All Ability Arts

Kindergarten to Year 12 students with disability

Throughout the year, the All Ability Arts program provides teachers and students of all ages and abilities with teaching, learning and performance opportunities in areas such as music, dance, visual arts, public speaking, film and drama for or to support students with disability.
student holding a red plane made from cardboard

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Enquiries

The Arts Initiatives team
The Arts Unit
[email protected]
02 8512 1190
Ashley Napoleoni
Arts Initiatives and Events Officer | The Arts Unit Student Support and Specialist Programs
The Arts Unit
[email protected]
02 8512 1190
Michelle Murphy
Arts Coordination Officer
[email protected]
0425 384 484
Michelle Davies
Coordinator
[email protected]

Connections Showcase

Connections Showcase

Program Dance Drama Film Music Visual arts

This annual showcase is an opportunity to celebrate the creativity of our NSW public school students with disability. Showcase submissions are accepted from students in Kindergarten to Year 12 who are interested in creative practices such as music, dance, visual arts, public speaking, film and drama. The creative and performing arts projects can be completed by schools, classes or individual students. Submissions are then compiled into a digital showcase celebrating the creativity of our NSW public school students with disability.
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Dance professional learning for teachers of students with disability

Dance professional learning for teachers of students with disability

Program Dance

Dance for teachers of students with disability is a 2-day workshop for teachers consisting of seminars and practical activities aimed at developing skills in teaching dance and engaging students with additional learning needs. The program is open to teachers from both NSW public and non-government schools. Sessions are facilitated by industry professionals and Department of Education teachers with specialised skills.

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Combined Schools Signing Choir

We invite students and teachers with some Auslan experience to participate in the Combined Schools Signing Choir.

Open to public school students in Year 4 to Year 12, students will learn and perform 2 songs at the prestigious Primary Proms to be held at the Sydney Town Hall on Monday 14 September and/or Tuesday 15 September 2026.

Nominations are due by 5 pm, Friday 22 May 2026.

Combined Schools Signing Choir

Local arts program Music
Students from Years 4 to 12 with some Auslan experience are invited to join the Combined Schools Signing Choir to perform at the Primary Proms concert.
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Shining Stars

Shining Stars provides opportunities for students in Metro South and West Metropolitan South including Campbelltown to engage in a relevant and meaningful arts education that caters to the needs, interests and abilities of each student. Students develop knowledge of the creative arts curriculum, life skills, performance skills and confidence as they explore creative and performing arts.

Key benefits:

  • Holistic growth: Nurture life skills, enhance performance abilities, and boost self-confidence through creative and performing arts.
  • Dynamic workshops: Engage in diverse workshops to refine creative skills and let your talents shine.
  • Forge friendships: Build meaningful connections with peers, extending beyond the program.

Professional learning

Shining Stars also provides professional learning opportunities for teachers and School Learning Support Officers (SLSO) who are interested in developing their skills in creative arts education and in learning how to use and teach dance, drama, music and visual arts effectively in the classroom to support students.

Campbelltown

Shining Stars

Program Dance Drama Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
Students engage in a relevant and meaningful arts education program.
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Digital teaching resources for students with disability

Are you looking for some fun and accessible creative arts lessons for students with a range of disability in your classroom? Look no further, we have you covered! The Arts Unit delivers professional learning and student workshops, as well as partnering with organisations such as Art Gallery of NSW to provide teaching resources, starting points and inspiration. Explore our range of online teaching resources for students with disability. These are perfect for teachers and carers to give wonderful creative learning opportunities for students.

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Programs

CApture Film Festival

Program Film
Years 9, 10 and 11
CApture Film Festival showcases films from Year 9, 10 and 11 students.
Wagga Wagga

CHORDS

Program Dance Music VET
Years 3 to 6
Local students gain invaluable experience on stage.

Combined Schools Signing Choir

Program Music
Years 4 to 12 students
Students from Years 4 to 12 with some Auslan experience are invited to join the Combined Schools Signing Choir to perform at the Primary Proms concert.

Connections Showcase

Program Dance Drama Film Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with disability

This annual showcase is an opportunity to celebrate the creativity of our NSW public school students with disability.

Film By the Hospital

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Film By the Hospital represents an innovative collaboration between the NSW Department of Education and Hospital Schools around the state.
NSW Department of Education 105 Phillip St Parramatta

Film By – d/Deaf and hard of hearing student filmmaking program

Program Film
Years 7 to 12 d/Deaf and/or hard of hearing public school students
A unique 3-day filmmaking program for students (Years 7 - 12) who identify as d/Deaf and/or hard of hearing to dive into the art of filmmaking.
Sydney Olympic Park

Pulse Alive

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
This large-scale performing arts event provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Sydney Olympic Park

Pulse Alive

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
This large-scale performing arts event provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Broken Hill

Pulse Broken Hill

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Broken Hill is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.

Pulse Deniliquin

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Deniliquin is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Moree

Pulse Moree

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Moree is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Mildura

Pulse Sunraysia

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Pulse Sunraysia is a performing arts event that provides high-quality performance opportunities to students in a creative and performing arts extravaganza.
Campbelltown

Shining Stars

Program Dance Drama Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
Students engage in a relevant and meaningful arts education program.
Monaro

Snowy Monaro Performing Arts Festival

Program Dance Drama Music VET
Kindergarten to Year 12
Performing arts festival featuring schools items in dance, drama and music for public schools across Eden Monaro and beyond.
Goulburn | Picton

Southern Tablelands Drama Festival

Program Drama
Kindergarten to Year 12
Creating a platform where students and teachers work together towards a shared artistic vision, exploring storytelling, movement, and theatrical expression.
Newcastle | Maitland | Port Stephens | Central Coast

The Hunter Signing Choir

Program Music
Students

The Hunter Signing Choir provides social, educational and performing arts opportunities for students who are hard of hearing within the Hunter region.
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Programs

Connections Showcase

Program Dance Drama Film Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with disability

This annual showcase is an opportunity to celebrate the creativity of our NSW public school students with disability.

Dance workshops for students with disability

Program Dance
Years 3 to 12 students and teachers
Providing students with disability the opportunity to explore dance.

Dance professional learning for teachers of students with disability

Program Dance
Teachers
Inclusively engage students with additional learning needs

Combined Schools Signing Choir

Program Music
Years 4 to 12 students
Students from Years 4 to 12 with some Auslan experience are invited to join the Combined Schools Signing Choir to perform at the Primary Proms concert.
South West Sydney

Shining Stars – Dance

Program Dance
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
Dance workshops that cater to the abilities of each student.
South West Sydney

Shining Stars – Drama

Program Drama
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
Provides opportunities for students with a disability to engage in drama workshops that caters to the needs, interests and abilities of each student.
South West Sydney

Shining Stars – Music

Program Music
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
Provides opportunities for students with a disability to engage in music workshops that caters to the needs, interests and abilities of each student.
South West Sydney

Shining Stars – Visual arts

Program Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability
Provides opportunities for students with a disability to engage in visual arts workshops that caters to the needs, interests and abilities of each student.

Film By the Hospital

Program Film
Kindergarten to Year 11
Film By the Hospital represents an innovative collaboration between the NSW Department of Education and Hospital Schools around the state.
NSW Department of Education 105 Phillip St Parramatta

Film By – d/Deaf and hard of hearing student filmmaking program

Program Film
Years 7 to 12 d/Deaf and/or hard of hearing public school students
A unique 3-day filmmaking program for students (Years 7 - 12) who identify as d/Deaf and/or hard of hearing to dive into the art of filmmaking.
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Related digital resources

Dancing with D'Arts

Creative Resource Dance
With
Virginia Ferris
Teachers
Dancing with D’Arts is a series of video masterclasses with specialist dance teachers and is designed to assist you in creating an inclusive dance program in your school.

Inclusive visual arts for students in various contexts

Creative Teachers Visual arts
A series of visual arts lesson plans to assist teachers in differentiated planning, programming, and assessment to ensure that individual students learning needs are met. All lesson plans based on 2021 Operation Art artworks submitted by students from Schools for Specific Purposes.

Drama for inclusivity

Creative Teachers Drama
Teachers
Simple and beneficial strategies that support teachers to enhance learning for all students and build a safer environment for inclusivity.

Portrait painting

Art Bites Visual arts
With
Neil Tomkins and Digby Webster
Years 4 to 8, Years 7 to 12 life skills

These inclusive lessons, led by artists Digby Webster and Neil Tomkins, examine their artmaking tips for portrait painting.

Green fingernails

Creative Class Dance
Kindergarten to Year 4 dance

Dance to develop locomotor and non-locomotor movement skills

Auslan basics

Creative Resource Creative Teachers

Watch demonstrations of basic Auslan signs, which can be incorporated into your interactions with d/Deaf or hard-of-hearing students to foster a more inclusive learning environment.

Connections Showcase 2024

Creative Resource Dance Drama Music Visual arts
Kindergarten to Year 12 students with a disability and their teachers
An opportunity to celebrate the creativity of our students with disability.

Practical teaching resources for your signing choir

Creative Teachers Music Password required
With
Rhonda Hughes
Teachers

Drawn from The Arts Unit 2022 choral series, these videos will support you in teaching your signing choir. There are three videos for each song: a lesson, a performance and a spoken version.
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All Arts Units programs are inclusive. If support is required to participate in the All Ability Arts program, please email [email protected] so we can assist.