and Construction, Horticulture, Hospitality and other areas according to availability and demand.
  • Auslan as a V.C.E. LOTE subject - Australian Sign Language.
  • Work experience and work placement.
  • State of the art facilities - two gymnasiums, a theatre, modern canteen, careers program and extensive technology areas.


    BANKSIA SECONDARY COLLEGE FACILITY OFFERS

  • Access for Deaf/Hearing Impaired students to a secondary curriculum with the support of Teachers of the Deaf and Interpreters.
  • Timetabled language and tutorial classes.
  • Deaf Studies program years 7-10.
  • Contact with the Deaf Community where appropriate.
  • An elective speech program conducted by a qualified speech pathologist.
  • A large captioned video library.
  • TTYs (Telephone typewriters) for borrowing.


    WHY COME TO BANKSIA SECONDARY COLLEGE ?

  • Access and success in all areas.
  • Tutorial support for mainstream classes.
  • Wide choice of curriculum.
  • Opportunity for VET accreditation.
  • Development of self esteem and personal growth.
  • A unique environment enabling students of Auslan, both Hearing and Deaf/Hearing impaired to be immersed in the language and culture.
  • Contact with other Deaf/Hearing impaired students.
  • Involvement in a multicultural community.
  • Careers guidance.
  • D.O.E. yearly travel pass available.


    HISTORY OF BANKSIA SECONDARY COLLEGE DEAF FACILITY

    In 1984 the Deaf Facility was established at Heidelberg High School as a pilot project with Teachers of the Deaf , Interpreters, Notetakers and 14 Deaf students. Deaf/Hearing Impaired students came from various settings throughout the state including Victorian College for the Deaf, Glendonald School for the Deaf and students on Visiting Teacher Services. We commenced with 14 Deaf students traveling from all over Melbourne and country Victoria. Due to the success of this facility other primary and secondary facilities have been established throughout Victoria.

    In 1989 Heidelberg High School amalgamated with Heidelberg Technical School and Latrobe High School to become Banksia Secondary College. After refurbishment the College re-opened on the Heidelberg High School site.

    Since 1984 Deaf students have had full access to a secondary education with appropriate support and have been successful in gaining entry to many University and Tafe courses and varied fields of employment.



    contact - THE CO-ORDINATOR

    VOICE/TTY 03 9499 5172
    FACSIMILE 03 9499 3044

    BANKSIA SECONDARY COLLEGE

    230 Banksia Street,
    Heidelberg West 3081

    or by mail at

    Private Bag 5
    Ivanhoe 3079
    Victoria
    Australia

    EMAIL: bansec@netspace.net.au

    One of our nearby tertiary institutions is the Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE.





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