Dandenong Valley SDS is a specialist school located in Narre Warren Victoria. We cater for students with moderate to severe intellectual disability who may also have physical impairments, medical needs, sensory needs and autism spectrum disorder. The school was built in 1990 with an addition of a purpose built BER building in 2012 and a new senior school and specialist teaching spaces built in 2024. School facilities include a PMP room, sensory garden, horticulture centre, bike track, fitness room, engine room and sensory room, generous sized classrooms and stimulating play spaces. All students participate in weekly water familiarisation, safety and swimming sessions in the Hydrotherapy pool.

Students at our school range in age from 5 -18 years of age and we also have an Early Education Program which caters for children from 2.8 - 4.8 years. The three year olds attend this program one day a week and the four year olds attend two days a week.

Students in their last two years of schooling participate in senior transition programs. The aim of these programs is to provide students with a diverse range of age appropriate learning experiences in preparation for post school options and adult life.

School Vision: Our vision for Dandenong Valley SDS is to achieve excellence in learning and teaching and provide the best outcomes for each of its students.

Mission Statement: Dandenong Valley SDS endeavours to equip students with the capacities to manage themselves and their relations with others, understand their world and act effectively in that world.

Our Values are: Integrity, Respect and Responsibility

Dandenong Valley SDS is a Schoolwide Positive Behaviour community.



This Framework is fully embedded across the school and enables us to promote a happy positive learning environment for all. Our school rules are explicitly taught across all areas of the curriculum and the school. The rules are;

- Be responsible
- Be respectful
- Be a learner
- Be safe

Our Special Education programs are fully supported by a therapy team which consists of speech therapists, occupational therapists, a physiotherapist and music therapist. The role of the therapy team is to support the students to enable them to access their educational program. Therapists also work in close collaboration with teachers to ensure individual goals are achieved by all students.

Student Individual learning goals are based on our strategic plan priorities which are;

- The need to develop a functional communication system.
- The need to develop their independence skills
- The need to develop their social and emotional learning competencies.

These areas are the most important for our students and their families. Without these basic skills our students cannot engage in meaningful activities, nor reach their full potential.

Dandenong Valley SDS is committed to child safety. Our school actively promotes the safety and wellbeing of all students, including the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children with disabilities and vulnerable children.



All school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards.

At Dandenong Valley SDS we provide programs that cater for individual needs, interests and abilities of our students. The school's curriculum is based on The Victorian Curriculum Foundation Levels A-D). In addition, we offer a range of specialised programs that occur within the school workplace or out in the local community.

These include:

Perceptual motor program, swimming (in our purpose built hydrotherapy pool), community access, social emotional learning program, bike education, interschool sports, performing arts, STEM, visual arts, PE and camps.

Selection Criteria

SC1 Demonstrated knowledge of the relevant curriculum with a focus on levels FLA - D, including the ability to incorporate the teaching of literacy and numeracy skills. Demonstrated experience in responding to student learning needs.

SC2 Demonstrated experience in planning for and implementing high impact teaching strategies, guided by how students learn, and evaluating the impact of learning and teaching programs on student learning growth.

SC3 Demonstrated experience in monitoring and assessing student learning. Demonstrated experience in using data to inform teaching practice and providing feedback on student learning growth and achievement to students and parents.

SC4 Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community.

📌 Classroom Teacher (Melbourne)
🏢 Victorian Government
📍 Melbourne