Individual funding for children with disabilities was provided through the Program for Students with Disabilities, and continues to be in many schools. With much fanfare, “disability inclusion” funding was launched in 2020. This funding program continues to roll out, and it is meant to be fully rolled out by 2025. A Victorian Auditor General’s audit in 2023 found application of the program applied inconsistently.
The aim of the program is that funding is provided to schools based on actual need of the child rather than our “disabled” they are. Otherwise, the DET expect schools to provide any support a child with a disability needs through their global funding.
The rolling out of disability inclusion funding has had no discernible impact on complaints/legal complaints in relation to the lack of support for students with disabilities in schools.
As with other DET operations, there are a variety of approaches taken by schools in the expenditure of PSD funds due to a lack of guidance or requirement:
- Some schools spend the entirety of the funding on direct support for the individual child whose successful application gained the funding amount.
- Other schools put the money towards, for example, the salary of an Integration Coordinator.
- Some schools will on request, provide parents with an accounting of the money allocated to the child. Other schools refuse to provide this information.
- Some schools use the money to provide an integration aide for a class where other children with disabilities did not meet the funding criteria and are therefore unassisted.
- Other schools ensure that the funding is allocated directly to the child who gained the funding.
- Many schools disallow a student from attending over and above the hours they receive funding to provide an aide.
Advocacy
PSD or disability inclusion funding, while clearly required by individual schools to assist in the support of children with disabilities, is irrelevant to whether a child should have their individual needs met.
Parents should concentrate on requesting the supports required by their child, regardless of whether individual funding through either system is provided. Parents should ensure that medical reports containing recommendations are provided to the school. If the adjustments your child needs are refused see a lawyer specialising in discrimination.