Student Resource Package – Targeted Initiatives

Inclusion Outreach Coaching Initiative (Reference 136)

Background and context

In 2021 the Department of Education (the department) announced several initiatives including the Inclusion Outreach Coaching (IOC) initiative, to support school workforces to build their capabilities in inclusive practices. These initiatives were part of a state wide Disability Inclusion Reform to support schools to ensure that all students feel welcomed and thrive.

The IOC initiative was rolled out by area from 2021 to 2025 (refer to the Disability Inclusion Funding and Support policy for further information) with an Inclusion Outreach Coach being employed in ‘base’ registered specialist schools (base school) and ‘partnering’ with mainstream schools (partner school). IOCs are employed at a Learning Specialist classification (please see Leading Teachers and Learning Specialists for further information) to ensure they have the leadership experience and contextual understanding of schools to provide strategically coordinated capability building opportunities to mainstream schools, including whole-of-school training, in-class coaching and individual teacher support to build inclusive school cultures. IOCs do not work with individual students. IOCs assist schools to set up Tier 1 preventative schoolwide systems, practices and data so they can sustain and strengthen their inclusive practices over time.

A regional workforce provides each coach with operational and strategic support and acts as the conduit between the IOC and the base and partner schools; particularly in the recruitment of IOCs in base schools and the facilitation of the IOC’ engagement with partner schools.

Base school principals are encouraged to nominate a mentor to the IOC to support the coach in their connections and linkages within the base school and amongst schools in their network and area, to support an aligned strengthening of inclusive practices.

A team of implementation specialists from Inclusive Education support the school and regional workforces to effectively deliver best practice approaches to inclusive education and wellbeing and to lead effective policy and program implementation which enables access to high quality education services.

SRP funding allocation

Credit allocation to recruit an IOC

Base schools about to enter a rollout year will automatically be provided SRP credits as part of their indicative funding to support the recruitment of a full- time ongoing IOC. The credit allocation is calculated at the annualised mid-point of a Learning Specialist Level 3-1 and 3-2 (plus school oncosts which cover a school’s liability for payroll tax and superannuation) as per the VGSA 2022 Agreement.

For the 2026 calendar year each school will receive $150,331 (FTE).

Please see Student Resource Package – Targeted Initiatives: Inclusion Outreach Coaching (IOC) initiative (Reference 136) and Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022 (PDF) for further information.

If circumstances require the recruitment of a new coach part way through the year and an SRP allocation was not provided as part of a base school’s indicative SRP budget, then this will be indexed on a pro rata basis depending on what time of year the coach commences employment. For example, if a coach commences in Term 2, then an SRP allocation of 50% of the full allocation will be provided.

Cash allocations to support the travel allowance requirements of an IOC

IOCs are required to travel from their base specialist school to partner non-specialist schools, regional offices, and other department locations and workplaces to support their coaching role. To contribute to the costs associated with this, the department will provide each base school with cash SRP allocations. Principals are encouraged to monitor travel spending together with their IOC regularly and seek advice from the regional or central support teams when funds are getting close to being spent.

For the 2026 calendar year:

• regional/rural schools will receive $4,400 (which equates to 5,000 km of travel per coach)
• metropolitan schools will receive $2,640 (which equates to 3,000 km of travel per coach).

To assist with the IOC servicing of more remotely located mainstream schools, 20 regionally identified metro base schools will be provided with the higher regional/rural travel allowance.

These allocations will be rolled out in quarterly allotments, at the start of each term.

These figures are based on the current maximum Australian Tax Office allowable claim of 5,000 km per year at a rate of $0.88 per kilometre. (Please see Travel and Personal Expenses – Teaching Service and Expenses for a car you own or lease (ATO) for further information).

Please note, IOCs engaging in a novated lease agreement cannot claim travel costs (Please see Expenses for a car you own or lease (ATO).

This funding is provided for the Inclusion Outreach Coaching initiative only and allocated funding must be spent for this purpose. If circumstances prevent the base school from recruiting or fully utilising an IOC after having received an SRP allocation as part of the school’s indicative SRP budget, advice from regional and central offices is provided on management of unused funding.

Questions, comments, feedback

Please contact inclusion.outreach.coaching@education.vic.gov.au if you have any further questions.