Students with Disabilities

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Home Based Programs

Applications for 2009 are now closed

Grants for home based educational programs are available from the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development's Commonwealth Special Education Program.

The Commonwealth Special Education Program is one of the Commonwealth Government's specific purpose programs providing supplementary funds for educational services and programs.

Please note that only severely disabled students not able to attend school will be considered for support through this program.

Objective

The objectives of this program include supplementary support toward the costs of providing educational, therapeutic and related services through identified programs which:

  • directly augment the education of students;
  • are essential interventions to make it possible for students to gain access to education; and
  • encourage the integration of students into regular schools.

Use of funds

In order to meet the objectives of this element, supplementary funding may be provided for:

  • salaries of teachers, specialists, professional, and support personnel;
  • consultant, advisory services and curriculum development;
  • monitoring and evaluation of educational and other programs;
  • programs of professional development for staff, parents and community members;
  • purchase of educational equipment and materials;
  • programs and projects actively involving parents and primary caregivers; and
  • projects which are practical solutions to student's learning needs.

In recommending the allocation of grants, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will consider:

  • the relative and differential needs of the student, with priority being given to those student's with more severe disabilities;
  • the need for this service within the total pattern of services within Victoria;
  • the quality of the existing service being provided and the nature of the programs proposed for the student;
  • the need for additional funding in order to provide this service. Assessing this need will involve a consideration of recent expenditure patterns, the level of assistance provided from other Commonwealth and State funding sources, and income from fees, sponsorships, public fund-raising and voluntary contributions; and
  • the ability of the applicant to provide a quality service in the program year.

Funds provided through this program are supplementary only; grants are not intended to cover all the additional costs involved or to provide ongoing recurrent funding. These grants are allocated each year towards the costs of projects.

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, services must be for school-age children students with a severe disability who are unable to attend school due to the nature of their disability.

Application should be from schools but completed jointly with parents/caregivers.

For more information, email Disability Services or phone (03) 9637 2106