Yesterday the Victorian Government announces it will be investing more than $1.6 billion in Disability Inclusion., which will include the Autism education strategy. The Disability Inclusion initiative will change the way students with disabilities are supported in government schools.
As part of the package The Victorian State Government has also announced the release of Australia’s first dedicated Autism Education Strategy.
Disability Inclusion is closely aligned with the Autism Education Strategy and will provide important supports for autistic students. These changes to how all students with a disability will be supported at schools will have a substantial impact on the educational outcomes for all autistic students.
From the middle of 2021, Victorian government schools and families will benefit from these resources, support and guidance through the new Disability Inclusion program.
The flagship initiative of the Strategy is the establishment of a new Diverse Learners Hub (Hub). The Hub will assist in supporting system-wide capability building of education workforces to equip them to meet the educational needs of students with neurodevelopmental differences, with a focus on autism. The Hub is scheduled for the middle of 2021.
The new tiered funding model and the Disability Inclusion Profile will be introduced through a staged roll out over 5 years.
Year 1 (2021)
- Bayside Peninsula
- Barwon
- Loddon Campaspe
Year 2(2022)
- Outer Eastern Melbourne
- Central Highlands
- Mallee
Year 3 (2024)
- Inner Gippsland
- Ovens Murray
- Western Melbourne
Year 4 (2024)
- North Eastern Melbourne
- Southern Melbourne
- Brimbank Melton
- Goulburn
Year 5 (2025)
- Hume Moreland
- Outer Gippsland
- Wimmera South West
- Inner Eastern Melbourne
The New Autism Education Strategy has been developed with consultion from Autistic led organisations like the I Can Network and The Yellow Lady bugs. Along with input from AMAZE.
See our full list of Victorian Specialist schools and alternative schools here
You can read full statements from Amaze here.