Deaf Facility
The Charles La Trobe College Deaf Facility was established in 1984 as the first secondary Facility for Deaf/Hearing Impaired students in Victoria.
Our aim is to provide access for Deaf/Hearing Impaired students to a full secondary education.
Students with a bilateral, sensory-neural moderate to profound hearing loss come to us from all over Melbourne, although they are predominately from the northern and eastern suburbs. Students living more than 5km from the school receive transport concession for travel to the College. The Deaf Facility, for secondary aged students, provides highly individualised programs to meet the unique needs of each student with a hearing impairment. The Facility team work in partnership with mainstream teachers to develop and deliver modified and/or adapted classroom programs.
The Deaf Facility Team
Students are supported in mainstream classes by Teachers of the Deaf and Interpreters. The Facility is staffed by Teachers of the Deaf and Auslan interpreters. A Teacher of the Deaf is allocated to each year level and acts as a mentor to the Facility students at that level. Students attend timetabled tutorial classes with a Teacher of the Deaf, where mainstream work is clarified. Support in mainstream classes is based on students’ needs and may be minimal or intensive depending upon the needs of each individual students. Notes are also taken in classes by the Interpreter or Teacher of the Deaf, which can be accessed in the Facility by students and staff to assist with clarification of work being covered in classes.
Facility students participate in all aspects of the college program, for example the Leadership Program, SRC representatives, sports teams. Past students have been elected School Captains, voted for by their peers and staff.
Students communicate through their chosen language – English or Auslan. The College uses the latest technology including radio frequency units and sound field systems to support students. As many deaf students are visual learners, the 1:1 laptop program at Charles La Trobe College and the use of electronic whiteboards by teachers support their learning style.
Download the following information brochures for the Deaf Facility:
CLTC Deaf Facility LeafletIf you are interested in making an enrolment enquiry please complete the on-line form – click on the link below.
Online Enrolment EnquiryProgram
The Facility offers an environment which fosters a positive attitude and outlook and provides pastoral care for all Facility students. A Teacher of the Deaf is allocated to each year level and acts as a mentor to the Facility students at that level. Students attend timetabled tutorial classes with a Teacher of the Deaf, where mainstream work is clarified and supported. Support in mainstream classes is based on students’ needs and may be as minimal or as intensive as each individual requires. Notes are also taken in classes by the Interpreter or Teacher of the Deaf which can be accessed in the Facility by students and staff to help with clarification of work being covered in classes.
As many deaf students are visual learners, the 1:1 laptop program at Charles La Trobe College and the use of electronic whiteboards by teachers support their learning style.
The College uses the latest technology including radio frequency units and sound field systems.
Facility students participate in all aspects of the college program, for example: the Leadership Program, SRC representatives, sports teams, theatre production. Past students have been elected School Captains, voted for by their peers and staff.
Staff
The Facility staff at Charles La Trobe College have a range of qualifications, skills and experience including Primary and Secondary training, LOTE training, ESL training, Mathematics and Science specialists. Staff also teach subjects in the mainstream college. This enables them to keep up to date with current educational practice. Our Interpreters attend Professional Development Training specific to their work and are constantly updating their skills.
Communication
Regular meetings with students, parents and staff are held where individual goals are set. These goals are communicated to mainstream staff and evaluated at the end of an agreed period of time. Facility staff and parents are in regular contact with each other through phone calls, emails and visits. Family social nights are held at least twice a year.
Graduates
Graduates from the Facility have gone on to a wide range of work and further studies including Illustration, Sports Medicine, Architecture, Environmental Science, Child Care and Visual Merchandising.
Additional Services
Australian Hearing visits the school once a month to check student’s equipment. Charles La Trobe College Deaf Facility works closely with outside agencies as the need arises. These may include but are not exclusive to Deaf Children Australia, Educational Psychologists and Speech Pathologists.
Deaf Visitors – Regular visits from a deaf guests provide support and encouragement to interested Facility students. Example: Deaf chaplain, Deaf peers and Deaf role models.
Australian Hearing Service – Regular visits from AHS enable students to have their hearing aids checked and ear mould impressions taken.
Speech Pathologist – Sessions with a Speech Pathologist are optional.
Extra Curricular activities – Students have the opportunity to participate in camps, sports days and activities with other secondary Deaf Facilities.
DVD Library -The Facility offers a DVD borrowing library with captioned DVDs to extend students’ literacy skills.
Auslan (Australian Sign Language) – Auslan is taught at the college as a LOTE from Years 7-12. Students consistently achieve excellent VCE results in Auslan.
Further information about enrolment may be obtained by contacting the school on (03) 9223 1400 and speaking to the Deaf Facility Manager.
The Deaf Facility Manager – Ms Linda Arthurson
235 Kingsbury Drive,
Macleod West Vic 3085
Phone: (03) 9223 1400
Fax: (03) 9223 1499