Maddison has always loved learning. In primary school, her teachers knew how to support her, and she felt safe in the routines she’d followed for years. But now that she had starting high school, everything felt different.
The bustling hallways, changing classrooms and heavy workload overwhelmed her. Her homework piled up, maths classes moved too quickly, and the timetable seemed like a puzzle no one had given her all the pieces to. Maddison tried her best to keep up, but every night she grew more anxious. Her sleep became restless, and her once-bright energy began to dim.
Maddison’s mother, Claire, noticed a problem and wanted to take immediate action.
“I had met with teachers before Mads started Year 7 to talk about her needs as a diverse learner, but it was clear that more needed to be done. I didn’t want to engage in a talkfest with the teachers; I really wanted to come away with a solid plan to better support Mads.
Different Journeys Education Supports
In preparation for her meeting with the Year 7 advisor, Claire checked out the Different Journeys Education Supports, a comprehensive suite of resources to assist Victorian families in navigating the education system effectively.
Key resources available:
Taking action
“I found the information on establishing a Student Support Group, really useful. It’s not something we’d needed in primary school, and since Mads is a keen learner, the high school hadn’t thought to initiate it,” says Claire.
“With assistance from the school, I organised a meeting with myself, the year advisor, Mads and her occupational therapist who has supported us for years. We reviewed Mads’s Individual Plan and made some changes to relieve some of the pressure and allow more time for her to make the transition.”
“We haven’t been without our moments and some teachers are more on board than others, but Mads is finding things easier now that the recommended adjustments are in place. She’s even cracked the timetable!”
“My advice to parents is, don’t wait. Be your child’s fierce advocate and if you notice a problem, get in touch with the school. Go into any discussion or meeting with a firm idea of what you want out of it and use resources like the Different Journeys Education Supports to help you know what to ask for.”
The Suicide Response Project (SRP) was created by researchers, academics, and psychologists together with autistic and LGBTIQA+ people who have lived through suicidal thoughts, their families, and those who have supported or lost someone to suicide. The SRP is here to guide you, and through its 8 Step Response, you’ll find clear, research-based information and simple, practical tips you can follow step by step.
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