Specialist schools

School enrolment options

In Victoria, there are a range of government school options. These include:

designated neighbourhood schools, known as local schools. Your local (zoned) school is usually the government school closest to your child’s permanent residential address. More information is available at Find my School.
specialist schools for students with specific disability and high needs.
schools that cater for specific curriculum needs. For example, high achieving students or bilingual schools.

Local schools

Every student has the right to attend their local school. Students with disability have the same right to enrol in their local school as students without disability.

All schools have responsibilities for the inclusion of children with disability. All schools must make reasonable adjustments so that students with disability can access the curriculum on the same basis as other students. All Victorian government schools get help to support students with disability.

Most Victorian students with disability and high needs attend local schools.

You can also apply to a local school that is not your zoned school. Read information about how these applications are prioritised.

You may choose to seek enrolment for your child at a specialist school, provided:

the child is eligible for enrolment and
there are available places at the school.

Specialist schools

There are a range of Victorian government specialist schools. These schools provide education for eligible students aged from 5 to 18 who have specific disability and high needs.

On this page, the term ‘specialist school’ means both specialist schools and campuses. They can be co-located with local schools or operate as standalone facilities.

Specialist schools have a limited number of places available. This means that enrolment cannot be guaranteed, even if a student meets the eligibility criteria of a specialist school.

Specialist schools cater for types of disability. This is called ‘specialisation’. They also have specific enrolment eligibility criteria. These are set out in the school’s enrolment policy.

The disability specialisations are:

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Intellectual disability school

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with intellectual disability, including those with additional disabilities.

Mild

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with a mild intellectual disability. These are also known as ‘special schools’.

Mild to profound

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with a mild through to profound intellectual disability. These are also known as ‘dual-mode’ or ‘multi-mode’ specialist schools.

Moderate to profound

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with a moderate to profound intellectual disability. These are also known as ‘special developmental schools’ or ‘SDS’.

Autism school

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for autistic students with severe language impairment and high needs.

Deaf school

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students who are deaf or hard of hearing (bilateral, that is moderate/severe/profound).

Physical disability school

A type of specialist school that provides specialist education programs for students with significant physical disability and/or a significant health impairment who require regular paramedical support.

Supported inclusion schools

Supported inclusion schools are different to specialist schools. They are local schools that have facilities to provide extra support for students with a disability. Specialised facilities may include sensory areas, accessible play spaces and wider corridors.

Children living outside the school’s zone may be prioritised for enrolment if they meet the school’s specialist eligibility criteria. Read more about supported inclusion schools.

Choosing to enrol in a local or specialist school

Getting information and advice can help you to decide if a local school or specialist school is the most suitable setting for your child. It is useful to investigate school options and plan early, if possible.

Places at many specialist schools are limited. Enrolment is not necessarily guaranteed, even if your child meets the eligibility criteria.

To guide your decision, you can:

access information about schooling options by visiting school websites and My School
read about things to consider when your child is starting school. The Primary School Parent Guide | AllPlay Learn may also be useful
discuss options with your child’s allied health professionals and early educators
visit your local school or schools that you are interested in.

Before deciding if you would like to enrol your child in a specialist school, you may wish to talk to your local school. You can also talk to the specialist school about your child’s needs.

Enrolment eligibility criteria for specialist schools

Unlike local (zoned) schools, enrolment in a specialist school is not guaranteed. Students must meet specific eligibility and enrolment criteria. Even then, enrolment is subject to the availability of places at the school.

To enrol in a specialist school, students must meet the specific school’s eligibility criteria. These criteria match the school’s specialisation. Visit the website for the school(s) you are interested in to check their specific enrolment eligibility criteria.

The criteria for each disability category are listed below.

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Intellectual disability

sub-average general intellectual functioning which is demonstrated by a full-scale score of two standard deviations or more below the mean score on a standardised individual test of general intelligence, and
significant deficits in adaptive behaviour established by a composite score of two standard deviations or more below the mean on an approved standardised test of adaptive behaviour, and
a history and evidence of an ongoing problem with an expectation of continuation during the school years.

Documentation required to support the above

A signed psychologist’s report from within the last 24 months reporting the results of an IQ test and assessment of adaptive behaviour.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, and
significant deficits in adaptive behaviour established at a composite score of two standard deviations or more below the mean on an approved standardised test of adaptive behaviours, and
significant deficits in language skills established by a comprehensive speech pathology assessment demonstrating a composite score of two standard deviations or more below the mean

Documentation required to support the above

A diagnosis provided by professionals with experience and knowledge in the assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder that includes:

comprehensive report from a child psychiatrist or paediatrician and
concurring reports signed by a psychologist, including a comprehensive assessment of adaptive behaviour (not more than 12 months old) and
a signed report from a speech pathologist containing a comprehensive speech pathology assessment (not more than 12 months old) and where appropriate, an occupational therapist.

Physical disability

a significant physical disability, and/or
a significant health impairment, and
requires regular paramedical support.

Documentation required to support the above

a statement detailing the disability or health impairment from a relevant medical specialist, and
a statement detailing paramedical service requirements from a registered physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

Hearing impairment

a bilateral sensory-neural hearing loss that is moderate/severe/profound, and
the child needs intervention or assistance to communicate.

Documentation required to support the above

An audiogram with a written statement from a qualified audiologist.

Some specialist schools have extra, school-specific enrolment criteria. You can find this on the school’s website, in their local enrolment policy. Enrolment is also subject to the availability of student places.

Enrolling in a specialist school

The list below explains how to apply for enrolment in a specialist school. Click on each heading to read the information.

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Identify the specialist school(s) located near you

Identify schools that you are interested in, based on your child’s needs.

You can search for specialist schools near you at findmyschool.vic.gov.au. The website includes:

a map and a list of specialist schools near your home address
the type of disability they support
school contact details.

Find out about the enrolment eligibility criteria for specialist schools

Specialist schools have specific enrolment eligibility criteria. These are set out in the school’s enrolment policy.

Visit the website of the specialist school(s) that you are interested in. You can find out more about the school, their eligibility criteria and how to apply. Some schools may offer tours to prospective families.

You can also contact one of our regional offices. They can talk to you about other types of learning arrangements. For example, enrolling your child in both a local school and a specialist school. This is called ‘dual enrolment’.

Gather evidence and undertake assessments

Either your local school or specialist school can help you to apply to enrol at a specialist school. Check the specialist school website for details.

The school will work with you to gather the documents about your child’s disability. The documents include assessment information from professionals. This information is needed to check if your child is eligible. The school will tell you if further information or assessment is needed.

The assessment information that is needed depends on the type of school you are seeking to enrol in.

Intellectual disability school

Either your local school or the specialist school will make a referral to the department’s assessment service to conduct a cognitive assessment, if this has not already been completed.

Deaf, autism or physical disability school

You will need to:

gather information about your child’s disability and
organise assessments to support your child’s eligibility. The school can help guide you on what information and documents are required.

Transferring between specialist schools with the same enrolment criteria

If your child is transferring from one specialist school to another specialist school:

check with the school you intend to enrol
the school will help you to determine if new assessments or other supporting evidence are required.

Enrolment request and assessment verification

Once you have gathered all the relevant information:

the school will submit the documents to the department’s assessment verification service
the verification service checks if the assessment information meets the department’s eligibility criteria.

The verification service does not decide enrolment. Even if your child is verified as eligible, this does not guarantee an enrolment place. Enrolment decisions are made by the school, and specialist schools have a limited number of places.

The school will contact you if any further information is required.

Enrolment decision confirmed

The school will inform you of the enrolment request outcome.

An enrolment decision is made based on whether:

your child meets the eligibility criteria
your child meets the enrolment criteria in the school’s enrolment policy and
the school has enough space. If a specialist school does not have enough places for all eligible students, applications will be prioritised according to the ‘priority order of placement’. Find this in the school’s local enrolment policy.

Appealing enrolment decisions

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Students who meet a specialist school’s enrolment criteria

If your child is eligible but has not been offered a place, you can lodge a written appeal with the specialist school.

Once your appeal has been received, a staff member from the regional office may contact you with further information. Appeals are considered based on:

the specialist school’s eligibility criteria and
other local factors, such as the availability of space, the priority order of placement, and support available at the school.

Students who do not meet a specialist school’s enrolment criteria

In limited circumstances, you may request to enrol your child at a specialist school based on their individual needs and circumstances.

This can occur even if your child does not meet the school’s eligibility criteria, or if their eligibility is unclear. In these circumstances the specialist school will work with you to submit a non-standard enrolment appeal application.

The Regional Director will consider your application. They will look at the child’s specific individual education and support needs in relation to what the specialist school can provide. Approval is not guaranteed.

Transport support for students at specialist schools

Once your child is enrolled at a specialist school, you may be able to get help with transporting them to and from school.

Learn more about getting help with transporting your child to and from school. You can also ask the school for advice about student transport.

Education & training Parents & carers

Updated 23 March 2026

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Mini vic.gov.au

Specialist schools

On this page

School enrolment options

Local schools

Specialist schools

Mild

Mild to profound

Moderate to profound

Supported inclusion schools

Choosing to enrol in a local or specialist school

Enrolment eligibility criteria for specialist schools

Documentation required to support the above

Documentation required to support the above

Documentation required to support the above

Documentation required to support the above

Enrolling in a specialist school

Intellectual disability school

Deaf, autism or physical disability school

Transferring between specialist schools with the same enrolment criteria

Appealing enrolment decisions

Transport support for students at specialist schools

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