Viewbank Primary School

The Defence Transition Aide program provides support to the children and families of ADF members, particularly when moving in and out of a school on posting or when a parent is absent from home.

At Viewbank PS we are very proud to say that we enrol a number of students from Australian Defence Force backgrounds. Our Defence School Transition Aide (DSTA) is Mrs Sue Wright. Sue’s role is to :

* Assist ADF parents and children to become familiar with the school and its facilities
* Co-ordinate appropriate welcoming and farewelling activities for ADF children
* Monitor ADF children’s personal issues such as friendship, peer groups and classroom difficulties
* Contribute items of interest to the school newsletter
* Provide opportunities for ADF families to meet other ADF families within the school community
* Maintain contact with ADF families who are enrolled in the school

Sue works closely with families, making the transition as seamless as possible. She liaises with families and between families, and works with children within the classroom. She is available during holiday breaks to meet with new ‘enrollees’ and deals with phone calls to school by out-of-state parents wanting to know more information about the school and its enrolment procedures. She has made introductions between families and children in similar ‘transitory’ phases, and has been the first ‘point-of-contact’ for Defence Force families and students, as well as being a wealth of information.

Sue provides a welcoming atmosphere and one-to-one literacy and numeracy support at a variety of grade levels and classroom support for in-need children. Classroom support has focused on intellectual, social and emotional support. Sue has prepared lessons and teaching aids, distributed passports and ‘Goodbye and Good luck’ folders to children leaving the school and also held “going away” and “keep in touch” parties for children leaving the school.

Sue has also been required to help children adapt to changing situations when families were posted out to equip them with strategies to better cope with changed circumstances. For further information about the Defence Transition Aide program please go to http://www.defence.gov.au/dco/education.htm.