Our school welcomes Australian Defence Force members and their families to join our community. We offer the services of a Defence School Transition Aide (DSTA) Melanie Kirkpatrick, to provide support in joining a new community.

How could a DSTA help you?

A DSTA is like a teacher’s assistant but they are employed to assist families as they relocate to a new school.

They help children of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families, particularly during their transition into and out of a school on posting or during parental absence to deployment, exercise or courses.

They may:

• Organise activities which welcome and farewell Australian Defence Force families and help them settle in to the new school community
• Assist the school to understand the needs of Australian Defence Force parents and their children 
• Inform the school and support families if ADF members are deployed
• Help families with special needs
• Assist families collect work portfolios and academic records or reports for the new school 
• Act as a point of contact for Australian Defence Force families in a new school

 Melanie Kirkpatrick is our newly appointed DSTA.

Melanie works closely with Les Needham, the Regional Educational Liaison Officer to support our Defence families.

Melanie can be contacted through the front office on 82841666 or email: melanie.kirkpatrick@playfordr7.sa.edu.au