Changing Australia: Todd McCoy and Simone Xirakis and building inclusivity in school

04/11/2025 12 min
Changing Australia: Todd McCoy and Simone Xirakis and building inclusivity in school

Listen "Changing Australia: Todd McCoy and Simone Xirakis and building inclusivity in school"

Episode Synopsis


The Disability Royal Commission highlighted many failings for people with disabilities, with some commissioners recommending that segregated schools be phased out by 2051.One of the principles behind this recommendation was the need for mainstream schools to become more inclusive for children with disabilities.The concept of inclusion is behind one program at a public primary school in Canberra, which has chosen Australian sign language — Auslan — as its second language for all its students, while celebrating deaf culture, identity and history.Guests:Todd McCoy, deputy principal of Mt Rogers Primary SchoolSimone Xirakis, specialist Auslan teacher

More episodes of the podcast Radio National Breakfast