Educators Supporting Neurodiverse Students
Creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment is an ongoing journey, and the recent Staff Professional Learning (PL) Day marked an exciting step forward. The launch of the new Staff PL Hub for Student Wellbeing and Diversity is a game-changer, designed to equip educators with practical tools to better support neurodivergent students.
Developed in collaboration with school psychologists, the Learning Enrichment team, and Parent Voice forums, the hub is a one-stop online resource offering targeted learning on conditions like ADHD and Autism.
A Hub That Puts Learning into Action
The Staff PL Hub is designed to be accessible and immediately useful. Teachers can explore specific topics and access:
- Draft lesson plans that promote inclusive teaching strategies
- Practical classroom support tips
- Videos featuring school psychologists explaining ADHD and Autism in a classroom context
- Insights from teachers on the ground sharing their most effective strategies
Most powerfully, the hub features the voices of students themselves, offering firsthand insights into their experiences of learning with ADHD and Autism.
Hearing Directly from Students
One of the most powerful moments of the day was hearing directly from students who shared what it’s like to navigate the classroom with ADHD or Autism. They spoke honestly about the biggest challenges they face, the teaching strategies that genuinely help, and how even small changes from teachers can create a major shift in their learning experience.
As Dr Kimberlee Burrows explained, “Seeing the classroom through students’ eyes increases empathy and transforms our understanding.” These lived experiences brought to life the core message: when teachers slow down, connect meaningfully, and adapt thoughtfully, they make a world of difference.
What Did Teachers Take Away?
The response from staff was overwhelmingly positive, with many reflecting on how powerful the student voice was in deepening their understanding.
One staff member shared:
"The student voice was SO powerful. Everyone in our department mentioned how much it helped us to understand a neurodiverse student’s perspective. It was also incredibly motivating to hear how much small classroom strategies can make a difference, even if we don’t always realise it at the time."
Many also noted how slowing down, building relationships, and making small adjustments can have a profound impact on learning outcomes for neurodivergent students.
What’s Next?
The success of the Staff PL Hub has sparked plans for expansion, with more topics to be added to further support inclusive teaching.
Learning never stops, especially when it comes to ensuring that every student feels understood, valued, and empowered to succeed.
- ADHA, autism, classroominclusion, educationalstrategies, InclusiveEducation, neurodiversity, staffplhub, staffprofessionallearning, StudentVoice, studentwellbeing, TeacherResources
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
Celebrating Our Top Stories | Term 2 at Santa Maria
Weekly Wrap Up – Week 10, Term 2 2025
