Rachel Lam
BA, GradDip (Sec), COGE, MEd, MDis
With over 20 years of experience in Australian Independent Schools, I have worked across Foundation to Tertiary levels, supporting students, teachers, and families to create inclusive, enriching learning environments. My career has included leading Gifted and Talented programs, guiding instructional practice, mentoring educators, and supporting Deaf and hard of hearing children.
I am passionate about developing practical, evidence-based strategies that help children with additional needs to belong, grow, and thrive. My work is grounded in a strength-based, inclusive approach that empowers educators to confidently meet the diverse needs of their students, and supports families in advocating for their children.
I specialise in working with Deaf and hard of hearing students, and in gifted education. My services support individual learners and build whole-school capacity through tailored interventions, professional learning, and collaborative planning — all with the goal of creating learning environments where every child can succeed.
Services
I offer individualised support sessions for Deaf and hard of hearing students, available under NDIS funding. These sessions are tailored to each child’s unique strengths and needs, with a focus on communication, confidence, and educational access.
Support may include:
Language and literacy development
Building self-advocacy skills and confidence in school and community settings
Social skills
Curriculum access through tailored strategies and resources
Basic level Auslan or spoken language support
Collaborative planning with families, teachers, and allied professionals
All sessions are delivered using evidence-based practices and reflect my deep understanding of inclusive education and Deaf learners. Sessions are flexible and can be delivered at home, in schools, or online, depending on the child’s needs.
My school-based service as a Visiting Teacher of the Deaf, allows me to work directly with students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing within their school environments. This approach enables me to work collaboratively with schools and teachers, alongside direct support of students to ensure they are fully supported to access learning and thrive.
This service includes:
Observations and individualised support planning
Classroom-based strategies to support communication and access
Liaison with teachers, aides, and allied health professionals
Guidance around inclusive practices and Deaf awareness
Support with goal setting, reporting, and documentation
Consultation on appropriate accommodations, resources, and technologies
My approach is strength-based and practical, focusing on empowering educators and ensuring that each student can participate meaningfully in their learning. Support is available for students across all year levels and is flexible to meet the needs of the school and student.
I offer professional development and advisory services for schools across a range of specialist areas, including gifted education, inclusion, Deaf education, and differentiated teaching practices. With over 20 years of experience in Independent Schools and a strong background in both leadership and classroom practice, I support educators to create inclusive, responsive, and empowering learning environments for all students.
Key focus areas include:
Catering for the needs of Gifted and Talented students
Differentiation in planning, instruction, and assessment
Inclusive classroom practices that support diverse learners
Deaf education and supporting access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students
Building student agency and self-efficacy through strengths-based approaches
Whole-school program review and planning to strengthen inclusive practices/Gifted Education
I designs and deliver tailored workshops, in-school coaching, and strategic reviews which align to your school’s goals and context. My support aims to be practical, evidence-informed and engaging with an overall goal of building teacher confidence and capacity to meet the needs of every learner.
Contact
Interested in working together? Complete this form and I will be in touch.