St Mary’s College Year 10 student Zryan enjoyed a memorable and enriching experience during the Year 10 Retreat in Perth, where he was supported by St Mary’s College staff and Angela Spinks, SSENS Teacher of the Deaf, and Andrew, an Auslan Language Mentor (ALM). Together, they ensured Zryan could participate in every aspect of the retreat while strengthening his confidence, communication skills and future aspirations.
A highlight of the trip was visiting the Shenton College Deaf Education Centre several times, where Zryan joined other Deaf and hard of hearing students in their regular classes, learning activities and at recess and lunch for social interactions. He also participated in a social group, introducing himself, sharing where he is from and talking about his family while learning about other students as they shared their own stories. The experience provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with peers who share similar experiences and to strengthen his sense of belonging within the Deaf community.
Throughout the visit, Zryan was supported by Natalie Giancono, Director of Learning Diversity, and Laurence Westrip, Music Teacher, who accompanied him during several sessions at Shenton College. For Mr Westrip, the visit was particularly meaningful, as he is a former Shenton College student. Returning to the school brought back fond memories of his own Deaf friend from his school days, and he shared with Zryan how special it was to reconnect with a place that had played such an important part in his own education.
Another exciting part of the retreat was attending Construction Futures, where Andrew supported Zryan to fully engage in the hands-on activities. Zryan quickly impressed everyone with his ability to operate the crane simulator, confidently taking on the challenge and demonstrating excellent skills.
Andrew, who is a qualified carpenter, spoke passionately about the value of Construction Futures, describing it as an outstanding opportunity for young people to explore careers in the construction industry. Andrew is from Perth and now working with young people, Andrew reflected on how rewarding it was to see students from Broome accessing experiences that even many Perth students have not had the opportunity to enjoy.
The retreat also included a visit to Fremantle Prison, where Zryan was able to access Auslan-interpreted videos throughout the tour. Having information presented in Auslan enabled him to engage more fully with the history of the site and enjoy an experience that was genuinely accessible. While this was an excellent example of inclusive practice, it also highlighted the importance of increasing Auslan access across community settings. Greater availability of Auslan-interpreted resources, videos and services would help ensure Deaf people can participate more fully and independently in tourism, education and everyday community life.
The Year 10 Retreat showcased the importance of collaboration between St Mary’s College, SSENS and community partners in creating inclusive learning experiences. Through these opportunities, Zryan developed new friendships, built confidence in his communication, explored future career pathways and experienced the wider Deaf community in a meaningful and supportive way.
We sincerely thank Angela Spinks, Andrew, the staff at Shenton College Deaf Education Centre and everyone who supported Zryan throughout the retreat. Experiences like these demonstrate the power of inclusive partnerships and ensure our students can access the same opportunities as their peers while celebrating their strengths, culture and identity
