Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme (MASS) provides subsidies for the provision of MASS endorsed aids and equipment. Most communication devices are able to be subsidised under this system. A person eligible for assistance from MASS must be a permanent resident of Queensland and be eligible for benefits (eg. Centrelink Health Care Card). For a communication device to be covered it must also be prescribed by a Speech Language Pathologist. A subsidy of up to $3000 is available for communication devices. The website detailing the procedures is www.health.qld.gov.au/mass/communicationaids.asp

It takes a considerable amount of time to decide which device is most suitable as there are lots of factors to consider (ie. The student’s ability to access the device, size of the device, size and number of cells, pictures vs words, portability and price). Therefore a high level of parental commitment is needed. The device should also be trialed in a number of different environments (eg. Home and school). Someone also needs to be available to program the device.

Please contact the school’s Speech Language Pathologist if you are interested.

Our Senior Schooling Programs are highly individualised to suit the needs of all students. All Senior students have Individual Education Plans as well as classroom based academic goals. Transition Planning for the end-point of schooling begins around at 16 years of age with continued support throughout this exciting time. Our highly skilled Senior Teaching Team have many years of combined experience. Continuous up-to-date Professional Development Inservices ensure that knowledge, skills and strategies are current and relevant to our student population.

We have 9 Senior School classes consisting of;

4 x Activity Therapy classes: These classrooms cater for students with severe and/or multiple disabilities. Programs include daily living programs (such as mealtimes, personal grooming and continence), academic subjects (based on the Key Learning Areas), Community Access, adaptive technology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hydrotherapy.

As part of our Senior Vocational students’ livings skills program, the Hospitality and Catering staff run a fully operational restaurant. Here the students are taught the rudiments of preparing meals, cooking them, setting up the dining room, serving meals, clearing of tables and the final clean up.

Skills such as reading and following recipes, peeling and chipping vegetables and cutting up meat are some that are learnt during their classes. Cakes, slices and desserts are also on the menu. The presentation of the finished meal and serving them are all part of this program and our team do well and are very proud of their outcomes.

As a reward for a very busy term serving outside community groups and school functions, the Hospitality and Catering staff take the students out to public restaurants at the end of each term so that they can be waited on and most importantly, without having to do the CLEANING UP !

As recently as last year we have established a new curriculum strand for the Queensland Studies Authority subject Rural Studies.
In this subject we teach the children,

Animal Husbandry (Animal and Pet Care)
Horticulture (Gardening, Propagation, Potting)
Farm Machinery Operations
Farm Machinery Maintenance
Basic Farm Management
Work Place Health and Safety

Incorporated in launching this new strand for the school, is the (with the help of students and volunteers) building of a small farm at the back of the school. We intend to have as areas of study on the farm:

Animal Husbandry: Incorporating

A White Suffolk Sheep

The inclusion program at Southport State High School operates and is resourced as a satellite of The Kumbari Ave School. Prior to placement in the Inclusion program, all students must be enrolled at and attending The Kumbari Ave School – Gold Coast. In addition to meeting certain selection criteria (such as age, ability, behaviour, mobility) for Inclusion, Students and Parents need to be aware of their joint responsibilities (wearing correct uniform).

The Inclusion staff consists of one full-time Teacher, one full-time Teacher-Aide and is allocated extra Aide time on a needs basis, in order to support our students 100% of the time. This program allows students who are enrolled at The Kumbari Ave School, who meets the criteria, to access elective subjects across a variety of faculties. Subject areas not covered by chosen mainstream electives are covered in our Inclusion class, thus ensuring all students participate in all required curriculum areas.

Work experience is an integral part of any student’s educational life. It helps the student to prepare himself or herself for “The Real World”. At The Kumbari Avenue School – Gold Coast we have a number of work experience programs running. There is the opportunity for students to attend unsupported work experience placements in the work places of their parents. Here the student is overseered by the workplace supervisor and is reported on by their “Boss”.

Community businesses such as Ross Evans Nursery allow groups of our students to attend work experience programs that involve them in “behind the scenes” jobs. These jobs include picking up dead plants, sorting empty pots into colour and size, washing empty pots and sweeping, shovelling and the use of wheelbarrows. It is hard and dirty work but our students love it giving them the opportunity to use their math, shapes, sizes and fine/gross motor skills.

Endeavour Industries are another great supporter of students work experience programs. Here the students are taught mail out procedures, bar-coding skills, the assembly of electronic components and many more jobs. The students have the opportunity to interact with adults with varying impairments. The local council allows students to attend and assist in the upkeep of Macintosh Island. Once again sweeping, raking and wheelbarrowing skills are brought into play and when all the chores are done the students are allowed to feed the local wild life.

We are proud of our students as they work very hard and most importantly of all, they are proud of their accomplishments.

Activity Therapy offers a full curriculum incorporating Key Learning Areas and is outcomes based. We incorporate personalised planning to deliver programs in the most appropriate and effective way for each individual child.

Students have access to a variety of communication aids, e.g. Boardmaker developed choice-boards, picture exchange communication system, signing and voice output devices.

Activity Therapy students are encouraged to use wheelchair accessible adaptive technology, e.g. touch screens, switches, specialised keyboards and switch activated toys and appliances.

Students are involved in specialist music lessons where they learn different skills such as music appreciation and creating music using instruments and the soundbeam.

Classes enjoy swimming and practice skills such as water familiarisation, range of movement and submersion. The students are eagerly awaiting the opening of the school hydrotherapy pool.

Students also have access to a range of off-campus experiences as part of the class or as a whole school activity. Excursions are relevant to class programs and aim to enhance the students’ life experiences and community relationships. Excursions include: swimming, the Variety Club Marriot Courtyard luncheon, circuses, community access such as shopping, sports days and theme-based excursions such as museums, farms, sanctuaries and art galleries.