A huge step forward for students with disability in Tas Schools

A Needs Based Funding Model for Tasmanian Students with Disability Becoming a Reality At Last The Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby (TDERL) welcomes the Minister for Education Jeremy Rockliff’s announcement that the Tasmanian Government has taken the first steps toward implementing a truly needs based funding system for students with disability in Tasmanian schools.

TDERL was set up in 2012 to lobby specifically for a review of the Disability Education System in Tasmanian schools and see an outdated IQ based funding system removed and replaced by a needs based funding system.

Today we see that parent’s voices have finally been heard and real action is being taken to address the issues we have been highlighting for years.

Yesterday’s announcement shows the Government has listened to and finally acted to address the inequitable funding system that is currently in place. TDERL looks forward to participating in the consultation phase relating to any proposed model and to supporting the smooth implementation of a new funding model that is desperately needed.

We call on both the Tasmanian Labor Party and the Tasmanian Greens to support the proposed change. Improved support for students with disability is critically important and moving away from an inequitable funding system to a needs based system is required along with the implementation of all of the other recommendations arising out of the Ministerial Taskforce into Improved Support for Students with Disability. Kristen Desmond, founder of the Tasmanian Disability Education Reform Lobby said.

“This is an important first step to a needs based funding system that sees resourcing for students who require educational adjustments provided to them. Parents have been lobbying for a needs based funding model for years and it is great to see that the Government has listened and is acting to make this a reality.” “TDERL commends the Minister for committing to the implementation of a new funding model for students with disability and we look forward to working closely with the Government to make this a reality.”

“We believe that the needs based funding model decision highlights what great outcomes can be achieved when the Government, Education Department, Parents and other key stakeholders work together”.
Kristen Desmond