External support agencies, NDIS funded therapists, volunteers, practicum students and other para professionals wishing to access Bullimbal School during school operational hours are required to follow departmental and school processes to ensure the highest level of safety is maintained at all times.
The process should begin by contact being made with the School office and the procedures being followed. Please email all requests to bullimbaltherapists@gmail.com
Failure to comply with all steps of the relevant procedure could result in access to students and school facilities being denied. Access is at the discretion of the Principal and may be withdrawn at any time.
External therapists
Bullimbal School is committed to working with external service providers in meeting the diverse needs of its students. Through collaboration and partnerships, we strive to work towards enhancing the learning outcomes of all our students.
Key steps for therapists wishing to deliver therapy during school operational hours:
- Consult with parents/carers as the necessity and need for therapy to be delivered during school operational hours. Parents/Carers are to make the initial request to the School for therapy to occur during school operational hours by completing Parent Request for External Therapy and sending to bullimbaltherapists@gmail.com or delivering to the office.
- Provide 100 points of ID for screening (department screening can take up to 7 working days to process).
- Provide all screening and departmental required documents.
- Complete External Provider Engagement Agreement and Individual Service Schedule including goal setting, to allow Principal to decide on validility and necessity of therapy during school operational hours. (Therapy delivery available between 11:30am- 3:00pm).
- As part of the external agreement, please read Bullimbal Communication Policy , which guides school expectations of therapists visiting the school. Please note, sign off on this is required prior to commencing therapy at Bullimbal and can be found in the external agreement.
- Pending approval of agreement with the school - Establish visitation schedule.
Note: ALL changes to the agreed upon schedule should be communicated to the school with a minimum notice of one school day. It is the responsibility of each family to notify the therapist of student absences. - Goals, session notes, assessments, reports and regular feedback is required to school staff and the student’s family throughout the period of therapy.
- For a one-off observation with no further appointments required, only a department screening is required. Please email to request an observation time.
- All documents and requests sent to bullimbaltherapists@gmail.com
Screening Documents:
- WWCC-Declaration (Declaration for child related workers)
- Working with children check
- Proof of Identity - 100 points of identification
Departmental required documents:
- External provider engagement agreement
- External provider service schedule
- Relevant health care training for a specific circumstance or student (Bullimbal requires all external services to hold an ASCIA anaphylaxis certificate).
- Evidence of currency of the following insurances:
- Workers compensation, or, if the provider is an individual or sole trader performing the work themselves, evidence of personal insurance coner in the event they have an injury.
- Professional indemnity (for at least $2 million for any single occurrence and in the aggregate).
- Public liability (for at least $20 million for any single occurrence and in the aggregate).
- School Induction checklist, willl be completed onsite upon the arrival of fisrt consultation.
- Proof of the departments Mandatory Child Protection Training, or other suitable alternative training program developed by the provider for its staff, within the last year.
Helpful links
- Externally funded service providers delivering health, disability and wellbeing services to students - Information for providers and provider checklist
- FAQs
- NSW Department of Education Code of Conduct
- Requesting a NDIS-funded therapy service for your child at a NSW public school
- WWCC Decision tree for child related employees, contractors, volunteers and visitors
Volunteers
Bullimbal School relies heavily on the generosity of the local community to support learning programs for the students in and around the Tamworth community. This includes but is not limited to Riding for the Disabled, Shopping at local supermarkets, Class swimming in the School’s hydrotherapy facility, Sports Days at the Tamworth Sports Dome and Cultural events hosted throughout the school year. If you would like to volunteer at Bullimbal School please see the attached departmental guidelines and school’s required actions.
Key steps for volunteers:
- Contact school office to initiate process and make an appointment with Principal.
- Complete all screening paperwork and requirements prior to appointment with Principal.
- Establish agreed visitation schedule and learning programs or classes to be working with.
Note: If you are unable to attend a scheduled session, please contact the School Office to ensure this communicated to relevant staff.
Helpful links for volunteers:
Practicum Students
Bullimbal has strong connections with a number of tertiary education facilities and regularly facilitates practicum placements of education and medicine students as part of their studies. Should you wish to undertake voluntary or practicum placements at our school, please see the schools required action steps.
Key steps for practicum students:
- Consult with your education institution to ensure appropriateness of practicum placement in a setting such as Bullimbal School.
- Contact school office to initiate process and make an appointment with Principal.
- Complete all screening paperwork and requirements prior to appointment with Principal.
- Establish agreed visitation schedule and learning programs or classes to be working with.
Note: If you are unable to attend a schedule session, please contact the School Office to ensure this communicated to relevant staff.
Helpful links for practicum students:
- Practicum Students and Interns
- WWCC Declaration
- Proof of Identity – 100 Points of identification
- Working with Children Check