A new school campus for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder is on track to open on the Sunshine Coast early next year.
Autism Queensland’s Brightwater campus, its sixth, is under construction at Freshwater Street, Brightwater, and set to open in the first term of 2025.
It will offer full-time and part-time programs for up to 70 primary and high school students.
AQ school principal Cathy Drummond said the purpose-built building was designed to welcoming and inclusive for all.
“It was really important for us that we wanted to have a campus that was accessible for all – staff, students, the local community,” Ms Drummond said.
“It’s quite a complex project, a very exciting project to be involved in, and absolutely super exciting for the Sunshine Coast community that has not had access to specialist support for autistic students.”
The school building will comprise six classrooms – three on the ground level and three upstairs – each with a break-away space and outdoor access. There will be two play areas, one upstairs and one downstairs, plus a staff room and office for the head of campus.
Ms Drummond said a lot of thought had gone into the design of the school and elements such as curved walls had been used to help “guide” students through.
“It’s all about the floor plan,” she said. “The layout and flow has been really significant. How do we design this building so when you first come into reception, how does the space work for people?”
Ms Drummond said classes would be of mixed ages with six to 10 students in each to reduce the social demands on the students and allow for appropriate support.
“Some of our higher-needs students might be involved full-time and we’ll also provide that further support to our students in a shared educational arrangement,” she said.
“A student might come to us three days a week and the other two days go to their local primary school, and we will work with their teachers and their parent to support that child to go to school.”
Students at the school will have access to specialist professional support and therapists.
Ms Drummond said more than 100 expressions of interest had been received by the end of last month from families seeking student places and an interview process was underway.
The final enrolment make-up would depend not only on student need but also the need to get the right mix of year levels, and the school would likely start with less than the full complement to allow staff and students to settle in more comfortably, she said.
“With our enrolment program, we sort of expect by the end of 2026 that we’d be at full capacity but in reality that timeline will depend on how our students and staff manage the transition so it really is a test of our design,” she said.
Ms Drummond said 460 applications had been received for positions at the school, including teaching, teacher aide and administrative positions, as well as therapy and support roles.
Head of campus will be Sara Davies, who has come “full circle” after starting her teaching career at Brightwater State School, one street away, in its foundation year.
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