autism teaching institute (Registered Training Organisation of Western Autistic School)

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1 autism teaching institute (Registered Training Organisation of Western Autistic School) The ATI: the first five years INCLUDING 2011 UPDATES

2 This course is outstanding in the way it draws together theory with practical experience. This is how everyone should learn new skills best practice for our students best practice for teachers learning to be better teachers. The First Five Years The Autism Teaching Institute (ATI) is an exciting cutting edge initiative emanating from Western Autistic School (WAS) which has broken new ground in the fields of School Education, Teacher Training provision and Vocational Training in Australia. The ATI is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that exists as an unincorporated entity under the wider umbrella of WAS. The ATI was created to deliver specialist teacher training in the area of students with ASD with the brief to create systemic change. This occurred in response to a perceived need for specifically trained professionals in this area of great need. our MISSION Our aim is to help provide the highest quality education for all students with ASD. We do this through: generating and disseminating knowledge about pedagogy, and provision of state -of- the art training courses for teachers of students with ASD, Education Support staff and other professionals. our courses The ATI has offered two post graduate qualifications to teachers and a short course for teacher aides in both metropolitan and rural Victoria. These are consecutively the Vocational Graduate Certificate in Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (21687VIC) and the Vocational Graduate Diploma of Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (21688VIC), and the Course in ASD Support Work (40496SA). The ATI teacher training courses are the first vocational qualifications at this level and the first autism specific vocational courses for teachers accredited in Australia. The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) recognises the Vocational Graduate Diploma in Teaching Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as a Special Education qualification and/or a fourth year of teacher training for the purpose of teacher registration. This is the first autism specific VET course recognised by VIT. At the end of 2010 after five years of operations, 95 Diploma students will have graduated having completed the full two-year special education qualification. The post-graduate teaching qualifications, taken over 2 years part-time, focus on a theory-to-practice model. Lectures lay the foundation for understanding of the key issues and classroom challenges faced by students with ASD. Our expert lecturers include Professor Bruce Tonge, Dr Janine Manjiviona, Dr Vicki Bitsika, Margaret Coady, Hilarie Kohn, Gloria Staios, Christine Kendall and Jeanette Purkis.

3 Workshops that follow the lectures assist students to consider the application of theoretical content to their own workplace. Student learning is consolidated through practicum placements. The ATI works with more than fifteen partner schools across the state, using supervising teachers in these schools to deliver the courses, and all regions have teachers in the courses. Experienced teachers of students with ASD (who are employed by the RTO as Trainers and Assessors and who must hold a Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training) demonstrate best practice ASD interventions to trainee teachers and mentor and coach the teachers in classrooms at Western Autistic School, at our partner schools and in the trainee teachers base school classrooms. course in asd support work (40496sa) 190 teachers aides and education support staff have completed the Course in ASD Support Work (40496SA) in the five years This 3-day course comprises four units of competency from the Community Services Training Package. The units are customized for the classroom setting. The course features face-to-face lectures and workshops, a workplace project and a visit to the participants base school classroom from an experienced teacher of students with ASD. From 2011 the ATI will offer short training programs for teacher aides. A combination of units of competency will be selected specifically for particular sectors, including Early Intervention, Primary, Secondary, Special and SDS and for the particular needs of students with ASD across the different schooling sectors. Our postgraduates: where are they now? victorian regional Electorates 66 melbourne metro Electorates 59 see inset Electorates with ATI Diploma Graduates and students in training

4 I believe people who complete this course will be equipped to make a real difference to the students and the communities they work with. My better understanding of the underpinning issues and problems of ASD has already made me see behaviour and learning problems differently and clearer Autism Teaching Institute Chronology 2005 (December 21) The first post-graduate VET titles in autism developed by Western Autistic School are accredited by the VQA. Autism Teaching Institute is registered as a Western Autistic School s Registered Training Organisation (RTO). Victorian Institute of Teaching recognises the diploma course as a Special Education qualification and or a fourth year of teacher training for the purposes of teacher registration. Branding and Marketing Autism Teaching Institute official opening by the Hon Jacinta Allen MP, Minister of Education. First Intake of 13 teachers to the Certificate courses. Employment of a Director of Teacher Training, AQTF Compliance Officer and 0.6 Operations Manager (2.6 staff members) based at ATI at 98 Ascot Vale Rd, Flemington. 8 classroom teachers from WAS involved in coaching and assessing course participants. DEECD grant $230,000 + Federal ICT Grant Paper on ATI teacher training courses presented at 2nd World Autism Congress, Capetown South Africa teachers enrolled in the post-graduate courses. 18 teacher aides enrolled in the Course in ASD Support Work. Course in ASD Support Work (40496SA) developed by Autism SA added to the ATI Scope of Registration. 4.2 EFT staff at ATI and 11 Assessors. DEECD grant $130,000 (2007) / $205,847 (received 2009) Partnership Program established with 4 specialist schools for practicum supervision. First Graduation Ceremony for 10 Diploma graduates at the Windsor Hotel, Melbourne teachers enrolled in the post-graduate courses. 42 teacher aides enrolled in the Course in ASD Support Work. DEECD Pilot Scholarship Program established in Hume and Loddon Mallee. Regions with 24 scholarships offered to teachers in regional and rural Victoria Employment of an Assistant to the Director of Teacher Training, 2 Rural Travelling Assessors f/t, Metropolitan Diploma Assessor p/t, Regional Liaison Assessor p/t. DEECD grant $587,500 ($126,500 Regional delivery, $261,000 + $200,000 grants) Remote delivery of courses to regions from the Bouverie Centre, Brunswick teachers enrolled in the post-graduate courses. 108 teacher aides enrolled in the Course in ASD Support Work. 8.8 Staff plus 29 Assessors and 20 Supervising Teachers. DEECD total funding $753,086 Launch of new website with on-line support and resources for students. Alumni program established.

5 2009 (cont.) Paper on ATI model presented at Australia Pacific Autism Conference Sydney. Victorian State Government announces funding for 100 Scholarships for teachers to attend ATI courses over 4 years as part of the Autism State Plan teachers enrolled (31 teachers in Certificate and 28 in the Diploma) 190 teacher aides enrolled in the Course in ASD Support Work EFT Staff plus 24 Assessors and 22 Supervising teachers. Victorian State Government announces funding for a further 25 Scholarships. DEECD total funding $1,152,702 Reaccreditation of the teacher training courses for a further five years DEECD commissions a review by Grant Thornton ATI Sustainability Funding Model. The ATI wins a DEECD statewide tender for professional learning program focusing on autism for Education Support staff. The ATI is a consortium member with Autism Victoria to train Case Managers in the Department of Human Services. Partner of DEECD Benalla Regeneration Group Education provision plan for students with ASD. Staff attendance at the Vocational Education and Learning Group (VELG) Conference in Sydney. Staff presentations at Autism Victoria State Conference and World Autism Congress in Mexico. Collaboration with Deakin University in research projects on classroom practice. Victoria University recognises the Vocational Graduate Diploma as a component of Masters of Education. Presentation of ATI teacher training model at the 3rd World Autism Congress in Monterrey, Mexico update 55 teachers enrolled in the Vocational Graduate Certificate and Diploma courses. A Window into Autism state-wide one day professional development program was delivered in metropolitan and regional cities (Wodonga, Shepparton, Bairnsdale, Traralgon, Ballarat, Geelong, Bendigo, Mildura, Horsham and Warrnambool) to over 400 Education Support staff. The Registered Training Organisation (RTO) was audited and re-registered with the VRQA until 31 Dec, Re-accreditation of both vocational teacher training courses with the VRQA and the National Training Information Service until December Course recognition by Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) was renewed until December 2015 for the Vocational Graduate Diploma of Teaching students with ASD for the purposes of registration as a Specialist teacher. Successful tender for the DEECD Professional Learning Provider Panel Refresh and Extension RFT 11/12-18 in the category: Students with a Disability or Additional Needs. A new international lecturer, Charlene Tait from Scottish Autism, joined our list of expert lecturers. The inaugural ATI Alumni Seminar was held at the University of Melbourne with international guest speaker Brenda Smith-Myles, United States. Practical Autism Research Centre (PRAC) administers the International Schools Based Education Research (ISBER) project in Victoria in collaboration with Deakin University, DEECD, Autism Victoria and the ATI. The ISBER project aims to disseminate best practic knowledge about teaching students with ASD to school in the Asia Pacific region. The research project timeline for ISBER - Victoria is July 2011 to November Presentation of a paper at the APAC conference in Perth, July ATI/PRAC representation at the Educational Symposium at the International Meeting for Autism Research, San Diego US, May, 2011.

6 "I've learnt how to put theory into practice successfully in a positive and happy learning environment." The vocational diploma has worked as a framework for reviewing, rethinking and adding to my knowledge and skills in teaching students and supporting people with ASD. Australian Qualifications Training Framework Survey results AQTF Quality Indicators show that the approach and training at the ATI is highly successful. RTOs are required to collect and use data on three Quality Indicators: Competency completion Learner engagement Employer satisfaction The National Quality Council (NQC) has agreed that Quality Indicator data will be used by RTOs to undertake continuous improvement processes, and by state and territory registering bodies to inform each RTO s risk assessment. The questions are framed in the positive I.E. I developed the skills expected from this training. There are 4 possible responses to each of the 35 questions. The following are the results of the ATI s 2009 survey. The results of the Learner feedback indicate: 2009 Diploma: 70% of Graduate Diploma students Strongly Agree and 28% Agree that the courses had a positive impact on their teaching. Employer satisfaction survey supports these figures: 2009: 73% Strongly Agreed 27% Agreed that the course had a positive impact on the teacher s performance. AQTF Summary Report Learner Response Average Average Scale count score variation Trainer Quality Effective Assessment Clear Expectations Learning Stimulation TRAINING RELEVANCE Competency Development Training Resources Effective Support Active Learning Overall Satisfaction tenders The ATI is well resourced to submit tenders for projects pertaining to the field of ASD education. Successful tenders have included: DEECD Professional Learning Program for Education Support staff titled A Window into Autism to develop the skills, knowledge and capacity of Integration Aides related to supporting to support of students with ASD As part of a consortium with Autism Victoria (as lead agent), Gateways, Statewide Autistic Services Inc and SCOPE to develop and deliver training to case managers in DHS. Partnerships The ATI has forged both formal and informal partnerships with schools and DEECD Regions across Victoria. ATI supports the work of the Amazeknowledge and AmazeAccreditation at Autism Victoria through member of the reference groups for each of these business divisions.

7 COURSE REACCREDITATION IN 2010 Course reaccreditation was an important activity during 2010.The expert panel of professionals who form the ATI Reference Group reviewed the Graduate Certificate and the Graduate Diploma courses and made recommendations to the Accreditation Panel of VRQA. The outcome was that the courses were reaccredited for a further five years from Research The ATI has a number of joint projects with Deakin University related to classroom practice. The ATI intends to work with the Practical Autism Research Centre (PRAC) to create new partnerships with higher education providers of research, and pathways into Master and PhD course for ATI Diploma graduates. practical research autism centre [ P.R.A.C. ] MISSION The mission of the Practical Research Autism Centre (PRAC) is to improve teaching practice and educational interventions for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The work of PRAC is oriented by a theory-to-practice model where research informs practice using measurable standards. PRAC aims to provide world-class practical research in autism education. Pathways Victoria University has agreed to recognise the Graduate Diploma as a component of Masters of Education. future International students It appears that there is international demand for our programs. The ATI has had numerous enquiries and requests from international students and organisations wishing to undertake studies with us, including official approaches through the department. If this option is to be taken it may be necessary for us to obtain CRICOS registration. The ATI as a DEECD RTO will strive to be a centre of excellence in vocational education, drawing on the resources of a range of partner educational institutions with representation of the full range of stakeholders.

8 Acknowledgements To the Victorian government who through the Student Wellbeing Division of the DEECD and the Western Metropolitan Region have backed the ATI since its inception and are our greatest financial supporters. To the ATI Reference Committee, whose expertise is invaluable in helping us to ensure the integrity of the courses. To our Expert lecturers, Dr Janine Manjiviona, Dr Vicki Bitsika, Prof Bruce Tonge, Gloria Staios, Christine Kendall and Hilarie Kohn, Margaret Coady, Jeanette Purkis and our WAS expert practitioners. These professionals are experts in their various disciplines and we are privileged to be able to learn from them. To the Principals of all the schools involved in ATI courses, particularly the Principals of our Partner schools who have committed to building autism expertise in their schools and the education system. Our Assessors who are integral to the success of the courses. The Assessors are highly experienced ASD teachers and practice leaders in the field of autism. A particular mention should be made of our Assessors in rural and regional areas of Victoria who travel across the state to the base schools of ATI students to work with them in their own classrooms. The Supervising teachers at WAS and the partner schools play a major role by sharing their knowledge and skills in live classroom situations for ATI students on practicum placement. The growing number of partner schools also provides great support for the supervised practicum programs of ATI students. To the management team at the ATI, Paige Davey, Gabriella Vascotto, Stephen Ahern, the admin staff, Mary Thomson and Val Gill. autism teaching institute (Registered Training Organisation of Western Autistic School) Tel: (03) Fax: (03) Postal Address: PO Box 155, Ascot Vale, VIC 3032 Web: