Welcome to our website and welcome to the Barrett Adolescent School. My name is Debbie Rankin and I have the privilege of being the Acting Principal and have done so since 2013. The school and staff have done an amazing job of coping with constant change and always putting our students, their families and their support first. This school provides me with a wonderful opportunity not only to share my knowledge and skills in the area of education and adolescents with mental health issues, but to also learn from the richness and diversity of our amazing and extensive community.
I came to Barrett Adolescent Centre Special School in 1999 as a Specialist Teacher. This was the first unit of its kind in the state catering to the needs of students with mental health issues but the Centre was closed in 2013 and the school continued in a new form. We are presently supporting students who have a base school but their moderate and chronic mental health issues are getting in the way of the best education outcomes for them.
Our staff has a strong belief that the adolescents who come to Barrett Adolescent School can succeed with the right adjustments. This belief is fuelled by the successes of many of our past students who have kept in touch with the school. We value our very collaborative approach to managing our community and the school's ability to give all stakeholders a voice.
Debbie Rankin
B.A., Post Grad.Dip.Teach, M.Mental Health, Art Therapy.