Funding is being rolled out six months earlier across multiple schools in Brimbank to help support students with disabilities and additional needs.
St Albans Primary School principal Joanne Richmond said the school will receive an early allocation of an extra $80,000 as part of the state government’s disability inclusion package.
Ms Richmond said the package is a major reform as it talks about disability inclusion for all students, not just those with specific disabilities.
“It is going to cast a wider net for children who need additional support for their learning,” she said.
“This funding will allow us to see what programs and supports we can put in place for students, whether it be increasing our allocation for our allied health support, or looking at getting extra staff at our school.”
“Our school will have meetings with families and ask a range of questions to see what adjustments we can put in place to help support our students’ education.”
Funding was allocated six months ahead of schedule in response to feedback from schools who said the early release of funding will enable them to better train and hire staff ahead of the new school year in 2024.
The disability inclusion reform package is being introduced over a staged rollout between 2021 to 2025 as a new funding and support model for students with disability, with the policy currently applying to specific areas, including schools in Brimbank.
Hannah Hammoud
