Specialist teaching staff, therapists and support personnel combine to offer a wide range of specialist programs which are specifically prepared to suit the needs of the individual child. It is the aim of these programs to maximise the potential of the individual recognising that all students have a varied capacity for learning but a similar capacity to develop within a pleasant, supportive environment.
Our teaching staff have remained the same since last year with 3 Teachers, job sharing 2 full time positions, 5 part-time Teachers aides and 1 part-time Administration officer. All staff is permanent but we also have a solid number of experienced casuals and volunteers that we draw on.
Bhavni is the Teaching Principal at Biala Special School and has been in this position since 2007. She has been teaching at Biala Special School as a casual teacher since 2005 and was fortunate to become permanent in a teaching role in 2006.
Bhavni graduated from Macquarie University in Sydney NSW with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Politics, Sociology and Women Studies in 1994. After working in the education field she was inspired to go back to Macquarie University to complete her Graduate Diploma in Primary Education in 1997 to combine her experiences with her love of learning. Since then she has worked in Primary schools and Special Education throughout Sydney and in schools throughout the Northern Rivers area. This also included some time working with adults with disabilities assisting them to find employment and gain further life skills.
Bhavni feels proud of the school and feels that it is moving forward in a productive and caring way. However this could not be achievable without the dedication and amazing efforts of the professional staff. As well as the efforts of the parents and carers of the students who support the school and the various fundraising activities. They are an amazing group of people and she feels honoured to know them and be involved with their children.
Joanna completed her Diploma of Teaching (Primary) in 1983 and taught for several years before going overseas for 18 months. Upon returning to Australia she worked in a Centre for adults with a disability for 10 years. Joanna then studied externally to complete her Bachelor in Special Education at University of New England in 2001. During this time she did her teaching Practicum at Biala Special School and was impressed by the school and staff.
Since then Joanna has worked at Biala and several other schools in the local area with students with disabilities and in mainstream Primary classrooms. She feels even though Biala has changed over the years, it is still a great school with a fantastic group of students and a hardworking close and supportive staff.
Jo is proud to have been associated with Biala for so long. Jo is currently a member of the Occupational Healt and Safety Committee
Pearl graduated from Southern Cross University in Lismore, NSW with a Bachelor of Teaching in 1997. She has experience of Primary teaching in Ireland and Australia.
Pearl began attending many autism (ABA) workshops in both the UK and Ireland from 2002 when her son was diagnosed with Autism. She joined the team at Biala in April 2007.
Pearl is also employed at the school as a casual teachers aide with focus on Numeracy and Literacy individual programs. Pearl is also a Respite and Support Worker for Biala Support Services Inc.
(NB: Platinum indicates continued service over 15 years)
Janiece is a Senior Teachers Aide and began working at Biala in 1990. She is our longest serving employee, and has seen many changes to the school and organisation.
Janiece brings many skills and expertise to the job and is Biala Special School’s First Aid Officer, Bus Driver, Member of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee and Auswim Teacher specialising in teaching children with disabilities. She has taught Signed English at ACE (Adult Community Education), as well as co-ordinated Vacation Care for children with disabilities aged between 8 years to 18 years of age. She completed her Teachers Aide Special Certificate in 2005 and has helped integrate students into the Deaf Unit at Lismore Primary School.
Janiece also works as a Respite and Support Worker for Biala Support Services Inc and volunteers her time to work with adults with disabilities. She is a volunteer member of SES, Ballina Triathlon Club, Ballina Bug Cycle Club and participates in their annual Charity Bike Ride which helps raise much needed funds for the school and Biala Support Services Inc.
(NB: Senior indicates continued service over 5 years)
Carol is a Senior Teachers Aide and has been employed at Biala Special School in this permanent position since May 2002 but has worked on a casual basis at Biala Special School for two years prior.
Carol’s role at Biala Special School extends to First Aid Officer, Fundraising Officer, Bus Driver and a member of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee. She also is a Respite and Support Worker for Biala Support Services Inc. and volunteers much of her time to the school, Biala Support Services Inc. and its fundraising endeavours.
Carol was brought up with a brother who had a disability and this inspired her to work with children with a disability. She is currently studying a Certificate IV in Disabilities and has completed a Signed English course.
Lisa is currently a Teachers Aide at Biala and has been working at Biala Special School since 2004. She began working as a Teachers Aide with students with an intellectual disability in 2001 when she moved to Ballina from Gunnedah.
Lisa also works as a Respite and Support Worker with Biala Support Services Inc. Lisa is currently studying a Certificate IV in Disabilities and volunteers her time with Biala Special School in their many fundraising events.
Lisa has a keen interest in piano and is a dedicated and committed mother to three children who are heavily involved in many sporting commitments.
Randon has been working at Biala Special School as a Teachers Aide since September 2006. He completed his Certificate IV in Teachers Aide Special Education in 2006 and before beginning at Biala Special School, he worked as a volunteer in other local schools as a Teachers Aide.
Randon has completed various workshops with Aspect Australia on Autism and is a qualified Auswim Instructor and Swim Coach. He also has coached Junior Soccer and Cricket for local Northern Rivers teams for ten years.
Randon is a committed team member and assists with fundraising for Biala Support Services Inc.
Annalise joined the Biala Special School as a Teachers Aide in August 2007. Annalise has had a long affiliation with Biala with her brother being a former student. This attributed to her choosing Teachers Aiding and special needs as a career path.
After returning from Europe in September 2008 Annalise is currently undertaking a Certificate IV in Disabilities, where she hopes to gain further experience and education in a field she enjoys.
Annalise is involved in fundraising for the school. As well as being a Respite and Support Worker with Biala Support Services Inc. Annalise enjoys her employment at Biala and attributes this to the excellent support staff that she works with
Jane began working at Biala Special School as a volunteer following the sale of her and her husband's business in 2006. With the school increasing in size and the never-ending accountability requirements, the task of school administration became too big for the administrative staff of Biala Support Services Inc and the school Principal. Therefore, Jane was offered a part-time position as Administration Officer where her business and administrative skills could be utilised in the school office.
Four years on, Jane is now employed four days per week for the school. She also works as a Respite and Support Worker for Biala Support Services Inc and volunteers her time for fundraising events for the organisation. She is a member of the Occupational Health and Safety committee.
Jane is also studying toward a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) at Southern Cross University.
Allan joined our team in a voluntary role in 2005 and became the school’s first gardener. He now works two days per week and still offers some volunteer time. He is a very experienced and knowledgeable gardener who has transformed the gardens around the school.
Allan also takes on some of the older Life Skills students with work experience in the garden, where they learn about vegetable gardening, pruning, general garden maintenance and handling of the plants and natives around the school. He also volunteers his time with Sailability.
Allan is a keen historian and volunteers his time at Richmond and Tweed Family History Society in Ballina.