This policy currently applies to schools in the Bayside Peninsula, Barwon, Loddon Campaspe, Mallee, Central Highlands and Outer Eastern Melbourne Areas as well as 7 specific supported inclusion schools. The Program for Students with process will remain unchanged for schools in all other Areas.
Policy
This policy outlines how schools can plan for and implement the Disability Inclusion funding model. This is relevant to schools in Bayside Peninsula, Barwon, Loddon Campaspe, Mallee, Central Highlands and Outer Eastern Melbourne Areas, and 7 supported inclusion in 2021.
Summary
- The Disability Inclusion reform package will be introduced over a staged rollout between 2021 to 2025 as a new funding and support model for students with disability.
- Schools in the Bayside Peninsula, Barwon and Loddon Campaspe Areas and 5 supported inclusion schools will participate in Year 1 of the Disability Inclusion rollout from Term 3, 2021. Schools in the Mallee, Central Highlands, and Outer Eastern Melbourne and two newly opened supported inclusion schools will participate in Year 2 of the rollout in 2022. Refer to the Guidance tab for Disability Inclusion funding and support implementation guidelines and Student Resource Package – Disability Inclusion Tier 2 school-level funding for information on how Disability Inclusion Tier 2 funding is allocated.
- The Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) process will remain unchanged for schools in all other Areas in 2021 and 2022. Refer to Program for Students with .
- Disability Inclusion will progressively replace the PSD and the Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program (LLDSP), with a significant increase in investment.
Details
Disability Inclusion will introduce:
- a new school funding model for students with disability, with 2 new funding allocations (Tier 2 school-level funding and Tier 3 student-level funding) to support inclusive practice in schools
- a new Disability Inclusion Profile process to help schools and families identify the strengths, needs and educational adjustments schools can make to assist students with disability – this process will inform Tier 3 student-level funding allocations
- new initiatives to strengthen skills and knowledge in inclusive education across the school system
- additional regional disability support roles and dedicated implementation teams.
Disability Inclusion funding model
The Disability Inclusion funding model has 3 tiers, based on the increasing level of need for educational adjustments and targeted support:
- Tier 1 – Core student learning funding: funding for all student’s core learning needs through the Student Resource Package (SRP). This funding includes students with disability and additional needs, and will not change with the introduction of Disability Inclusion. Refer to: Core student learning allocation funding.
- Tier 2 – School-level funding: additional funding to strengthen capacity and capability to deliver adjustments and inclusive practice for students with disability. Refer to the SRP – Disability Inclusion Tier 2 school-level funding for information on how funding is allocated, and Guidance tab for Tier 2 funding and support implementation.
- Tier 3 – student-level funding: additional funding to Tier 1 and 2, to support schools to deliver adjustments for individual students with complex and high needs. For information on how schools receive Tier 3 funding, refer to the Guidance tab: Tier 3 student-level funding and Disability Inclusion Profile for information on how to undertake this process.
The model will progressively replace the PSD and the Language and Learning Disabilities Support Program. The model includes a significant increase in available support and expenditure.
Schools must make reasonable adjustments to ensure that students with disability can access and participate in education on the same basis as students without disability, regardless of the availability of additional funding. Refer to: Students with Disability.
Disability Inclusion implementation roll-out
The new funding allocations and the Disability Inclusion Profile will be introduced to schools based on their Areas between 2021 and 2025.
2021 – Year 1 schools
Schools in the following areas will participate in Year 1 of Disability Inclusion implementation in 2021:
- Bayside Peninsula (South Eastern Victoria Region – Metropolitan)
- Barwon (South Western Victoria Region – Rural)
- Loddon Campaspe (North Western Victoria Region – Rural)
- 5 supported inclusion .
Year 1 schools will receive the new Tier 2 school-level funding allocation from Term 3, 2021. Following this once-off half-year allocation, these schools will receive annual allocations for the full school year through the regular SRP cycle. Refer to: Student Resource Package.
Current processes under the PSD will remain unchanged for Year 1 schools until the beginning of Term 4, 2021, when the new Disability Inclusion Profile will be introduced. Students in Year 6 (or age equivalent in specialist schools) in these areas will require a Year 6-7 Review using Program for Students with Disabilities processes.
2022 – Year 2 schools
Schools in the following areas will participate in Year 2 of Disability Inclusion implementation in 2022:
- Outer Eastern Melbourne (North Eastern Victoria Region – Metropolitan)
- Central Highlands (South Western Victoria Region – Rural)
- Mallee (North Western Victoria Region – Rural)
- 2 newly opened supported inclusion .
Year 2 schools will receive the new Tier 2 school-level funding allocation from Term 1, 2022.
Current processes under the PSD will apply to these schools for new applications for students commencing school in 2022 (for example, preps beginning in 2022 and transfers from other systems) until 28 February 2022. After this date, Year 2 schools will move to the new Disability Inclusion Profile process for applications for Tier 3 student-level funding.
2023 to 2025 rollout schedule
Schools will receive Tier 2 funding and commence the new Disability Inclusion Profile processes in line with the following staged roll-out schedule.
2023 – Year 3 schools
- Inner Gippsland (South Eastern Victoria Region – Regional)
- Ovens Murray (North Eastern Victoria Region – Regional)
- Western Melbourne (South Western Victoria Region – Metropolitan)
2024 – Year 4 schools
- North Eastern Melbourne (North Western Victoria Region – Metropolitan)
- Southern Melbourne (South Eastern Victoria Region – Metropolitan)
- Brimbank Melton (South Western Victoria Region – Metropolitan)
- Goulburn (North Eastern Victoria Region – Regional)
2025 – Year 5 schools
- Hume Moreland (North Western Victoria Region – Metropolitan)
- Outer Gippsland (South Eastern Victoria Region – Regional)
- Wimmera South West (South Western Victoria Region – Regional)
- Inner Eastern Melbourne (North Eastern Victoria Region – Metropolitan)
Related policies
- Behaviour — Students
- Education Support Staff Working in Classroom Support Roles
- Individual Education Plans
- NDIS Funded therapy in schools
- SRP – Disability Inclusion Tier 2 school-level funding
- Student Support Groups
- Student Support Services
- Students with Disability
Relevant legislation
- Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006
- Disability Discrimination Act
- Disability Standards for Education
- Equal Opportunity Act 2010
Contact
For general queries about Disability Inclusion, contact: disability.inclusion@education.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 14 September 2021