Dawn Grant-Skiba
Warrah Specialist School, NSW
Dharug
Teaching Fellow
Dr Dawn Grant-Skiba is the Principal and Executive of Warrah Specialist School, an independent K–12 school on a 12-hectare bushland campus in Dural, NSW, inspired by Rudolf Steiner education and dedicated to students with moderate to severe intellectual disability, and complex learning needs.
Under Dawn’s leadership, Warrah has built on its established strengths in life skills and outdoor curriculum while advancing evidence-informed practice. Dawn initiated the school’s internship program, now supporting teaching, research and professional learning. This work has generated inclusive partnerships and a dedicated self-determination program, strengthening a culture where student voice, participation, choice and agency inform practice. This continues alongside Warrah’s longstanding commitment to personalised learning, high staff-to-student ratios and strengths-based assessment.
Dawn designed and implemented Warrah’s Transition Program for senior students, which received national recognition in 2025 through an innovation award, preparing students for life beyond school through work experience, wellbeing practices, and daily living skills. She also co-designed a Staff Wellbeing Framework to sustain and strengthen Warrah’s specialist workforce.
Beyond Warrah, Dawn contributes to the broader education sector through research, conference presentations and published work. She has contributed to the Grattan Institute’s Education Program advisory panel on small group tuition and has presented at education conferences, including AATE/ALEA National Conference and specialist education forums. Her published work further extends her contribution to evidence-informed educational practice.
Her work is grounded in a deep belief that every student, including those with complex and significant learning needs, deserves high-quality learning experiences, meaningful opportunities to participate, and the support to develop the skills, relationships and confidence needed to live a fulfilling and happy life.