Thousands more students with disability and additional needs will get the support they deserve earlier courtesy of a new investment.
The state government is delivering an Australian-first Disability Inclusion package to all Victorian government schools over five years, with all school regions moving to the new approach by 2025.
Minister for Education, Natalie Hutchins announced the $46 million package on Wednesday, which will provide more support flowing to remaining schools, in response to feedback from schools who said the early release of funding would have enabled them to better train and hire staff ahead of the new school year.
“Everyone deserves to fully participate in school – by bringing forward this funding, we are making sure students get the support they need when they need it,” Ms Hutchins said.
“Kids are more than a diagnosis – and this package will completely change the way we support children in our schools, focusing on what they can achieve rather than what they can’t.”
More than 850 schools have already moved to the new funding model.
Schools in Outer Gippsland, Wimmera South-West, Inner Eastern Melbourne and Hume Merri-bek will receive the funding in early-2024 and move to the new model in 2025.
Specialist schools will now also receive extra preparatory funding, while English language schools will begin receiving it for the first time – making sure children who need extra support, no matter their background, have the opportunity to thrive and shine at school.
The extra investment builds on the $235 million invested in inclusive education in the Victorian Budget 2023/24 – giving more students easier access to the services they need to succeed at school and in life.
