Giant Steps, Tasmania is a not for profit, independent, specialist school for children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Our school is the only specialised school for Autism in Tasmania and in fact was the first of its kind to be established in Australia. The school is governed by members of a Board.

Giant Steps, Tasmania was established in 1995 by a group of dedicated parents and local community supporters who were committed to ensuring focused and specialised education to suit the individualised needs of children with Autism Spectrum Challenges.

Fifteen students were enrolled in the very first intake in 1995. Currently, we have over fifty students accessing programs on either a full time or part time basis each week. A number of students are dual enrolled with their local school and access Giant Steps Programs two to three days each week. We also have a group of students who attend on a full time basis.

The school is located at 35 West Church Street in the small rural community of Deloraine. The town is a leisurely drive of approximately thirty five minutes from the cities of Devonport or Launceston

Currently there is a dedicated staff of four teachers, a Speech Pathologist, two Occupational Therapists and over twenty teacher assistants who support students in their Giant Steps program which include part-time Early Intervention, Infant, Primary and Secondary programs and a part-time Adult program

Our programs seek:
• to assist students reach their developmental potential;
• to foster authentic connections with others;
• to guide students towards achieving optimum independence.

Our programs have been designed for students to continually build upon identified goals with intensive assistance. Students will transition to, and between programs at a rate appropriate to their individual progress.

Giant Steps owns and operates three buses which are used to transport students to and from Giant Steps both from Launceston and Devonport on a daily basis.