2027 - Year 13
The 'Year 13' program is a specialized, 40-week transitional framework designed to bridge the critical gap between secondary education and adult NDIS day programs. Upon leaving the highly structured school environment, participants frequently experience a regression in functional capacity due to sudden losses in routine and targeted educational support. Year 13 mitigates this risk by providing a controlled, predictable environment that systematically transfers school-based skills into practical, adult-focused contexts. By utilizing familiar structures—such as door-to-door transport, a consistent uniform, and visual timetables—the program minimizes transition-related anxiety and creates a safe baseline for continued capacity building.
Our first year of the program will be in 2027 however we have already started enrolling students that are finishing year 12 in 2026. Transition days are available in 2026 as well.
Current available spots: 4 places left before waiting list
About the Year 13 Program
Core Capacity-Building Objectives
The program is directly aligned with NDIS goals related to Increased Social and Community Participation and Improved Daily Living. Daily activities are structured to maintain and advance the following core areas:
- Functional Independence & Life Skills: Guided by the NESA Stage 6 Life Skills syllabus, participants engage in daily practical tasks including meal preparation, domestic hygiene, laundry management, and personal organization.
- Communication & Self-Advocacy: Educator-trained staff ensure the continued, correct use of individual high-tech and low-tech communication devices, preventing the loss of expressive and receptive communication skills developed during schooling.
- Cognitive & Academic Maintenance: Daily "desk work" sessions are utilized to sustain essential literacy, numeracy, and picture comprehension skills required for everyday adult functioning. This looks different for everyone depending on their abilities.
- Fine and Gross Motor Skills: Structured physical activities, gardening, and targeted coordination tasks are embedded into the daily routine to maintain physical mobility and dexterity.
Term-by-Term Program Structure
To ensure progressive skill development, the year is divided into four 10-week terms, each with a distinct developmental focus:
Term 1: Foundations and Routine: Establishing a new baseline, understanding centre rules, and practicing fundamental communication and personal hygiene.
Term 2: Health, Home, and Community: Focusing on domestic independence, food safety, and basic community interactions.
Term 3: Money, Measurement, and Independence: Developing financial literacy, understanding basic math, and engaging in public transport training.
Term 4: Transition and The Future: Applying accumulated skills to new environments and preparing handover documentation (e.g., a personal 'About Me' passport) for successful integration into long-term adult day programs.
Expected outcomes
Year 13 ensures participants do not stagnate upon graduation. By maintaining momentum in their motor, communication, and life skills within a supported environment, participants transition into standard adult day programs with higher levels of independence, self-regulation, and confidence.