The Victorian government has announced a major shake-up to disability support in mainstream schools, cutting $3400 per eligible student each year and tightening eligibility criteria. The changes, delivered in a letter to school leaders late on Tuesday just six weeks before the end of the school year, have devastated families and drawn fierce criticism from principals and disability advocates, who say they were not consulted.
The state government says the cuts are necessary to control the ballooning cost of disability support, which has risen by 16 per cent each year since 2021. ‘This is unsustainable, and it risks affecting support for children who need it most,’ a government spokesperson said. The spokesperson added that overall school funding was not cut, and the money would be redirected to explicit teaching reforms, literacy and numeracy interventions and tutoring.
The funding changes include a 2.5 per cent drop in student-level funding rates and a reduction of $850 per term per student, from next year. The government also plans to tighten the criteria for who qualifies for disability support, introducing new definitions of academic performance and independent task ability. The exact criteria have not yet been released.
Melbourne mother Christine, whose 16-year-old son has autism, a mild intellectual disability and ADHD, said the support had been vital for keeping him in mainstream schooling. ‘For families like mine, these cuts would be life-changing,’ she said. She credited the disability inclusion aides with helping him stay connected to learning.
The Association for Children with a Disability chief executive Karen Dimmock called the decision ‘devastating’, saying the funding paid for support staff who helped children with physical access, vision, hearing and maintaining focus. Australian Principals Federation president Andrew Cock said a student’s disability did not become less complex because the funding formula changed. ‘Funding decisions must be driven by student need, not simply financial targets,’ he said. The Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said the decision was ‘a disgrace’ and must be reversed immediately. He said one in six students receiving disability support would be affected, and questioned how those students would get the help they need.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Affects thousands of students with disabilities in Victorian mainstream schools who rely on support staff funded by the program.
- Schools must absorb cuts while meeting unchanged expectations for inclusive education.
- Signals a possible shift in other states as governments grapple with rising costs.
Background
Disability support costs in Victorian schools have grown by 16 per cent annually since 2021, prompting the government to act. The new plan reduces per-student funding and tightens eligibility, with the government arguing it will target resources to those most in need. Total funding for disability inclusion is still set to reach $2.2 billion by 2029, but the per-student cuts mean schools will have less to spend on individual support.
Key Perspectives
Government spokesperson: The cost growth is unsustainable and risks affecting support for children who need it most; overall school funding is not cut and the savings will be used for teaching reforms and interventions.
Melbourne mother Christine: The disability inclusion support is essential; without it her son might have left the school system, and the cuts would be life-changing for families like hers.
Association for Children with a Disability chief executive Karen Dimmock: The cuts are devastating; the funding pays for support staff who are critical for students with a range of needs.
Australian Principals Federation president Andrew Cock: Student disability does not become less complex because of a funding formula change; funding decisions must be based on student need, not financial targets.
Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly: The decision is a disgrace that must be reversed; it will pull support from one in six students receiving disability inclusion support.
What to Watch
- Will the government release the new eligibility criteria before the start of the school year?
- Whether principals and unions mount a campaign to delay or reverse the changes.
- The impact on individual school budgets and the ability to maintain support from Term 1 next year.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedVictorian schools are to lose thousands of dollars in disability support payments.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “Principals and parents are reeling from a state government decision to cut $3400 a year in disability support per eligible student in mainstream schools.”
- Partly supportedThe summary says the government cuts $3,400 per eligible student, presenting the cut as current rather than planned for next year.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The changes will apply from term 1 next year.”
- SupportedThe changes were delivered in a letter to school leaders late Tuesday, six weeks before the end of the school year.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “In a letter to state school leaders late on Tuesday, just six weeks before the end of the school year, the state government announced plans for a major shake-up”
- Partly supportedPrincipals and disability advocates said they were not consulted about the changes.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The move shocked teachers and principals, who said they weren’t consulted”
- SupportedDisability-support costs have risen by 16 per cent each year since 2021.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The cuts are designed to curtail the ballooning cost of providing disability support in the state’s schools, which has risen by 16 per cent a year since 2021.”
- SupportedA government spokesperson said, ‘This is unsustainable, and it risks affecting support for children who need it most.’Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““This is unsustainable, and it risks affecting support for children who need it most,” a government spokesperson said.”
- SupportedThe government said overall school funding was not cut and would be used for teaching reforms and student support programs.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “A government spokesperson said there was no overall cut to school funding, which would be used for explicit teaching reforms, targeted literacy and numeracy interventions, tutoring and services to help students remain engaged in education.”
- SupportedStudent-level funding rates will drop by 2.5 per cent.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “The letter spells out changes to tighten criteria for disability support, a 2.5 per cent drop in “student-level funding rates””
- Partly supportedFunding will fall by $850 per term per student from next year.Brisbane Times - Latest News: “a reduction of $850 a term, per student “in mainstream schools only” from next year.”
- SupportedChristine said, ‘For families like mine, these cuts would be life-changing.’Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““For families like mine, these cuts would be life-changing,” she said.”
- SupportedAndrew Cock said, ‘Funding decisions must be driven by student need, not simply financial targets.’Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““Funding decisions must be driven by student need, not simply financial targets.””
- SupportedJustin Mullaly said the decision was ‘a disgrace’ and must be reversed immediately.Brisbane Times - Latest News: ““The … decision to cut funding for children with disability attending public schools is a disgrace and must be reversed immediately,” Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly said.”