About

Starting Secondary School 

Starting secondary school is an important step for children with disability and their families. With some preparation and planning ahead, you can help your child feel confident, supported and ready for a positive start to Year 7.

ACD is excited to offer free online workshops for families as well as a complimentary workshop for students. The student workshop is being delivered by Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS).

You can either:

  • Attend the family workshop only, or

  • Attend the family workshop and register your Year 6 child for the student workshop

Please note: A parent or carer must attend the family workshop for their child to participate in the student workshop. When booking the family workshop, you can also select and register for the student workshop.

Starting Secondary School: A workshop for families 

This workshop will help you feel informed and prepared for the transition journey ahead. 

Learn practical strategies to support a successful start to secondary school, understand what changes to expect, and discuss ways to build strong partnerships with your child's new school.

It’s a two-hour online workshop led by facilitators who are parents of children with disability.


You’ll learn about:

  • Transition process from primary to secondary school

  • Preparing your child for the changes ahead

  • Supporting wellbeing and confidence

  • Building positive communication with the new school 


Other families have said 

Families who attended other school workshops said they were easy to follow, relatable, and delivered in a friendly way. 

  • “The presenters were great and made everything feel relatable and easy to follow.”

  • “Very informative, with lots of helpful links and resources I can revisit later.”

  • “Clear, easy-to-understand information with great examples.”

Complimentary workshop for your child who is starting secondary school 

This 90-minute online workshop provides a welcoming and inclusive space for students with disability to build confidence, learn practical skills and connect with other young people who are also preparing for Year 7.

Students will:  

  • Meet other students with disability who are preparing for secondary school 

  • Talk about what to expect when starting Year 7

  • Practice ways to ask for help and speak up about what they need

  • Create a personalised checklist to help them feel organised, prepared and confident 

Led by young people with lived experience, this workshop encourages students to develop self-advocacy skills, make meaningful connections and feel more confident about the transition ahead.

Developed by YDAS in partnership with ACD, parents are welcome to attend alongside your child.

 

What to expect 

  • A welcoming space designed for parents and carers of children with developmental delay and disability

  • Led by experienced facilitators who bring understanding and lived experience

  • Content is intended for Victorian families of children with disability only

  • These workshops are not about choosing or comparing secondary schools. It is intended for families who have already selected their child’s secondary school and are now preparing for transition to Year 7.

  • Delivered online via Zoom

  • You will receive a confirmation email that will have details about how to access the session

  • Let us know if you have any accessibility needs

  • Family workshops will be hosted and facilitated by ACD

  • Student workshops will be hosted and facilitated by YDAS (Parents and carers are welcome to attend)

If you have any questions

  • Email: educate@acd.org.au

  • Call:  03 9880 7000 or 1800 654 013 (regional callers)

  • ACD workshops provide general information, peer support, and shared lived experience. We do not provide medical, or counselling advice. Information shared during the event is for support and empowerment.

ACD collects your personal information to register you for a workshop. If you do not provide us with your personal information, we are unable to register you for an event. ACD only discloses your personal information to third parties with prior consent, or to meet legal, regulatory, auditing, or funding obligations. Information about accessing or correcting your personal information or making a privacy complaint is available in our Privacy Policy on our website.