South Coogee Public School lies within the vicinity of Randwick Barracks, Victoria Barracks and Garden Island and therefore a number of defence force families attend the school in any given year. As a result, the school offers the Defence School Transition Aide (DSTA) Program, funded by the Department of Defence, to the families of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) members.

A DSTA works at the school, 8.5 hours per week to provide support to these often very mobile families during the transition into and out of South Coogee, and whenever a serving member is deployed.

The duties of the DSTA may include the following:

• Introducing ADF parents and children to the school and its facilities
• Organising activities to welcome and farewell ADF families
• Informing the school when ADF members are employed overseas
• Coordinating activities for ADF children when a parent is deployed.
• Helping families to collect work portfolios and academic records/reports for the new school.
• Acting as a point of contact for ASF families in the school
• Providing opportunities for ADF families to meet other ADF families
• Supporting the needs of individual ADF children as required, though not working with any one child on a long term basis
• Contributing to the school newsletter
• Assisting the school to understand the special needs for ADF parents and their children.

South Coogee Public School is the only school in the Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs with a DSTA.

The DSTA at South Coogee Public School is Angie Sutton, who works at the school onMondays and Tuesdays and may be contacted via the School office on 9349 4000 or the school email address.

Defence kids helping Defence Kids Art Competition

ANZAC_Day_2009