Fremantle Language Development Centre is one of five Language Development Centres (LDCs) located across the metropolitan area.
Language Development Centres in Western Australia were established under the leadership of Marie Donovan. In 1980, while serving as Principal of the Mosman Park School for the Deaf, Marie recognised the need for an education system that supported students with normal hearing who experienced communication disorders affecting their ability to learn in mainstream classrooms.
Her research and advocacy led to the establishment of the first Language Development Centre classroom in 1982, consisting of one teacher and six students. Under her leadership, the program grew rapidly, and additional Language Development Centres were established across the metropolitan area to meet increasing demand.
In 2003, Marie Donovan was seconded to develop an educational model that would provide equitable, statewide services for students across Western Australia. This work led to the implementation of a statewide outreach service in 2005, supporting schools and classroom teachers to better assist students with speech and language difficulties in mainstream settings.
Fremantle Language Development Centre was originally established as Carawatha Language Development Centre, with Marie Donovan as the school’s founding principal. In 2005, Carawatha Primary School and Willagee Primary School were amalgamated to form Caralee Community School. At this time, the Carawatha Language Development Centre was renamed Fremantle Language Development Centre and relocated to the new site. Today, we operate across three sites: Willagee (main site), Bull Creek, and Beeliar.
More information about other LDCs can be found here: Language development centres – Department of Education