Disability Inclusion - Education for All (AUSLAN)

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Your child is one of a kind and each child has different strengths and ability to learn. That’s why the Victorian Government is investing nearly $1.6 billion in Disability Inclusion.

Disability Inclusion will change the way students with disability are supported in government schools so that every student can do well at school and in life.

Schools will have more funding to support students to learn at school and there will be a new process to understand what students need.

Teachers and school staff will also have access to more training and coaching to learn about the best ways to support your child’s learning and make changes in the classroom to allow your child and others to learn better.

All students have different needs.

Because of this, Disability Inclusion funding will be expanded and given to schools in three parts.

1 – Schools will receive funding to support student learning through the usual school budget process, called the Student Resource Package.

2 – New funding has been introduced for schools to strengthen support for students with disability.

Schools can use it for:

more training and professional development for teachers and school staff
getting expert advice about disability
hiring teachers or other staff to help plan and deliver changes for students
equipment and resources to support learning

3 – The third part of the funding is to support individual students who have high and complex needs.

Over time, this will replace the Program for Students with Disabilities. With Disability Inclusion funding, current supports will continue for students, and more support will be provided if needed.

With expert advice, schools can use this funding for: programs and activities created to suit student needs, specialist staff, such as teachers or allied health professionals and assistive technology and communication aids.

Schools can also use the funding to make changes in the classroom.

You and your family know your child best. And your school and support staff know how students learn.

All that knowledge is captured through a Student Support Group. The support group brings together the people who understand your child’s needs.

Under Disability Inclusion, students with high needs will have a written description of their strengths and needs at school.

This is called the Disability Inclusion Profile and is completed in a Student Support Group meeting.

A specially trained facilitator will run the meeting, which focuses on a student’s strengths and learning goals.

Everyone in the meeting will be asked to share their thoughts and ideas.

To help create the profile, families can also bring other information, such as NDIS plans or other assessments.

The profile will help map out the adjustments a student needs and what extra funding a school might need for students with high needs.

Your school will transition to the new Disability Inclusion approach between now and 2025, depending on which area the school is in.

If your child is part of the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD), nothing will change until Disability Inclusion is introduced at your school.

When your school is ready for Disability Inclusion, they’ll get in touch with you about what you need to do.

From 2021, Disability Inclusion introduces more professional learning, training and coaching for school staff.

This means that more teachers will have a better understanding of disability and how to respond.

We know that inclusive schools have better outcomes in learning, engagement and wellbeing

for all students, not just those with disability.

Disability Inclusion will make sure all students are supported and add value in the classroom and on the playground. Because in Victoria, the Education State, every student matters.

Visit www.education.vic.gov.au/disabilityinclusion for more information and to find out when your school is introducing Disability Inclusion.

Updated 3 April 2024

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Disability Inclusion - Education for All (AUSLAN)

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