New facilities allow year round use for students and the community

Giant Steps, Deloraine, is an educational and therapeutic centre dedicated to students with autism spectrum disorder.

The school, in a small regional town 50 kilometres south-west of Launceston, Tasmania, recently received $250,000 under the Primary Schools for the 21st Century element of the Building the Education Revolution (BER).

The funding will help to construct a multi-purpose hall which includes enclosing an existing swimming pool to allow year-round use for students’ occupational therapy, and access for the Deloraine community.

It also contains occupational therapy spaces and mini gym, adapted for specific use by children with disability, and provision of extra car parking spaces.

The school also received $60,000 under the National School Pride Program for refurbishing classrooms and staff amenities, including change rooms, sliding doors to maximise outdoor and indoor space, lockable storage spaces and a small kitchenette.

The refurbishment incorporates new vibrant colours resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing space for teachers and students.

“This project involved the entire Deloraine community and they are really celebrating how successful the outcome has been, not to mention a wonderful architecturally designed multi-purpose hall for everyone to use,” Principal Anne Duncan said.

In addition to the programs for school-aged students, Giant Steps also offers programs for children of pre-school age and community access programs for adults.

More articles