Purpose-built autism-specific campus to open in The Hills in 2025
A new autism-specific school campus will open in 2025 to meet the increasing demand for autism-specific education in the Hills Shire LGA.
Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) has been successful in receiving $5 million from the NSW Government’s WestInvest Fund to build a new 2-storey state-of-the-art primary school in Box Hill within the Hills Shire Council. The 3050m2 site is located within ‘The Gables’, a vibrant new suburb that is owned and developed by Stockland.
The property has been strategically selected within the education precinct to address the growing and immediate need for specialist autism education in the Hills District of Sydney and surrounding areas. The new campus will cater for 72 students on the autism spectrum from Kindergarten to Year 6.
“Aspect has been operating schools across NSW for over 50 years. Our Western Sydney school opened in 1984 in Wetherill Park, and we now cater for around 160 students across the main campus or at one of our 15 satellite schools located within mainstream and Catholic schools. We have an extensive waitlist of students which confirms the great need for autism specific education and support in the Western Sydney area” states National Director Education for Aspect, Maryanne Gosling
The new school will be purpose-built using sustainable, environmentally friendly materials and will include 12 classrooms, a multipurpose hall, covered sensory outdoor area, computer room, life skills kitchen and library. It will feature ‘next-gen’ technology, digital educational materials and adaptable equipment that will engage our autistic students in their learning. The future-focused design will create flexible spaces that will meet the needs of children on the autism spectrum both now and into the future. The new school will also provide job opportunities for 30 educators, teacher’s aides and admin roles.
“We are so thrilled to have received this funding. The WestInvest program is about delivering transformational projects that will enhance the local communities. This aligns so well with a core enabler of the Aspect strategic plan which is to provide contemporary environments in which students and staff thrive and are enriched” says Ms Gosling
As a registered independent school, Aspect delivers the NSW curriculum while working to each student’s autism-related learning needs, individual strengths, interests and aspirations. In total, the not-for-profit organisation, provides education to over 1,200 students across NSW and SA.
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Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) is Australia’s largest autism-specific service provider, with one of the world’s biggest evidence informed autism-specific school programs. A not-for-profit organisation, we work in partnership with people of all ages on the autism spectrum and their families to deliver distinct services, practices and research that recognises – a different brilliant – understanding, engaging and celebrating the strengths and interests of people on the autism spectrum.
