Disability Inclusion: a new approach for students with disability

Disability Inclusion is ensuring every student at every ability thrives at school and in life.

Disability Inclusion - Education for All (AUSLAN)

Disability Inclusion is rolling out to Victorian government schools between 2021 and 2025.

For an easy English version of this information, download Disability Inclusion (accessible) (PDF, 2.08MB).

The Victorian Government is investing nearly $1.6 billion in Disability Inclusion.

Disability Inclusion is better responding to the needs of students with disability to ensure they can participate and achieve their full potential at school and in life.

Disability Inclusion – information in your language

Translated information about Disability Inclusion, which is providing extra support for children with disability in government schools.

What Disability Inclusion involves

Disability Inclusion is improving the way students with disability are supported in government schools. Disability Inclusion is delivering:

A new tiered funding model is introducing additional funding to support students with disability.
The new Tier 2: school level funding allows schools to deliver a range of programs, recruit and train specialist staff and purchase resources to strengthen supports for students with disability.

Yuille Park Community College

View transcript
Use these links for an easy English overview of the profile process (PDF) and the profile meeting (PDF)

About the Disability Inclusion Profile
PDF 2.68 MB

(opens in a new window)

About the Disability Inclusion Profile meeting
PDF 3.49 MB

(opens in a new window)

The new Disability Inclusion Profile is completed by a Disability Inclusion Facilitator, with input from key people who understand a student’s education and support needs, including the student, their family and school staff.
Schools will work with families to create a Disability Inclusion Profile. The profile is a written description of the student’s strengths and needs at school.
It will help schools give students adjustments and supports to enable them to participate on the same basis as their peers and to reach their full potential.
This instructional video shows the key stages of a profile meeting. It will give attendees a clear impression of what to expect and what their role will be in the meeting.

Disability Inclusion Profile video – parents and carers

View transcript

Disability inclusion

View transcript

Disability Inclusion Profile - Surf Coast Secondary College

View transcript

Transitioning to Disability Inclusion - Ballarat Specialist School

View transcript

Social scripts, developed with Amaze, explain the Disability Inclusion Profile meeting in Easy English and photos for primary and secondary school students.
- Disability Inclusion Profile meeting at Primary School
- Disability Inclusion Profile meeting at Secondary School
We are providing our teachers and school staff with the right skills to meet the needs of all students.
Disability Inclusion is delivering more training and coaching about the best ways to support student learning, through new resources and initiatives to help schools to better tailor supports for students with disability.
These include:
- more professionals in schools who are experts in disability
- coaching and professional learning
- evidence-based guidance and resources
- scholarships for school staff.
Introduction to the Diverse Learrners Hub

View transcript

Disability Inclusion is also building inclusion within communities. The inclusive ethos of Swan Hill Specialist School is an excellent example of this as they collaborate with schools in the area and build an inclusive school culture for all students.

Celebrating inclusion and collaboration in Swan Hill

View transcript

The Mural Mob project – Swan Hill Specialist School

View transcript

Implementation progress

Over 1240 schools have now transitioned to Disability Inclusion across the state. Implementation is on-track, with the 2023 independent evaluation reporting that school workforces understand and feel positively about Disability Inclusion.

See a snapshot of Disability Inclusion and an overview of implementation so far:

When Disability Inclusion will start at your school

Disability Inclusion started in Term 4, 2021, and is being introduced over 5 years.

When your child completes their Disability Inclusion Profile depends on the Local Government Area (LGA) of the school your child goes to.

If your child is part of the Program for Students with Disability (PSD), they will continue to get support from their school whilst we are introducing Disability Inclusion and it replaces the PSD. Your child’s school will help you work through the new Disability Inclusion Profile.

During the changes, we'll talk to schools, families and children with disability to make sure the new Disability Inclusion meets their needs.

Bayside Peninsula (SE-M)
- Frankston
- Bayside
- Glen Eira
- Kingston
- Mornington Peninsula
- Port Phillip
- Stonnington
Barwon (SW-R)
- Colac Otway
- Greater Geelong
- Queenscliffe
- Surf Coast
Loddon Campaspe (NW-R)
- Campaspe
- Central Goldfields
- Greater Bendigo
- Loddon
- Macedon Ranges
- Mount Alexander
Supported Inclusion Schools
- Riverwalk Primary School
- Elevation Secondary College
- Keelonith Primary School
- Riverbend Primary School
- Cranbourne West Secondary College
More information is available about supported inclusion schools.
Outer Eastern Melbourne (NE-M)
- Knox
- Maroondah
- Yarra Ranges
Central Highlands (SW-R)
- Ararat
- Ballarat
- Golden Plains
- Hepburn
- Moorabool
- Pyrenees
Mallee (NW-R)
- Buloke
- Gannawarra
- Mildura
- Swan Hill
Inner Gippsland (SE-R)
- Bass Coast
- Baw Baw
- Latrobe
- South Gippsland
Ovens Murray (NE-R)
- Alpine
- Benalla
- Indigo
- Mansfield
- Towong
- Wangaratta
- Wodonga
Western Melbourne (SW-M)
- Hobsons Bay
- Maribyrnong
- Melbourne
- Moonee Valley
- Wyndham
North Eastern Melbourne (NW-M)
- Banyule
- Darebin
- Nillumbik
- Whittlesea
- Yarra
Southern Melbourne (SE-M)
- Cardinia
- Casey
- Greater Dandenong
Brimbank Melton (SW-M)
- Brimbank
- Melton
Goulburn (NE-R)
- Greater Shepparton
- Mitchell
- Moira
- Murrindindi
- Strathbogie
Year 5 (2025)
Hume Merri-bek (NW-M)
- Hume
- Merri-bek
Outer Gippsland (SE-R)
- East Gippsland
- Wellington
Wimmera South West (SW-R)
- Corangamite
- Glenelg
- Hindmarsh
- Horsham
- Moyne
- Northern Grampians
- Southern Grampians
- Warrnambool
- West Wimmera
- Yarriambiack
Inner Eastern Melbourne (NE-M)
- Boroondara
- Manningham
- Monash
- Whitehorse
During the changes, we'll talk to schools, families and children with disability to make sure the new Disability Inclusion meets their needs.
Hume Merri-bek (NW-M)
- Hume
- Merri-bek
Outer Gippsland (SE-R)
- East Gippsland
- Wellington
Wimmera South West (SW-R)
- Corangamite
- Glenelg
- Hindmarsh
- Horsham
- Moyne
- Northern Grampians
- Southern Grampians
- Warrnambool
- West Wimmera
- Yarriambiack
Inner Eastern Melbourne (NE-M)
- Boroondara
- Manningham
- Monash
- Whitehorse

More information

Information and services for families of children living with disability and additional needs Disability and inclusive education | Victorian Government
Disability rights and responsibilities for families Disability Standards for Education: A practical guide for individuals, families and communities - Nationally Consistent Collection of Data
Schools implementing Disability Inclusion have shared their insights in stories and videos on the Disability Inclusion – Inclusive education in practice page.
EducationParents & carers
Information resources by the Australian Government on the Disability Standards for Education 2005 that were co-designed with people with disability with the help of Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA).