Promoting equity and excellence in education
After its official name change in August 2002 from Kewarra Special School to Mackay District Special School, a transition from an institution to an educational facility began. Being Mackay and surrounding districts only special school, a positive outlook was sought to confidently and proudly bring this stronger school body to the community. Along with this advancement came a new generation of families and staff whose motivation was to promote awareness within the community, which successfully resulted in a recognised acceptance of the students.
Students are aged between 5 year and 18 years and all are diagnosed with an intellectual impairment. Students may also present with additional diagnoses including:
Autism Spectrum Disorder,
Down Syndrome,
Charge Syndrome,
Rett Syndrome,
Cerebral Palsy,
Muscular Dystrophy,
and a range of physical, visual and hearing impairments.
Our students participate in local community events such as the ANZAC day parade with regular visits to the community library, shopping centres, bowling and swimming pools. Continued involvement in the community has grown to include students cultivating produce such as corn, lettuce and tomatoes and selling them to the public, to senior students undertaking and enjoying work experience.
Mackay District Special School has been situated in Beaconsfield since 1987 and quite a few of our students travel daily to and from Sarina and Seaforth, approximately 25 kms each way. In recent times this has now extended to students traveling from Proserpine 100km from the school. With an enrolment growth from 25 to 95 students since 2002 a continual increase in numbers is expected each year.