The Disability Liaison Officer is the initial point of contact for students with disabilities.

Disability Liaison Officer
Susan Lawrence
Yallourn Campus

PO Box 3279 GMC Morwell 3841
Telephone (03) 5127 0250
Mobile 0409 415 567
Facsimile (03) 5133 6182
Email susanl@gippstafe.vic.edu.au

Download the GippsTAFE Disability Action Plan (Pdf - 481.4kb)

About the service

The Disability Support Service at GippsTAFE aims to promote access and equity for students who have disabilities or chronic medical conditions, either temporary or permanent. Any person with physical, intellectual, sensory, mental health, medical, learning or acquired brain injury access this service. In order to encourage maximum participation and success in academic study, GippsTAFE provides a range of support services to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities. The Disability Support Service employs notetakers, readers/scribes, interpreters, participation assistants and tutors to work with students across all TAFE campuses. The service also uses technology and changes to course delivery to enable students to access their chosen GippsTAFE education.

The Disability Liaison Officer is available to meet with prospective and enrolled students and teaching staff to discuss student requirements, arrange support services and advise on disability related issues. The Disability Liaison Officer is based in Student Services (Yallourn Campus).

What services are available?

The types of services available include:

• Notetakers
• Auslan interpreters
• Tutorial assistance
• In-class assistants
• Course material/texts in alternative formats i.e. Extensions, alternative formats, readers, scribes, rest breaks
• Liaising with teaching staff and external agencies.
• Referral to other services i.e. counselling, employment services study support etc.
• Pre-enrolment assistance for prospective students.

These services may take time to arrange. It is essential that students contact the Disability Liaison Officer as soon as possible, to allow time to plan and implement support services. See contact details at the back of this brochure.

How to access the service

1. To obtain support, students need to contact the Disability Liaison Officer directly (see contact details on the back) or through teaching departments.
   
2. An appointment is then made for the student to attend an initial interview with the Disability Liaison Officer to discuss needs and determine support requirements.

Confidentiality

Student details will not be disclosed or discussed without approval. However, teachers often need to know how the disability impacts on a student's study and how they can accommodate the individual's needs. This is given generally and only on a need to know basis.

Adjustments and Accommodation

In addition to direct learning support such as notetakers, tutors etc, there are other types of adjustments within the classroom that may be arranged or considered, depending on a particular student need or situation.
Some examples include:

• Providing overheads in a hard copy format
• Ensuring that writing on the blackboard is clear, legible and large enough
• Ensuring clear enunciation for students who lip read
• Granting extensions and providing flexibility with deadlines
• Moving classes to more accessible locations
• Allowing classes to be taped
• Modifying study load i.e. Changing to part-time study

Students can discuss these options directly with teaching staff or the Disability Liaison Officer.