The Federal Government has announced an extra $37 million in funding for Victorian government schools to further develop access and classroom support for students with disabilities.

 

Funded under the Government’s More Support for Students with Disabilities program, the announcement brings the total funding under the program to $48.7 million.

 

“This funding, part of our overall $200 million national initiative, will provide much-needed specialised support and assistance to thousands of students in government schools across Victoria,” Parliamentary Secretary for School Education Senator Jacinta Collins said.

 

Under the More Support for Students with Disabilities initiative, Victorian government schools will receive:

  • $2.7 million to provide assistive technology to students with visual impairments, as well as deaf captioning technology to improve access to programs for students with hearing impairments;
  • $2 million to develop support centres which provide professional expertise, support and targeted consultation for teachers of students with hearing impairments, autism and Down syndrome;
  • $17.5 million to provide professional learning programs, including a program for specialist school leadership to help schools better support the needs of students with extreme and challenging behaviour;
  • $7.9 million to support teachers better meet the needs of students with disability, including Autism teacher coaches to provide professional support to schools with high numbers of students with autism.