Assistance for Students with Disability - Australian Government Commissions Early Advice

Government Commissions Early Advice on Assistance for Students with Disability.

Minister for School Education Peter Garrett has commissioned advice on strategies that could assist school students with disability and special needs in the classroom and at school.

The Gillard Government has listened to concerns and tasked a small group of education authorities, teacher unions and educators to provide advice on immediate priorities and strategies to support school students with disability and special needs.

Minister for School Education Peter Garrett said the working group will identify effective, priority approaches to improve the educational experience of students with disability in the classroom and at school.

Specifically, I have asked this working group to consider needs across sectors, look at what is being done already and identify any short to medium term complementary strategies to strengthen learning support and outcomes for students with disabilities and special needs in our schools.

My aim is to hear from the working group by early December 2010 to enable me to consider their advice during 2011.

The number of students with disability as a proportion of all students is increasing, and this Government is serious about improving their educational outcomes.

It is important to note that this initiative is in addition to other Government initiatives in place including the Australian Government's Review of School Funding that currently developing longer term proposals for school funding. The aim of this process is to build the strongest possible platform for long-term investment and improvements in educational outcomes.

This work announced today also stands beside the draft National Disability Strategy (NDS) released by the Australian and State and Territory Governments on 29 July 2010 that provides a national framework to drive future reforms in mainstream systems and in the disability service system for people with disability, their families and carers.

Other initiatives underway include a review of the Disability Standards for Education which clarify the responsibilities of education providers, and progressing a nationally consistent definition of students with disability in collaboration with education authorities.

The new working group will be chaired by a senior official from my Department and will include a representative from each of the following organizations:

• Australian Special Education Principals Association;
• Australian Association of Special Education;
• Australian Secondary Principals Association;
• Australian Primary Principals Association;
• Australian Education Union;
• Independent Education Union;
• Independent Schools Council of Australia;
• National Catholic Education Commission;
• NSW Department of Education and Training;
• SA Department of Education and Children's Services; and
• the Australian Federation of Disability Organizations.