Austin Hospital School vs Waratah Special Developmental School
A head-to-head comparison of two special schools in Victoria, 1.7 km apart, using official ACARA 2025 data. Best value in each row is highlighted.
Austin Hospital School
Heidelberg · Government special
Waratah Special Developmental School
Bellfield · Government special · U
73 students · ICSEA 965
| Measure | Austin Hospital School Heidelberg VIC | Waratah Special Developmental School Bellfield VIC |
|---|---|---|
| Success Index | – Not rated | – Not rated |
| State rank (type) | – | – |
| National rank (type) | – | – |
| Sector | Government | Government |
| Type | Special | Special |
| Year range | – | U |
| Students | – | 73 |
| Girls / boys | – / – | 24 / 49 |
| Foundation intake | – | – |
| Year 7 cohort | – | – |
| Year 12 cohort | – | – |
| VCE median study score VCAA, latest year | – | – |
| VCE study scores 40+ | – | – |
| 5-year enrolment growth | – | +7% |
| ICSEA Average 1000 | – | 965 |
| ICSEA percentile | – | 31th |
| Top SEA quarter | – | 13% |
| Bottom SEA quarter | – | 53% |
| Students per teacher | – | 3.5 |
| Teaching staff (FTE) | 15.3 | 20.5 |
| Non-teaching staff (FTE) | 3.0 | 24.5 |
| Language background other than English | – | 62% |
| Indigenous students | – | 4% |
| Suburb | Heidelberg 3084 | Bellfield 3081 |
| Council area | Banyule | Banyule |
| Remoteness | Major Cities | Major Cities |
| Website | austinschool.vic.edu.au/ | www.waratahsds.vic.edu.au/ |
The verdict
The Success Index summarises community advantage, resourcing and momentum from ACARA data. It does not measure teaching quality, results or fit. Methodology.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Austin Hospital School better than Waratah Special Developmental School?
The two schools are very close on the Success Index. Differences in sector, size, year range and distance from home will matter more than the score.
How far apart are Austin Hospital School and Waratah Special Developmental School?
About 1.7 km in a straight line, between Heidelberg and Bellfield in Victoria.
Which has the better student-to-teacher ratio?
Staffing data is not available for one of the schools.
How do Austin Hospital School and Waratah Special Developmental School rank in VIC?
Austin Hospital School is unranked and Waratah Special Developmental School is unranked among special schools in Victoria on the 2025 Success Index.