Official opening and sod turning at Mansfield Autism

Mansfield Autism Statewide Services officially opened its 100-acre farm school campus last Thursday with the purpose-built facility designed to be a sanctuary for autistic children and their families. The ceremony was led by Mansfield Autism CEO Simone Reeves and Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes, who celebrated the state-of-the-art facility as a crucial investment in the community. The specialist school is an integral part of the therapeutic care farm with the morning's events beginning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a tree-planting with some of the school's students. The tree planting was to commemorate the start of external works at the school, with trades already on site pouring the concrete paths that weave around the buildings in what is the first step in a much larger plan. "This is not just funding; it's an investment in the future of so many people's lives," Ms Symes said during the opening. “It’s easy to support Mansfield Autism when they have such a strong vision and that passion and commitment to delivering good for the community, providing this amazing purpose-built place for young students from right across the state. "Everyone who enters this site - from the architects and builders to the gardeners, support staff and teachers - gets so consumed by what it is and what it can deliver, and that's why we all keep returning time and time again." The new school is a result of a bold vision that began with the purchase of a 100-acre property five years ago. Since then, the property has grown to include 12 retreat cabins, a multipurpose activity centre, residences and the independent specialist school – “the heart of the whole development” - which is now educating 28 students with the help of 11 full-time staff. "None of this would have been possible without the financial support of the state government," Ms Reeves acknowledged, highlighting the $4.9 million in state funding for the school building bolstering the $1.5 million contribution from Mansfield Autism. With the Harry and Clare Friday Foundation donating towards a farm garden, the state government has also committed an additional $1.3 million for The Farm’s upcoming stage two which involves a school-site transformation. This next phase of development will focus on the outdoor areas, including sensory play spaces, landscaping, and a heated therapy pool, all designed to help students engage, play, and regulate their emotions, with a scheduled completion for late 2026. Ms Reeves then led a tour of the new school building, showcasing the classrooms, sensory areas, and facilities that have been years in the making. Providing a glimpse into the specialised learning environment, the school has been built to a high resilience and low sensory design specifically for autistic students. The building houses five classrooms which are divided by age group, with dedicated spaces for younger students, teenagers, and the school's Thrive program for secondary students. In addition, there is a classroom dedicated to students who come from around the state for week-long placements and skill-building stays during the term. Along with vocational, life experience, therapy and training spaces, a key feature of the classroom layout is the observation room, equipped with one-way windows, allowing parents to discreetly observe their children in the classroom and providing a non-intrusive learning space for professional development of mainstream teachers and industry placement trainees to gain insights into the unique strategies used at the school. With a student-to-staff ratio of about 1:3, and even lower for some children, the school is built to provide individualised support. Each classroom has its own bathroom to assist with toilet training, and anchors in the ceiling of the sensory room allow for swings and other purpose-designed equipment to provide the movement autistic children often seek for regulation. For the older students in the Thrive program, practical skills are a focus. They run a café out of their kitchen every Tuesday, offering cheap coffee and delicious food to the school community, helping them build real-world skills and confidence. Now officially opened, the new school has been fully operational since the start of term one, providing a much-needed haven for students from across the state and solidifying Mansfield's role as a leader in autism support. With the final stage of development currently underway, the overall vision is rapidly becoming a reality with the partnership of the state government an integral part, contributing over $12 million to the whole therapeutic care farm.

Official opening and sod turning at Mansfield Autism

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