The Specialist Disability Support in Schools (SDSS) Program supports schools by providing funding to approved organisations to deliver services to improve access to, and participation in, the curriculum and the educational outcomes for eligible school-aged students with disability.
The
SDSS program guidelines provide the program's purpose, objectives, terms and conditions. Funded organisations are required to maintain compliance with these guidelines throughout the funding period and in accordance with their service agreement.
Key reporting documents and required forms
Performance reports—due 30 January
A performance report is required for each approved funding category each year.
Performance measures spreadsheets—due 30 January
Performance measures are required for each approved funding category each year.
Certificate of expenditure—due 30 January
A certificate of expenditure is required for each approved funding category each year.
Audit report—due 1 August
Each funded organisation must provide an audit report for the previous calendar year by 1 August each year.
The audit statement must be prepared by a qualified accountant independent of your organisation.
The audit statement should be an official document on letterhead and clearly show the auditor’s qualifications.
For this purpose, a qualified person is one who is:
- a qualified accountant within the meaning of the
Corporations Act 2001 (C’th)
or
- a person registered (or taken to be registered) as a company auditor under the
Corporations Act 2001 (C’th)
and
- is independent and does not have any direct conflict of interest in providing the verification.
The audit statement must identify each funding category separately in a similar format as the certificate of expenditure.
The audit statement must confirm that the figures submitted in your certificate of expenditure in January were correct.
Other documents
School request for support form (SRSF)
It is a requirement of your service agreement to obtain a signed SRSF, which is valid for the current school year. The SRSF must be renewed each year.
Funded organisations may either utilise the relevant form below or incorporate all provisions contained within the relevant template into their own document for schools to request services under the SDSS program.
It is recommended that organisations always attach the
SDSS program fact sheet for schools to the SRSF when it is provided to a school.
Protocols for SDSS services
Protocols for delivering SDSS services to schools have been developed to assist SDSS organisations to establish and maintain effective professional engagements between SDSS organisations and schools including initial contact and appointments.
Changes to the approved funding under your service agreement
The department recognises that services and funding requirements may change over the funding period, including changes to improve outcomes and ensure alignment with the SDSS program objectives.
The terms of your service agreement allow you to apply to the department for approval of changes to your annual funding allocations.
If you find that you have unutilised funds in 1 area but you have overspent in another area, you may consider applying for a reallocation of the unutilised funding (e.g. the transfer of unspent funds from the funding type 'Professional Development' to supplement the funding type 'Travel and Accommodation').
Should you decide to transfer funding, you must submit a
request to reallocate funding form.
All requests to reallocate funding are to be emailed to the SDSS inbox to seek approval.
Request for service agreement variation form
Your service agreement, or any part of it, may be varied by a variation to your service agreement signed by your authorised representative and the department.
Use the
request for service agreement variation form when the proposed changes are expected to be ongoing for the remainder of the service agreement period. If approved, the changes to your service agreement will be changed for the remainder of the service agreement period.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, your organisation can still issue a survey if it is required. Surveys may assist in monitoring the outcomes of your service. The department will now survey schools in relation to the SDSS Program which will focus on effectiveness and opportunities for improvement.
Case studies
You are required to provide up to 5 case studies for each funding category. That is, if you are funded for 1 or more funding categories, the minimum number of case studies required for each funding category is 1.
The minimum requirements for case studies are set out in the case study template, which is attachment 1 of the performance report templates.
School request for support form (SRSF)
Yes, your organisation can have an existing SDSS SRSF renewed by using a short renewal form with the original SRSF attached so long as the school principal has approved in writing that the existing SRSF continues to be required for each eligible student for a further 12 months and the parent/guardian consent has been renewed.
This requirement is important to ensure:
- funding is directed to eligible students with the most need
- services are provided at the school's request and specific to the student's educational needs
- confirmation of continued student eligibility
- parent/guardian's consent remains current
- the changing needs of students are monitored closely
- funding accountability.
The SRSF is required to be renewed each calendar year for each student (no more than 12 months apart) however, this renewal will vary depending upon the timing of the original request and is not required to be each January unless this timing is more suitable for your organisation or the school making the request.
A new form is not required if goals change between each renewal period. It would be advisable to confirm any changes to support needs or goals in writing to ensure the school and your organisation's support team are aligned.
SDSS Program reporting
No, each funding category will require a separate performance report (except for the performance report due August 2022) and separately identified expenditure in both the Certificate of Expenditure and Audit Report.
The annual Certificate of Expenditure and Audit Report both require the funding earned from interest and services to be reported and used on providing SDSS services.
You are not required to seek a variation in these circumstances unless the change means 1 or more of the identified Professional Staff will not be engaged for an extended period (e.g. greater than 6 months). If this is the case, your organisation's capacity to deliver the agreed services will likely be impacted (e.g. Section 3.1) and therefore, would require a Variation Request Form to be submitted and approval obtained on this basis.
SDSS program enquiries
Email:
sdss@qed.qld.gov.au
Phone: (07) 3513 6743