Student support groups for children with additional needs

A student support group can help students with additional needs at school.

On this page

• How a student support group is set up
• Student support group meetings
• Using an advocate or support person
• Guidelines and advice
• If you’re unhappy with a student support group

Our site also has specific information about different disabilities, including:

• physical disability
• learning difficulties
• intellectual disability
• autism
• hearing loss
• vision impairment.

If your child has a disability or additional needs, a student support group can help them get the right support at school.

For an Easy English version of this topic, see:

• How to work with your child’s school and information about student support groups (pdf - 749KB)

A student support group gives you the opportunity to work with your child’s school to make decisions about their education and check their progress.

The group includes:

• you – as your child’s parent or carer
• the teacher or teachers who have responsibility for your child
• the school principal or a nominee – for example, the assistant principal.

It can also include:

• any other people who work with your child, as agreed by the group – for example a social worker or medical professional
• your support person or advocate – if you choose to use one
• your child – if appropriate.

Your child can attend student support group meetings, but there may be times when this is not appropriate. Even if they do not attend, your child’s preferences can be considered when the group makes decisions.

How a student support group is set up

It’s the principal’s responsibility to set up and run the student support group. This may be delegated to another staff member.

If your child has a disability or additional needs and does not have a student support group, ask the school to organise one.

All students supported by Disability Inclusion or the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) must be supported by a student support group. It is strongly encouraged that any student with additional needs has a student support group.

Student support group meetings

For students supported by Disability Inclusion or the PSD, student support group meetings take place at least once every school term. The principal or their nominee organises the meetings.

At the meetings, you may work with the rest of the group to:

• consider your child’s learning needs and views
• make an individual education plan for your child
• plan reasonable adjustments to support your child’s participation
• plan your child’s personal or medical care at school
• plan transitions – for example, from primary to secondary school
• check your child’s progress.

Using an advocate or support person

You have the right to bring an advocate or support person to a student support group meeting.

An advocate may be a friend, supportive community member, a family member or a formal advocate. The advocate cannot be paid for this.

An advocate or support person can explain the terminology used by the school and help you express your point of view. They cannot make decisions for you.

Guidelines and advice

The student support guidanceand resourcesinclude templates you can use for student support group meetings.

ACD: advocating for Children with Disability gives advice about attending student support meetings.

If you’re unhappy with a student support group

If you have any concerns about a student support group, speak to the school’s principal first.

Contact the school’s regional office if you’re unhappy with how the principal dealt with your concern. The regional disabilities coordinator can advise you about educational support for your child.

Education & training

Updated 26 March 2026

About the VIC Government

• The Premier and ministers
• Find a Vic Gov department, agency or service
• Strategies and policies
• Inquiries and royal commissions

Grants and programs

Jobs and careers

• Apprenticeships Victoria
• Finding a job guide

Arts, culture and heritage

Business and the workplace

• Mentally Healthy Workplaces Framework
• Portable Long Service Authority
• Victoria’s racing industry
• Workforce Inspectorate Victoria
• Liquor licensing, sale and supply

Communities

• Children
• First Peoples - State Relations
• Finding records
• Gender equality & women’s leadership
• LGBTIQA+ equality
• Multicultural communities
• Seniors Online
• Veterans support and commemoration
• Volunteering in Victoria
• Youth Central

Education and training

• Victorian Early Childhood Regulatory Authority
• Early childhood education – information for professionals
• Kinder: Best Start, Best Life
• Education – information for parents
• Schools.Vic - information for schools
• Education grants, programs, awards and events
• PROTECT
• TAFE, training and universities sector
• TAFE Victoria
• Victorian Skills Authority
• Apprenticeships Victoria
• Learn Local

Environment, water and energy

• Building Victoria’s circular economy
• Recycling Victoria home

Finance and economy

• Economic Growth Statement

Health and social support

• Family violence reform
• NDIS Worker Screening Check
• NDIS and disability services and support in Victoria
• Patient Review Panel
• Transforming Trauma Victoria

Housing and property

• Housing Registrar
• Opening doors
• Know Your Council

Law and justice

• Adoption
• Births, deaths and marriages
• Honorary justices
• Machete ban
• Safeguarding Victorians against terrorism
• Stolen Generations Reparations Package
• Victims of Crime
• Victorian Racing Tribunal

Safety and emergencies

• Emergency Recovery Victoria
• Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation
• Emergency Recovery Resource Portal
• How well do you know fire
• Fire Services Reform
• Water safety
• Marine Search and Rescue

Science and technology

• Data sharing and open data
• Data.vic - discover and access Vic Gov open data
• Developer.Vic - portal for API developers
• Go.vic URL shortener
• Vic Gov IT project dashboard
• Victoria’s free public wi-fi network
• Cyber security in the Victorian Government

Sport and recreation

Traffic and transport

• Cameras Save Lives
• Transport Fines
• Getting Around
• Transport Planning
• Transport Future
• Climate Change and transport
• Future Directions For Transport
• Transport projects
• Ports and Freight

Working in the Victorian Government

• Single Digital Presence home
• Accommodation and Library Services
• Executive employment in the Victorian public sector
• Budget, procurement and funding
• Careers in the Victorian Government
• Council and Regulator Toolkit
• Guidelines for working in government
• Join a government network
• Standards and guidelines
• VicFleet CarPool
• Victorian Government style guide