Meet Charlie; Year 10 Student Spotlight

At NGC, we want to be a safe space for young people to unmask and be authentically themselves. 15-yearold

Charlie is a perfect example of this in action. Since he came to us, we have watched his confidence,

engagement and self-advocacy grow exponentially. With the right support, Charlie has been able to fully

embrace his second chance at school.

But prior to NGC, his experience of mainstream education was extremely tough - both before and after his

formal autism diagnosis. Without sufficient accommodations implemented in an already crowded classroom,

Charlie found it difficult to focus, process information and regulate his nervous system. This often led to

behavioural issues, with repeated suspensions being the default response at his past schools. Rather than

being an effective corrective action, Charlie recalls feeling confused and isolated by this choice, and falling

further behind as a result.

“I never liked being in these big classrooms all day, especially when they are packed full of kids. I felt stuck, mentally and physically trapped a lot of the time. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do the work itself but I found it hard to concentrate and got into trouble. At my previous schools, it felt like I just got sent straight home without any explanation…maybe we wouldn’t have always seen eye to eye but I think that would have helped my understanding of situations better.

NGC has been the only school that has ever made a difference for me. It’s a lot smaller, so you get so much more individual support compared to other schools. I’m not blaming them because at mainstream schools, teachers are having to teach 100 kids a day. And you can’t support someone properly if you don’t know them. Here, they really get to know you. They are approachable and easy to talk to. And it feels like they care so much and treat you with respect. You’re not just a number or another student, but an actual human.”

A significant part of Charlie’s NGC experience has been about supporting him to navigate his autism, as well as the ongoing impacts of complex childhood trauma. Our Inclusive Education teacher, Jade, has played a key role in creating his associated Individual Plan (IP) and working with both Charlie and his family to identify the accommodations he needs to thrive inside and outside the classroom.

This is a continually evolving process of experimentation and feedback but we have been struck by the massive impact that relatively small changes have had on Charlie’s ability to engage in his schoolwork. These include dictating assignments to a teachers’ aide to remove the barrier of illegible handwriting, working at a slanted table, and creating personalised signage with visual reminders around self-regulation and focus strategies.

A feature of Charlie’s autism is that he requires a lot of sensory input to his vestibular system in order to feel a sense of physical balance and orient himself in a space. While it may seem counterintuitive to some, being able to move and be highly active is what helps him stay focused and calm. With this understanding, NGC ordered Charlie a special ‘wobble stool’ to use in class, which has already had excellent feedback.

“I spend so much time with Jade and I’m always able to ask her for help for anything to do with my autism and especially when I’ve had a hard time. Here, they really listen to what you need and are willing to organise things for you. For example, me and some students were talking about needing a space to do more independent, quiet work after we have done instructions and group discussions in class. Next thing I know, I’m working in Construction lessons to build a table that we can use in an outdoor classroom!”

While Charlie’s academic results have significantly improved, we have also loved watching him fully participate in vocational education and training, and the additional activities offered at NGC. As well as practical Automotive and Construction projects, Charlie has also been keen to explore Somersby Falls, test his skills at the skate park and has enjoyed excursions to everywhere from Jamberoo Action Park and Taronga Zoo to the Jewish Museum for his favourite subject, History.

“I love doing Automotive at school because I’ve always liked cars, especially German cars. I can see myself doing Engineering or automotive work when I graduate. I am also thinking I might want to be a pharmacist. I’d say that my life has totally changed from what it was before NGC. I actually got some good friends and felt like people cared about me. At this school, everyone is friends with each other. People are authentic and straight-up and that’s why I like it. I like people being direct and honest. Every day, something new is happening and I love that we are always going out to try different activities.”