Victorian Government state support services

The Victorian Government provides funding through the State Support Services Program to provide essential services for students with special needs, including:

• Visiting Teacher Service
• Hearing Impaired
• Vision Impaired
• Physically / Health Impaired
• Speech Therapy

The government provides funding which is allocated according to documented need. In 2005 over 1,700 students from 147 schools were for services. With the available funds in 2005, Independent Schools Victoria has been able to allocate only $13.50 for each hour of service approved for eligible students. The cost of services is much greater than this.

Applications

Applications for funding are made annually through the school.

Documentation is required to demonstrate that the student meets eligibility criteria. In general terms the student must have a moderate to severe disability or impairment to qualify for this funding.

Applications are reviewed by an Eligibility Panel comprising relevant experts including speech therapists, and a hearing expert. Applications for students with vision impairment are reviewed in consultation with the Education Vision Assessment Clinic.  This panel makes recommendations about eligibility to the State Support Services Committee.

The State Support Services Committee, comprising Independent Schools Victoria Board Members and representatives from schools who have expertise in disability, makes recommendations to the Independent Schools Victoria Board about the allocation of funds.