Program for Students with Disabilities – Transition Support Funding (Reference 66)
Transition Support Funding is available to government secondary schools to support students starting Year 7 in 2024 who are no longer eligible for the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) after their Year 6-7 Review.
The funding supports the delivery of personalised teaching and learning programs that respond to student's needs.
Schools are encouraged to use the Student Support Group (SSG) process to draw on the expertise of the group to formulate and commit to specific strategies and implementation plans that will support the student's educational needs, inclusion and engagement. The progress of the agreed strategies should be regularly reviewed at SSG meetings each term.
Transition Support Funding allocations will be progressively replaced by Disability Inclusion Tier 2 school-level funding and Disability Inclusion Transition Funding (Reference 140) as part of the implementation of the Disability Inclusion funding and support model.
Eligibility
Transition Support funding will continue to be available to schools until they transition to Disability Inclusion during the staged 5-year roll-out schedule between 2021 to 2025. To be eligible for transition support funding, students must:
- be enrolled in a Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) school in grade 6 or equivalent in 2023
- no longer be eligible for the Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) after their Year 6-7 Review
- be commencing year 7 in a Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) government secondary school in 2024.
Remaining schools with the following campus types are eligible for Transition Support Funding at school level:
- Secondary
- Primary/Secondary Combined
- Special
Funding is calculated at the Confirmed and Revised budget cycles, Funding is allocated through cash funding.
Use of funding
Transition Support Funding resources, in consultation with the Student Support Group, can be used to access:
- consultation or support from specialist education or allied health staff
- professional development
- specialist equipment or materials.
Examples are provided further below.
Transition Support Funding resources do not define or limit the support provided by a school for a student. It is the responsibility of the school, in consultation with parents/carers in the Student Support Group, to determine the specific nature of the support required, and schools are required to consider their total budget in supporting students with disability and diverse learning needs.
Transition Support Funding resources should not be targeted to students in receipt of supplementary funding through the Program for Students with Disabilities.
Examples for use of funding
In consultation with the Student Support Group, consideration can be given to providing more intense support at the beginning of the school year or identifying equipment and materials that will be used over a longer period of time. For example:
For a student with behaviour support needs
Transition Support Funding may be used for professional development and consultation focused at the beginning of the school year. Transition Support Funding could be used to:
- provide school staff with the necessary knowledge and skills
- develop and implement Behaviour Support Plans and resources across the school
- support other adjustments to the school environment as the student begins secondary school.
For a student with learning support needs
Transition Support Funding may be used to access specialist education or allied health support. This may identify specialist equipment and educational resources that the school can purchase for the student's personalised learning and support needs.
For a student with sensory or health support needs
Transition Support Funding may be used to purchase personal equipment or resources, specific to the student's needs that will enhance their access and participation in the school's educational programs.
Calculation
Transition Support Funding is calculated on a pro-rata basis according to enrolment information in CASES21 census data.
School principals will be emailed directly to detail Transition Support Funding allocations following the release of the Confirmed Student Resource Package (SRP).
If a school identifies a student for Transition Support Funding after Term 1, a pro-rata allocation will be considered. In these instances, schools are advised to log a request through the DET Services .
Where a student in receipt of Transition Support Funding changes government schools during the year, schools should make local arrangements to transfer resources (including specialist equipment or materials).
This allocation is not included in the Indicative SRP release.
Rates – 2024
Per eligible student (pro-rata): Cash $3,000
Further information
- Behaviour Support Plans
- DET Services
- Health Care Needs
- Program for Students with Disabilities Management System – information and user guides
- PSDMS log (for registered users)
- Student Support Groups
- Students with Disability
Reviewed 30 January 2024