Of the 45 students currently enrolled, 36 live within the Ipswich Suburban area. Others travel from as far as Roadvale, Lowood, Barellan Point and Inala to attend our school. 35 students are eligible for School Transport Assistance, based upon ‘Nearest Coded Program’, 10 students attend this school as a ‘Preferred Placement’ and are driven to school by parents or carers.

There is a general belief that for the past 20 years Ipswich has been in a phase of decline with high levels of unemployment and heavy reliance upon social welfare. 60% of the families of students at Ipswich West Special School are reliant upon social welfare. Approximately 30% of families own their own home. Less than 15% of families have a professional background.

As one of the oldest cities in Queensland, relatively close to Brisbane, Ipswich is currently undergoing significant transformation and re-growth. The city has a proud cultural heritage, with long established Cultural groups and a highly regarded Regional Art Gallery. The city boasts attractive civic buildings as well as many heritage listed homes, churches and other buildings.

With an upsurge in the real estate market over the past 2 years, cheap rental accommodation is much more difficult to find, and some families are looking to move further a-field to find suitable housing.

In 2002, a Parent Survey revealed that few parents had given any thought to specific employment opportunities for their child. Most specified that they want their child to “get a job” and to be able “to live independently within the community”. Some people had unrealistic expectations that their child could “go to university”, while many saw continued education through TAFE as a worthwhile progress from the Special School. All respondents suggested that Communication and Social Skills training, as well as Functional Literacy and Numeracy were the most essential aspects of the school program. Few specified Self Care and Community Access as essential.

In 2004, a Parent Survey revealed that 85% of parents felt that the Curriculum Framework was ‘very meaningful to them as a parent’ and 80% believed that the school was ‘very effective in preparing their child for the future’.

Currently, 8 students enrolled at Ipswich West Special School are clients of the Department of Communities and Child Safety. Over the past 3 years, there have been as many as 15 students within Care of the Department. While the school enjoys extremely good support from the Department, mobility amongst Family Service Officers and frequent changes to Case-loads makes consistent case management difficult.

Ipswich West Special School also enjoys substantial support from Disability Services Queensland, with many of our students registered with this organization. Approximately 25% of students receive direct service from DSQ, either in the form of Respite or Family Support.

Community Health and the Juvenile Aid Bureau have also been quite supportive, providing staff to assist with program implementation and discussion of significant issues.

For many years, Ipswich West Special School has enjoyed the patronage and support of Ipswich City Council, and in particular our local Councillor. Students from Ipswich West Special School have for several years been involved in a joint project with members of the Ipswich City Council Parks and Recreation team in the redevelopment and maintenance of a section of the Demark Hill Environmental Reserve. This group also has the support of the local division of the Society for Growing Australian Native Plants, and in 2004 a Shade House was erected at Ipswich West with money donated by the Ipswich City Council.

Through both formal and informal networking, Ipswich West Special School enjoys excellent relationships with a number of Primary and Secondary Schools within the local community, as well as the other Special Schools. These positive relationships have enabled the successful implementation of Integration Programs for approximately 8 students each year. In 2004, 1 student participated in the YAP programme at Bremer TAFE, while another 3 Senior Schooling students enrolled in Friday programmes at TAFE.

Due to formal and informal contacts, students at Ipswich west Special School enjoy a range of Social and Cultural opportunities. Each year, student participate in the Ipswich Festival Street Parade and the Link-Up Multi-Cultural Festival. Due to the active Arts Program within the school, students also have the opportunity to participate in a range of Arts experiences at the Ipswich Art Gallery, the Ipswich Little Theatre and the Ipswich Civic Centre. The school has been recognized by the Queensland Arts Council with an Award for Excellence in Arts Education, and has been the recipient of a large number of Community Awards and Arts Grants.

With a firm commitment to the social advantage of engagement with team and co-operative sport, the Physical Education Specialist Teacher based at Ipswich West Special School has, for a number of years, organized Indoor Soccer and Interschool Sporting Competitions. Students also participate in an annual Touch Football competition.

In 2001, only 51% of parents expressed satisfaction with the quality of educational program being offered at Ipswich West Special School. Several parents expressed concern about what was being taught and the limited educational progress being made by their children. Through the development of a Whole School Curriculum Framework, and the school’s Literacy Strategy, as well as a focus upon teaching focused upon Student Progress, this percentage has swelled to 80% at the end of 2003.

In a local survey of parents, it was pleasing to read that the majority of parents saw the school as a place of learning, as well as a friendly and supportive place for their children.