industry & reform
‘ A real opportunity ’
70 % of Australian students with a disability are excluded at school – the next round of education reforms can fix this
By Catherine Smith and Helen Dickinson
The National School Reform Agreement is made about once every five years in Australia . This is the main way the federal government can steer changes in how Australian schools are run .
The current reform agreement ends in December 2024 , and the new one is starting to be developed . One of the early priorities is to improve outcomes for all students , “ particularly those most at risk of falling behind ”. An expert panel will deliver a report to all education ministers by the end of October to inform negotiations . Meanwhile , a wide-ranging NDIS Review , looking at the sustainability of the scheme , is also due to report around the same time .
Earlier this month , Bruce Bonyhady , the chair of the independent review , said state governments need to build “ foundational supports ” in schools to reduce the strain on the NDIS . This follows our recent research that showed huge issues with the way students with disability are included in school life . For example , 70 % of surveyed students with a disability report being excluded from events or activities at school .
Negotiations around the next school reform agreement alongside the NDIS Review provide a real opportunity to better educate and support students with disability .
What is the National School Reform Agreement ? The National School Reform Agreement is a joint agreement between the federal and state governments that aims to improve student outcomes across schools . It also deals with funding arrangements . Each state or territory makes its own agreement with the federal government .
16 | educationreview . com . au