Defence Transition Aide
Streeton Primary School is federally funded to employ a Defence Services Transition Aide. Her name is Karina Matschke and she is available to answer questions from Defence families about Streeton Primary School and our local community. She can be contacted on 03 9435 6070 or via email karina.matschke.@edumail.vic.gov.au
What does a Defence Service Transition Aide do?
A DSTA is like a Teacher's Aide, but they are employed through federal funding to help ADF families as they relocate to a new school and community.
A DSTA.....
- assists the school to understand the needs of ADF parents and their families
- informs the school and supports families if ADF familes are deployed
-helps families with special needs
-assists students to paln work portfolios and academic records for the new school
-acts as a pont of contact for all ADF families
Who does a DSTA help?
The DSTA supports all defence children at the school, as required, with their learning and social needs.
Why do we have DSTA's in schools?
The ADF acknowledges the supprt that deployed families need and provide funding to employ DSTA's in certain schools near ADF bases in Australia. Sometimes children have dificulty settling into a new school. They may have trouble making new friends, or understanding and adjusting to new routines. The DSTA helps the families to feel part of the community. DSTA's answer questions and link families to the right support.
Is the DSTA a teacher?
No, the DSTA is not a teacher, but they provide support in the classroom to ADF students, as required.
Where are DSTA's located?
They are located in 68 schools across Australia. Not all schools with ADF families have DSTA's. Streeton Primary School has a Defence Aide because we take the majority of Defence students in the Watsonia/Yallambie/Viewbank/Macleod area, or other areas near to Simpson barracks. Somem members are posted to Victoria Barracks, or reserve units, or Point Cook, even Puckapunyal or Bandiana.
How do I find out which schools have DSTA's?
You can ring the REDLO (Refional Education Liasin Offocer) at DCO (Defence Community Organisation) on 03 9282 3006. Or, you can speak with your current school's DSTA, who will be able to advise you.
Please feel free to contact Karina Matschke on the numbers stated above. Or contact the Assistant Principal, Lee Pollard, or the Principal, Bronwen Lamond.
