Black Diamond Learning Centre (BDLC) Support Unit

A Community of Learners, A World of Opportunities

At Bulli High School, we celebrate diversity and are committed to providing a supportive learning environment where every student can thrive. Our Black Diamond Learning Centre (BDLC) offers specialised teaching and learning programs for students on the autism spectrum, ensuring each student is equipped with the tools and guidance needed to reach their personal and academic potential.

The BDLC provides a nurturing and structured environment where students are encouraged to develop academically, socially, and emotionally. Placement in the centre is made through a referral process coordinated by the Learning Support Team at the student’s home school, with final decisions determined by a regional placement panel. Once enrolled, students benefit from a highly collaborative approach, with BDLC staff maintaining regular communication with families and support networks to ensure that learning and wellbeing goals are aligned and consistently monitored.

Students follow the mainstream curriculum while receiving tailored support and opportunities to develop practical life skills. Each student has an Individualised Education Plan (IEP), created collaboratively with parents and staff, reflecting their strengths, challenges, and learning style. We also work closely with the wider school to support appropriate mainstream inclusion, whether that involves attending specific subjects, participating in year-group activities, or preparing for broader integration through targeted transition planning.

Students at the BDLC enjoy a rich variety of experiences beyond the classroom. They participate in both whole-school and BDLC-specific camps, allowing them to build independence, develop social skills, and form meaningful relationships. Our students have also excelled in extracurricular activities, including winning the BOCCIA State Championships and competing annually in tenpin bowling. In past years, BDLC students have taken part in robotics programs, creative arts workshops, and whole-school events.

A key feature of our program is Work and the Community, a subject designed to build real-world skills. Students learn essential work-ready skills and visit a range of workplaces—both supported environments such as Greenacres and Flagstaff, and mainstream workplaces like Bunnings—to gain confidence and understanding of different employment settings. Community Access excursions also provide opportunities to explore the local area, including places such as the art gallery, library, and youth centre.

As students progress into their senior years, they work closely with the Support Teacher Transition to develop personalised post-school pathways. Our graduates have gone on to achieve success in a wide range of fields, including hospitality, nursing, childcare, and chef apprenticeships, as well as specialised areas such as mechatronics at ANSTO and performance training at NIDA. Several BDLC students have also taken on leadership roles within the school, contributing proudly as part of the student leadership team.

At Bulli High School, the Black Diamond Learning Centre embodies our belief that every student deserves a world of opportunities to grow, succeed, and thrive—both at school and beyond.