The Federal Government has announced that the formation of the new Schools Disability Advisory Council to provide ongoing, expert advice to the government on how to better support students with disabilities.

 

The new advisory council will comprise peak representative organisations from the disability sector as well as academic experts. Membership of the panel will be announced shortly.

 

The announcement of the new advisory body was made in Sydney during a forum with a number of key stakeholders from the disability and education sectors.

 

Also discussed in the forum was:

 

  • The development of a nationally consistent definition of disability, which will give Governments a better understanding of current and future needs in the education system; and
  • The Australian Government Review of School Funding, chaired by David Gonski, which is
  • The $200 million More Support for Students with Disability initiative, announced by the Prime Minister in this year’s Budget, with funds to be available to schools next year;examining the funding support provided to schools working with students with disability.

 

For further information on the forum visit http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/Programs/Pages/NatSchDisabilityStakeholderForum.aspx.

 

For further information on the More Support for Students with Disabilities visit http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/Programs/Pages/MoreSupportforSWD.aspx.