Senior School
MELBOURNE
Senior School
MELBOURNE
In the Senior School, there is an in-depth focus on supporting each students’ journey through adolescence and ensuring that their physical and emotional wellbeing is key at all times.
The Giant Steps Senior School teaches across a diverse range of subject areas within the Victorian Curriculum.
Our trans-disciplinary team supports students from Year 7 to Year 10. Our team of teachers and therapists draw on their expertise to provide an innovative and individualised education and therapy program for each student. These programs are based on the Victorian Curriculum and incorporate all of the key learning areas.
There is an in-depth focus on supporting students’ journey through adolescence, and ensuring that their physical and emotional wellbeing is key at all times. Subsequently, our curriculum is centred on developing independence in eating, hygiene and self-care. We aim to develop students’ understanding of safety, privacy, and the changes that they go through during adolescence.
To support students’ transition into post-school environments, there are extensive vocation education activities which include both off- and on-site programs, as well as teaching students the skills, independence and knowledge that they will need into young adulthood and beyond.
Each year, families receive two academic reports pertaining to individual student learning goals. Regular communication is conducted via newsletters, emails, phone calls, photographs and face to face meetings.
Sam Kershler
Assistant Principal Secondary / VPC LeaderSam has a Bachelor of the Arts (Psychology), as well as a Diploma of Education and Certificate of Autism Studies.
Sam began his teaching role at Giant Steps Sydney in 2013, and moved to Melbourne in 2016 as part of the team to establish the Giant Steps Melbourne site. He has worked across the primary and secondary curricula to support students across all areas of their school-life. In 2021, Sam worked with the team to establish the Adult Autism Service program in Melbourne and has also worked as a Behaviour Support Practitioner.
In 2025, Sam presented at the Asia Pacific Autism Conference showcasing a project which demonstrated how young people with a diagnosis of autism and intellectual disability can find work in mainstream hospitality and admin settings.
We provide an innovative and individualised education and therapy program for each student.