EDUCATE ME
“ This school represents a commitment to high-quality, autism-specific education that empowers students to thrive. We have recently welcomed our first cohort of K-2 students and their families into this exceptional learning environment.” made possible through a $ 10.2 million investment, jointly funded by the NSW Government’ s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants programme and Aspect.
EDUCATE ME
Aspect opens new state-of-the-art autism-specific school in the Hills Shire
Autism Spectrum Australia( Aspect) is proud to announce the opening of Aspect Hills Shire School, a newly built, autismspecific primary school. Designed to cater to the individual learning needs of Autistic students, the school will accommodate up to 72 children from Kindergarten to Year 6.
Situated in Gables, a rapidly growing suburb in Sydney’ s north-west, Aspect Hills Shire School has been thoughtfully designed to support the unique needs of Autistic students, offering innovative and adaptable learning spaces.
The two-storey campus features twelve autism-friendly classrooms, a multipurpose hall, a sensory outdoor area, a life skills kitchen, a technology room, and a library— all tailored to foster engagement, independence, and optimal learning outcomes.
Maryanne Gosling, Aspect’ s National Director of Education, highlighted the increasing demand for specialist education in the region and the need for greater choice among families in the Hills District.
“ We are delighted to expand into the Hills Shire, one of the fastest-growing areas in New South Wales,” said Ms Gosling.“ With Western Sydney now home to over a quarter of the state’ s population, and Aspect’ s latest estimate indicating that more than one in forty Australians are Autistic, the demand for specialist education continues to rise.
“ More parents and carers are actively seeking schools that align with their child’ s learning and developmental needs. Aspect Hills Shire School has been specifically designed for Autistic students, incorporating calm spaces, specialist educators, and sensory accommodations to enhance their educational experience.”
The Hon. Warren Kirby, Member for Riverstone, welcomed the new school as a valuable addition to the community.
“ With the rapid growth of our area, we now have the highest number of young people in NSW, leading to a significant increase in students with special needs in our local schools,” said Mr Kirby.
“ Most schools in our area are already over capacity, which presents particular challenges for Autistic students. Having a school specifically designed to meet their needs ensures they have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
“ The NSW Government’ s $ 5 million contribution to the Aspect Hills Shire School demonstrates the Minns Government’ s commitment to providing
educational facilities where every child feels supported and encouraged.”
Aspect Hills Shire School is the tenth autismspecific school opened by Aspect across New South Wales and South Australia. Each school is dedicated to providing targeted early intervention, expert teaching methods, small class sizes, and specialised learning environments to support each student’ s personal growth.
“ Whether the goal is transitioning to a mainstream school or developing essential life skills for future independence, Aspect’ s approach ensures that every child is supported in reaching their full potential,” added Ms Gosling.
The development of Aspect Hills Shire School was
“ This school represents a commitment to high-quality, autism-specific education that empowers students to thrive. We have recently welcomed our first cohort of K-2 students and their families into this exceptional learning environment.” made possible through a $ 10.2 million investment, jointly funded by the NSW Government’ s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants programme and Aspect.
Shane Morris, Principal of Aspect Hills Shire School, expressed his enthusiasm for the new campus:“ This school represents a commitment to high-quality, autismspecific education that empowers students to thrive. We have recently welcomed our first cohort of K-2 students and their families into this exceptional learning environment.” 22 ISSUE 118 // APRIL 2025 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT