Broken Bay Bishop Anthony Randazzo has announced an initiative that will create new options for families seeking an education for their children with disabilities. Source: Catholic Schools Broken Bay.
A diocesan-wide Eileen O’Connor Catholic School will cater to students with a disability from Kindergarten to Year 12 through a new campus base school, as well as a network of support classes located on the NSW Central Coast, Northern Beaches and the North Shore within Catholic Schools Broken Bay sites.
This new model provides for students and their families to be supported through a comprehensive and systemic approach to educating students with disability, offering both specialist centres as well as mainstream opportunities.
Planning for the state-of-the-art school, located on the Central Coast, is already in progress. It will provide extensive specialist facilities accommodating 200 students with a disability. Situated within the St Peter’s Catholic College precinct at Tuggerah, the school is expected to be completed by 2027.
Already, 46 students with disability are enrolled in Eileen O’Connor Support Classes at St Martin’s Catholic School at Davidson, St Brendan’s Catholic School at Munmorah and Prouille Catholic Primary School at Wahroonga.
Bishop Randazzo said the “visionary initiative” stems from a commitment made in 2021 to expand the range of services and support provided by CSBB for students with disabilities.
CSBB director of schools Danny Casey said: “Parents in the diocese have told us this initiative will significantly enhance the options available to them and their children.”
Principal of the school, Fiona Dignan, said the response from parents has been extremely encouraging.
“Parents are looking for small student ratios, tailored interventions, and in-class support, but they also want their children to be included in activities such as sport, carnivals, excursions and concerts,” Ms Dignan said.
“We have a moral imperative to provide that support for families; to provide a safe space where education, therapy and faith come together, where we can focus on the strengths of our students,” she said.
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Eileen O’Connor Catholic School Launch (Catholic Schools Broken Bay)
