The Joshua Centre opened in 2022 at our Flinders Tyabb Campus. It is a special-purpose educational facility that supports students on the Autism spectrum by providing a differentiated learning program and environment that is better suited to the sensory needs and routines of students on the Autism spectrum.
We seek to see autistic students not just survive, but instead thrive in their learning, social connection and well-being in order to live a full and purposeful life. The Joshua Centre caters for students who are formally diagnosed with level 2 autism. These students may struggle to cope in their current school setting and need a highly structured and modified learning environment in order to thrive. Students will be expected to have a particular level of independence i.e, being able to work independently on learning tasks without 1:1 aide support.
Some students may have a diagnosis comorbid with Autism Spectrum Disorder e.g. an intellectual or speech-language impairment, a physical disability, ADHD, etc. The College will review and consider the educational adjustments that will need to be put in place to meet the student’s needs and whether the Autism Spectrum Disorder, as the primary diagnosis, will have the greatest impact on the student’s education. This will determine whether the Joshua Centre learning program and environment is able to support the student’s level of needs.
Enrolments at the Joshua Centre commenced in 2022, and we are adding additional Grades & Year levels as follows:
- 2024: Grades 1 - Year 7
- 2025: Prep - Year 8
- 2026: Prep to Year 9
- 2027: Prep to Year 10
- 2028 and beyond: Prep to Year 10
New Joshua Centre Building
The new Joshua Centre was completed in time for the first day of school in Term 1 2024, much to the delight of our staff, students and families! We then celebrated this incredible milestone at our Joshua Centre dedication ceremony at the beginning of May 2024. Both the former and new Joshua Centre Buildings are situated in a single precinct at our Tyabb Campus, as shown in the virtual tour below.
Online applications for enrolment at the Joshua Centre are now open:
Expression of Interest
If you would like to know more about the Joshua Centre, you are welcome to submit an Expression of Interest below:
We have added two Vuly trampolines to the Joshua Centre playground. Vuly trampolines have been selected for their safety features, quality and therapeutic benefits, particularly in promoting sensory integration and physical activity among autistic children.
Rebounding, or jumping on a trampoline, has been shown to offer a range of benefits for children on the autism spectrum, including:
Sensory Stimulation - rebounding provides proprioceptive and vestibular input, aiding sensory integration and self-regulation.
Physical Exercise - jumping on a trampoline promotes physical activity, cardiovascular health, and muscle development.
Emotional Regulation - the rhythmic motion of bouncing can help reduce anxiety, stress, and promote relaxation.
Social Interaction - group trampoline activities encourage social engagement, communication, and cooperation among students.
Motor Skills - rebounding can improve coordination, balance, and motor planning skills.
If you would like more information, please contact our Enrolments team on 5973 2000 or via email, enrolments@flinders.vic.edu.au