Port Phillip Specialist School is actively engaged in research. In 2003-2006 the school was an Industry Partner on an ARC Linkage Grant entitled “Assessment and treatment software for developmental disabilities based on neuroscientific theories for information processing”. This grant was a cooperative effort between the school and Professor David Crewther of the Behaviour Sciences Institute at Swinburne University and Prof Sheila Crewther at Latrobe University. In 2007, the School also partnered with the Assessment Research Centre, Faculty of Education, The University of Melbourne and the Department of Education Victoria for another ARC Linkage project entitled “Profiling Developmental Standards of Learning for Students with Intellectual Disabilities”. This three year project is aimed at developing an appropriate curriculum for children with Intellectual Disabilities across the State of Victoria.
The school has supported numerous University student and staff research projects by providing participants and advice on projects. The school requires that projects have approval from a formally constituted Ethics Committee and approval by the Department of Education before allowing participation by families or students.
The school also has extensive collaborative connections with all the major Universities in Victoria and takes students on teaching rounds, clinical placements, and fieldwork experiences. These University students are frequently engaged in project work related to our school.