Therapists

Staff create positive partnerships and work closely with students’ key stakeholders, including families/carers, therapists, Local Area Coordinators (LAC) and other external providers to implement specialised programs and target objectives for the growth of the child. The staff cater for all needs of each child, ensuring aspects of individual therapy plans are implemented during the week.

Speech Therapist employed by Malibu School provide support to teachers of students with special needs in enhancing language, speech, fluency, literacy and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) use by working in group settings or with individuals. The overall aim for our Speech Therapist is to support the school to meet the educational and communicative needs of students by building the capability of our staff.

Therapy Support

All members of our team work collaboratively with external therapists and support providers in the development and delivery of individualised student support. Scheduling of therapists and service providers is managed by our Lead Education Assistant in partnership with families aligned with the students’ NDIS plan who ensures plans are current and relevant to the development for each child.

Malibu School’s three qualified swimming instructors also work in collaboration with our Lead Education Assistant and each student’s therapists to deliver personalised hydrotherapy plans.

Request for Therapy During School Hours

The decision as to whether to approve a request allowing an alternative arrangement offsite or for a funded therapist to provide support to a student during school hours is that of the school Principal. There is no obligation for a Principal to either accept or decline a request.

Each decision is made on a case by case basis in the best interests of the child. Decisions of the Principal are made based on the fundamental purpose of schooling which is to provide students with access to educational programs during school hours and will involve consideration of the following factors, as applicable:

  • To meet the non-delegable duty of care owed by Principals and teachers to students during school hours
  • The planned outcomes as expected from the alternative therapy or program related to the child’s priority needs
  • The relative benefits of providing the service in school time versus the impact on student learning
  • The circumstances of the student including family, social circumstances and the flexibility of the student’s school-based learning program
  • The characteristics of the school including model, make up of classroom teaching arrangements/programs and the needs of the other students in the class
  • The duration and tenure of the program or therapy
  • Suitable and timely consultation and discussion processes between all parties
  • Appropriate provisions for a therapist/s to access the student during school time (please note Malibu School has limited spaces for Therapists to work outside of classrooms)

Parent / carer obligations

Parents are responsible for communication with the provider including advising the provider if their child will be absent for the planned session or if there are any changes to their child’s goals. 

Provider obligations

  • Providers are required to notify the student’s family if there are any changes to the planned services such as a different staff member or change to a scheduled appointment.  
  • Providers must also immediately inform the schools about anything related to a student’s welfare or safety.
  • Providers must demonstrate that they have the necessary checks, protections and training in place before they can deliver a service to students in a school. 

Providers must also have insurance to cover legal liability:

  • Providers must have public liability insurance cover of not less than $20,000,000 for any one occurrence, unlimited in the aggregate.
  • $5 million for professional indemnity insurance.

We also request that providers read and become familiar with our:

Schools require evidence that providers have a current Working with Children Check; a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check or a NDIS Worker Screening Check.  

Submitting a request

Requests for Therapy, including those which involves the removal of children from their scheduled school-based learning, are required in writing using the form attached. Please speak with your child’s teacher or contact the Principal should you wish to discuss further.

Request_for_Therapy_Service_Provider_Access_during_School_Hours_V5.pdf

Find more information - Parents / carers and providers are encouraged to read more about roles and responsibilities on the WA Department of Education ‘Service Provider in Schools’ web page.