Position Information
Royal Far West School (RFWS) is a unique School for Specific Purpose (SSP) situated within the Royal Far West (RFW) clinical service building Manly. RFWS provides educational services to the clients of the Royal Far West's integrated health, education and disability service. The program is residential in nature for one week. All students are accompanied to RFW by a parent or carer. Students are from country NSW, from remote areas of the state, and travel to Manly for a multidisciplinary assessment by allied health and specialists.
The student cohort changes weekly. Students present with a range of complex needs, including developmental, learning, behavioural, emotional and communication difficulties and disorders. Up to 59% of the student population have experienced trauma. The school has a dedicated and highly skilled staff who work with students aged to 18 years, up to 30% being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (student enrolment up to 40). The school works in partnership with families, RFW, country schools and local services to provide information, consultancy, resource advice, professional development and program assistance. RFWS has a strong focus on building capacity in rural schools using video conferencing and internet–based video communication for individual, ongoing student support. The Deputy Principal also has responsibility for supporting the SWAY program (Sounds, Words, AboriginalLanguages and Yarning) connecting with preschools and schools in rural and remote communities.