Victorian Government announces $1.6 billion boost to support for students with disability

The number of Victorian students with disability receiving extra support in government schools will be doubled as part of a $1.6 billion package to be included in the upcoming state budget.

The Disability Inclusion package is expected to create up to 1,730 jobs across Victoria by 2025, and will increase the number of students getting extra support to 55,000, the State Government says.

A program to help identify and respond to the needs of students with disability that was piloted in more than 100 Victorian schools will also be rolled out across the state.

The funding will also include $102.8 million to support education staff, including hiring more than 100 extra staff to help deliver programs in schools.

Students with autism and dyslexia eligible for targeted support

Victoria's Education Minister, James Merlino, said the package "will completely overhaul the way we fund and support students with a disability".

"It will not only double the number of students with complex and high needs receiving personalised and individual support … it’s a tiered funding model, which will mean every school will receive additional funding and support," he said.

Mr Merlino said some students who narrowly missed out on personalised funding under the current criteria would get the help they need under the changes.

Previously, students with autism, dyslexia or complex behaviours may not have been entitled to targeted support in the classroom.

"The way the system works at the moment is that there is a very strict and cold medical criteria for a student to receive additional support, you’re either in or you’re out."

"Every classroom has children who need additional support and that's what this funding model is about," Mr Merlino said.

Keelonith Primary School Principal, Loren Peavey, welcomed the changes to disability support funding, saying it would make a real difference at her school.

"We now will be given some space to be creative in how we fund to support all of our learners," she said

"We won't be targeting or labelling these students, in our school every student has an individual need regardless, so this will support all learners so we're a true representation of society."