NDIS-funded Therapy in Schools

Step 1: Get information and consent

Principals may receive requests from parents/carers for NDIS funded providers to deliver therapy to a student. This can happen at school (in person or virtually), during, before or after school hours.

Before making a decision about NDIS-funded therapy at school, principals must:

• get information from the NDIS-funded provider
• get consent from the student’s parent/carer using the Request form and parents and carers consent form (DOCX) (staff login required)(opens in a new window).

1. Part 1 of the request form completed by the NDIS provider

When parents/carers make a request, the NDIS-funded provider must complete part 1 of the Request form and parents and carers consent form (DOCX) (staff login required)(opens in a new window).

The NDIS provider must provide:

• the purpose of the proposed therapy
• the proposed timing, frequency and duration of the therapy
• whether they will deliver the therapy in person or online
• the aims and benefits of providing the therapy at school
• a valid Working with Children Check(opens in a new window). Go to Working with Children Checks and other Suitability Checks for School Volunteers and Visitors for more details
• NDIS registered practitioner registration details. Most NDIS providers are registered. This means they have NDIS Worker Screening(opens in a new window) clearance and follow the NDIS Practice Standards and NDIS Code of Conduct(opens in a new window)
• insurance details. They must provide a copy of their current certificate of currency for public liability insurance. It must cover at least $10 million per incident.

Parents/carers are encouraged to work with the NDIS provider to fill out the request form. This includes explaining why they want the therapy to take place at school.

2. Part 2 of the request form completed by parent/carer

Part 2 of the request form requires:

• the parent or carer to consent to the request
• the student’s personal and health information being provided to the school.

Consent may be provided by:

• a natural or legal parent
• a person with parental responsibility for ‘major long-term issues’ as defined in the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)(opens in a new window)
• a person authorised to make health decisions for the student under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic)
• an informal carer. Go to Decision Making Responsibilities for Students for more details
• an adult student
• a mature minor.

3. School receives the form

Once the principal receives the form, they must:

• consider the request following the guidance in Step 2: Make a decision
• aim to respond to within 10 business days
• retain the completed request form and supporting documentation securely on the student’s file. This must be done following privacy and record management requirements.