Bulletin

Issue: May 2005

News

Boost for gifted children’s program

An unusual university-community program to further the interests and skills of gifted children in rural and regional areas has been given a boost.

The La Trobe University ‘Able Learners Enrichment Program’ at the Bendigo campus, has been extended this year following support from a Telstra Community Development Grant to expand it over the next two years.

Deputy Head of the School of Education at La Trobe Bendigo, Dr Michael Faulkner, said that the Telstra Foundation support had significantly improved the University’s ability to make available enrichment activities for gifted and talented youngsters in regional Victoria.

‘As a result, the University will be offering three one-day workshops for gifted young people this year, the first in May for primary school- aged children. Further workshops are planned for July and September and will cater for both primary and secondary school children.’

Dr Faulkner said until now the program had offered just one workshop each year and these had always filled to capacity with some 200 children attending from right across the north central region.

‘The grant has also enabled us to employ a co-ordinator, Ms Pam Lyons, who has been working to enhance networking with teachers and assist with parent education.’

Ms Lyons has just developed a new website for parents and schools to provide information, resources and support, and to publicise the activities of the enrichment program.

Ms Lyons says La Trobe University is the only university in Victoria offering an enrichment program to give gifted young people a chance to learn from artists, academics, community teachers and specialists in a range of fields.

Formerly known as the Daedalus Program, the workshops are offered in conjunction with PACSA (Parents Association for Children of Special Abilities), and are supported by the Department of Education and Training, the Catholic Education Office and the Bendigo Gifted Education Teachers Network.

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