The STaR Association was established in December 2001 by a group of parents and professionals who believed in the value of inclusive education. It grew out of the Early Years Initiative, which educated 3-6 year old children with disabilities and typically developing preschoolers at Macquarie University Special Education Centre (MUSEC). The research conducted by MUSEC over the 10 years of the Initiative clearly demonstrated that this inclusive model benefits children with disabilities and those with typical development.
The University began to wind back its support for the program in 2001, the success and positive outcomes of the program inspired and motivated many parents and staff to ensure that the learning opportunity offered by the program should be made available to as many children as possible in the community.
The owner of Meadowbank Multipurpose Learning Centre supported the new Association, under the direction of Dr Coral Kemp, to transition the Early Years Initiative model from the university to the centre. The STaR (Special Teaching and Research) program commenced in 2002 with six children with special needs enrolled for two days per week. It was very successful and eventually operated five days per week, increasing to 10 children enrolled from 2004.
However, with only 10% government funding there was enormous pressure on families to fundraise the remaining amount. Despite its success, the program was in jeopardy without further government funding. In December 2004, under the federal government’s Stronger Families and Communities Strategy, STaR was one of just 26 organisations Australia-wide to be funded in the Early Childhood Invest to Grow initiative. Under this grant the STaR program became the STaR Project and spread to 12 childcare centres across the Sydney metropolitan area.
A one-off grant was awarded to STaR by the Westmead Children’s Hospital in March 2005 specifically to assist carers of children with special needs. This funding was made available through the NSW Carers program. A family support program was established and continues to operate.
In 2008 the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), under its Early Intervention component Helping Children with Autism package, provided funding to support children with Autism and their families. STaR’s inclusion on the service provider’s panel was approved and Autism Opportunity was established. This is a multi disciplinary consortium for which STaR is the Lead Agency. We work with a group of professionals who are registered with Autism Opportunity to provide a range of services for families of young children (0-6) with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
The most recent addition to STaR’s services for children with special learning needs is its Gifted Program. Services include a playgroup for families who believe their child might be gifted and an enrichment program for 3-5 year olds who are intellectually advanced. These operate weekly in north-western Sydney.