The Federal Government is reviewing funding support for students with disability to ensure it is being distributed fairly and consistently.
Minister for Education, Dan Tehan said the review would ensure the current settings meet the needs of students with disability into the future. An independent board will consult widely to determine if the levels of funding are hitting the mark, he said. It will report back by December 2019.
“The review will also examine the Commonwealth’s assurance processes to ensure the accuracy of the information used to calculate a school’s Commonwealth funding entitlement,” the minister said.
The student with disability loading is one of six ways of providing additional funding for students and schools with educational disadvantage.
For more details visit: www.education.gov.au/national-school-resourcing-board
NDIS participants are more satisfied…
The latest quarterly data for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) showed 93 per cent of participants rated their experience as ‘very good’ or ‘good,’ the highest level since the trial phase began.
The latest data from the COAG NDIS Quarterly Report for July 1 to September 30, also showed 91 per cent of parents, and carers of children under school-age, said the NDIS has helped their child better communicate their needs. The rating is an increase of 5 per cent since the last quarter.
Almost one-in-three Australians are receiving NDIS disability support for the first time and the scheme is now supporting 208,793 Australians, an increase of 14 per cent on the previous quarter.
The report also identified a significant increase in participants with Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) and Supported Independent Living (SIL) support in their plans, as well as rapid growth in the provider market.
“Currently, 9,536 participants have SDA in their plans, representing an increase of 56 per cent in the year to September 30, 2018,” Minister for Social Services, Paul Fletcher said.
The number of registered SDA providers more than doubled from 372 to 754, and the number of enrolled SDA dwellings increased by just under 200% from 764 to 2,243, he said.