Department of Education - Victoria

Niddrie Autistic School is a government school in South West Victoria Region and has at its foundation a reputation for providing an exemplary education for students with autism from Prep to Year 3. There is a commitment to excellence, which is communicated, to staff, students and families.  Members of staff have high expectations and a belief that every child can learn and achieve. The school has profound expertise in developing and implementing Individual Educational Plans (IEPs) and in assessing and monitoring the learning of students to ensure the goals in IEPs are achieved.

Niddrie Autistic School is situated 16 kms north of the Central Business District (CBD) in the suburb of Niddrie. The school enroll students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.  The philosophy of the school is to provide an intensive program for students with autism to build their social communication and sense of self and others which will guide their inclusion and participation through their early years of schooling and beyond.

To support the needs of autistic children and their families, the school provides initial support for each student as he/she moves to their designated neighbourhood mainstream or special school setting. 

In 2024 the enrolment was 128 students. Eighty-two percent of these enrolments were boys and 18% of students come from a Language other than English background. The majority of students travel from a wide geographical area and travel to Niddrie by a contract bus service.

In 2021 a DET funded capital works project was completed, the school now has a new state-of- the art building comprising 12 new classrooms and collaborative learning areas.  These works were part of the Stage 1 development of a bigger Master Plan for the redevelopment of the whole site.

As Niddrie Autistic School provides an educational program for autistic students from Prep to year 3, ensuring these students make a successful transition to further educational contexts from Year 4 is a vital focus not only of their program while at Niddrie Autistic School but also in the following years.