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The RCH Education Institute supports students with additional needs while they are in hospital. RCH teachers will work with each student and their school or kindergarten to develop or continue an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that outlines clear educational goals for the student and acknowledges and celebrates their progress.Ìý

Rights and responsibilities

°Õ³ó±ðÌýÌýsays it’s against the law to discriminate against someone because of their disability.Ìý

°Õ³ó±ðÌýÌýexplain what these laws mean for students with a disability. The standards say students with a disability have the same right to take part in their education as students without a disability.

All education providers must meet the Disability Standards for Education. Your child has the right to take part in all education courses or programs on the same basis as their peers. Your child may need some reasonable adjustments to make sure they can take part.

School FundingÌý

Program for Students with DisabilitiesÌý

The Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) gives government schools extra funding to help them support students with disability and high needs.Ìý

Schools use the funding in different ways, depending on the needs of each child.

There are seven categories of eligibility criteria:

• physical disability
• visual impairment
• hearing impairment
• severe behaviour disorder
• intellectual disability
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• severe language difficulties with critical educational needs.

If you think your child’s school could apply for one of the seven categories of the PSD, talk to the school principal. When you meet, bring copies of your child’s medical reports and assessments along with you.Ìý

The Department of Education and Training website provides detailed information aboutÌýÌý

If your child is an NDIS participant this will not affect any PSD funding they get at school to support their education.

Disability InclusionÌý

The Disability Inclusion program introduces a tiered funding model for students with disability with additional funding for schools to help students with disability take part in their education on the same basis as their peers.

The tiered funding model and Disability Inclusion Profile are being introduced through a staged roll-out over five-years from 2021 to 2025 and will eventually replace the Program for Students with Disbilities (PSD)

Disability Inclusion Profile

The profile is a strengths-based process to help schools and families identify:

• the student's strengths and needs
• the educational adjustments schools can make to help students with disability.

Key people who understand the student’s education and support needs will complete the profile together. This includes:

• the student
• their family
• school staff and others, as appropriate.

A newly created facilitator role will help schools and families work together through the new approach.

Consult your school or the Department of Education website for more information about the roll out of the new as your school may have already transitioned to this model.Ìý

Kindergarten funding

Kindergarten Inclusion Support ProgramÌý

The is designed to equip kindergartens and early childhood educators with the resources they need to provide a program that is inclusive of all children, including those with complex medical needs or disability.ÌýÌý

The KIS program supports early childhood educators to respond to the individual abilities, need and interests of children enrolled in their early years program.Ìý

Extra assistance from the KIS disability and complex medical needs programs may include:

• specialist training and consultancy for early childhood educatorsÌý
• minor building modifications
• additional staffing support.

Early Childhood ApproachÌý

The early childhood approach helps children younger than 6 with developmental delay or children younger than 9 with a disability and their families to access the right support when they need it.

Children younger than 6 do not need a diagnosis to get support through the early childhood approach where there are concerns about their development.

Visit theÌýÌýearly childhood approachÌýwebsite to find out more about this funding.Ìý

Student Support Groups (SSGs)

A gives you the opportunity to work with your child’s school to make decisions about their education and check their progress.Ìý

The group includes:

• you – as your child’s parent or carer
• the teacher or teachers who have responsibility for your child
• the school principal or a nominee – for example, the assistant principal.

It can alsoÌýinclude:

• any other people who work with your child, as agreed by the group – for example a social worker or medical professional
• your support person or advocate – if you choose to use one
• your child – if appropriate.

Individual Education Plans (IEPs)

Teachers use (IEPs) to help plan for and address your child’s learning needs. They’re used if your child requires support or assistance accessing their education on the same level as their peers.

Your child’s plan can be reviewed at least once a term, or as needed.

Reasonable adjustmentsÌý

To make sure your child has the same learning opportunities as children without disability, anÌýeducation providerÌýmust make reasonable adjustments.

Ìýmay include changes to the way your child is supported in their learning, changes to the kindergarten or school environment and providing additional supports.

Visiting teachersÌý

If your child has aÌýphysical disability, vision impairmentÌýor hearing impairment, can work with teachers to address your child’s learning needs.

A visiting teacher can:

• help teachers understand how best to support your child
• supply documents such as reports for funding applications
• give advice to teachers on your child’s progress
• help your child use assistive equipment – for example, text to speech software or screen readers
• help the school create an

Student Support Services (SSS)

include psychologists, speech pathologists, social workers and other allied health professionals such as occupational therapists or youth workers.

Speak to your school principal or wellbeing coordinator to discuss making a referral to these school based services.Ìý

Links and resourcesÌý

Policies, advice and information for schools, parents and carers.

Information about support services in Catholic Schools for students with diverse learning needs.

Information about funding and support in private and independent education settings.

Information about how the Disability Discrimination Act applies to all schools and education settings.

Information, support and resources for parents and carers of children with a disability.