Barrett Adolescent Centre School is an Education Queensland School operating within the Adolescent Ward of the Park Centre for Mental Health at Orford Drive Wacol. The adolescent ward is a 16 bed ward and depending on occupancy all inpatients attend school from 9 to 3 on weekdays. Added to this are regularly clients with outpatient status who attend school and therapy though living outside the hospital.
The school offers classes for all clients with ages between 12 to 18. Core classes include Literacy, Numeracy and Information Technology with these being complemented by classes in Art, Drama, Music, Construction, Home Economics and Horticulture. The school works closely with the nursing and allied health to provide clients with a range of activities which will help their social contact and increase living skills. These include outings to movies, gyms, restaurants, art galleries and work sampling. Each term the school conducts special event days which are planned and executed by the students. Indicative of these are Murder Mystery Days, Survivor Days, Christmas in July parties and concerts.
Parents and caregivers are by the nature of our situation involved in the students’ day to day life at the hospital. They are given comprehensive reports of the students’ progress at the end of each semester and are encouraged to have significant input into the formulation of Educational Plans for students.
