Northern Australia shipping company Sea Swift has teamed up with Cairns State Special School to help students with severe intellectual and multiple disabilities achieve their dreams by funding the lease of a much-needed school minibus.
Sea Swift’s support allows students at Cairns State Special School, which opened in January 2017, to use the new Toyota Hiace Commuter modified mini-bus at no-cost to their families for:
- school excursions
- swimming programs
- inter-school and inter-town activities
- community access
- camps
- work experiences, and
- sporting events, such as the Challenge Games held in Townsville.
Cairns State Special School offers highly specialised and individualised programs to cater for its 67 students from Prep to Year 12 from across the greater Cairns area, with its facilities to allow for up to 120 students to be enrolled in the future.
Cairns State Special School Principal Chris Simmons said she was very grateful to Sea Swift for their much-valued support.
“I’d like to say a deep thanks to Sea Swift for their support of our school and their much-appreciated sponsorship,” Ms Simmons said.
“Our endeavour is that Cairns State Special School be a vibrant place, a learning place, and an innovative place with purposeful community links.
“We provide personalised and relevant opportunities for all students to reach their potential, and have a voice and choice in their learning and pathway.
“The bus will allow greater, flexible access to community and events, and will also be utilised to support families to gain community access, on a needs basis.
“It has been specially modified, with wheelchair conversion and an internally rear-mounted fully automatic access lift.
“We are establishing an ‘outward facing school’, where our connections with our community support our learning goals for our students.
“This minibus will eliminate transport costs associated with school and community activities for families, ensuring equitable access to all the programs offered, that are external to our school.”
Sea Swift Chief Executive Officer Fred White said the company was delighted to be able to help Cairns State Special School provide extended opportunities for its students.
“It’s great to see such wonderful people at the school, who are genuinely passionate about improving opportunities for their students,” Mr White said.
“We’re confident this bus will provide students with disabilities the access they deserve to community, work, and sporting activities across the region.
“Sea Swift is also looking forward to actively engaging with the school where we can in providing targeted pathway opportunities for eligible students that provides them with meaningful work experience.”
Sea Swift has more than 30 years of experience providing essential shipping services and project freight across the region with more than 400 staff and 30 vessels, and makes a significant contribution to communities across northern Australia.
