SA community centre wins 2014 National Disability Award

The Stirling Community Early Learning Centre in the Adelaide Hills has been presented with a 2014 National Disability Award at a gala event held at Parliament House in Canberra last night.

The Centre was a joint recipient of the ‘Improving Education Outcomes Award,’ along with the Everyone Everyday Disability Support Program from the ACT.

Representatives from the Centre attended the awards event. It was one of 23 finalists from more than 200 nominations across eight award categories.

The Stirling Community Early Learning Centre seeks to improve diversity and inclusion of children with disability on a day-to-day basis.

The Judges noted “the Centre’s practice of including children with disability in every activity without question or stigma, demonstrates best practice.”

Many children at the Centre need flexible learning strategies due to a range of factors, and staff employ creative responses – and keep in close contact with parents – to ensure these needs are met.

The judges were also impressed with the early learning environment provided by the Centre, “where children develop an understanding of difference and diversity from a young age”.

They unanimously agreed the Centre is a “leading example of the kind of inclusion that should be the norm across early childhood and school education”.

The National Disability Awards are a major part of celebrations marking the International Day of People with Disability on 3 December each year.

The full list of 2014 National Disability Award recipients and more information can be found on the International Day of People with Disability website.