The Albany and Geographe Bush Rangers WA units have won the Secondary Schools Section in the Count Us In Awards, presented on the International Day of People with Disability, 3 December 2009.

The Count Us In Awards showcase initiatives that strengthen opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in community life and celebrate efforts at fostering an equitable community for everyone.

Bush Rangers WA Coordinator Rich Weatherill nominated the Bush Rangers Units established in Albany Secondary Education Support Centre and Geographe Education Support Centre, both of which are designed to cater for students with disabilities.

“The two Bush Ranger Units came together twice in 2009 to carry out activities that help the environment, build confidence and give the cadets experiences outside the boundaries of their normal lives,” he said.

“The contribution of these schools has resulted in tangible environmental results through the hard work of 32 students who have a physical or mental disability.

Rich said that as part of the Bush Rangers WA program, students with special needs were supported to make meaningful contributions to conservation projects and learn a range of skills that will help them in life and future education and employment.

“During a joint camp at Wharncliffe Mill the cadets worked together on the Gatekeeper project, removing litter and foreign weeds. They returned to their communities inspired by these experiences and, by being able to make a tangible difference, have helped people see them for what they are: positive contributing community members,” he said.

At Albany Secondary Education Support Centre, where all the cadets have learning difficulties, unit leaders tailor the Bush Rangers WA theoretical content to suit the cadets’ needs. At Geographe Education Support Centre cadets take an active role in supporting each other and providing assistance to less able members of the group.

“As well as the confidence and skills the program instills in its participants, the partnership between Albany Secondary Education Support Centre and Geographe Education Support Centre has resulted in a number of positive outcomes for the environment and Western Australian community,” Rich said.

“Students and teachers from Geographe Education Support Centre have become members of their local Coast Care group and the unit has adopted a section of beach which they regularly clean-up and the Albany Education Support Centre was one of the first groups to Adopt-a-Spot as part of Keep Australia Beautiful’s initiative.

(L-R) Gemma Bosnjak (Principal, Geographe ESC), Gillian Piirto (Instructor, Geographe ESC), Sue Bailey (Instructor, Albany Secondary ESC), Ron Kawalilak (Director SDCA, DEC), Karen Dale (Principal, Albany Secondary ESC), Bronwen Worthington (Unit Leader, Geographe ESC), Georgina Mullins (Instructor, Albany ESC), Sheree Hepworth (Instructor, Geographe ESC), Rich Weatherill (Program Coordinator, Bush Rangers WA, DEC)