The 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 (PDF, 555KB) were established and 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
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 should 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 this form into their own document for schools to request services under the SDSS program.
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.
Your service agreement provides capacity to make changes within a defined limit.
The
Reallocation of funding or variation to service agreement—limits table (PDF, 18KB) illustrates the limits (per annum) that your organisation may change within each funding type before a Request to reallocate funding form or a Request for service agreement variation form is required.
The limits in the table only apply to changes to items that are already approved for funding under your organisation’s current service agreement. Any proposed new items require the submission of a request to reallocate funding form or a request for service agreement variation form.
If you wish to transfer funding between different funding types you must submit a request to reallocate funding form or a request for service agreement variation form (e.g. the transfer of unspent funds from the funding type 'Professional Development' to supplement the funding type 'Travel and Accommodation').
All requests to reallocate funding or requests for service agreement variations are to be emailed to the SDSS inbox.
Request to reallocate funding form
Use the
Request to reallocate funding form (DOC, 199KB) when the proposed changes to funding are above the limits detailed in the reallocation of funding or variation to service agreement—limits table and the changes are for a single funding year only. The approved funding tables in your service agreement will stay the same for the remainder of the service agreement period.
Request for service agreement variation form
Use the
Request for service agreement variation form (DOC, 268KB) when the proposed changes to funding are above the limits detailed in the reallocation of funding or variation to service agreement—limits table and the changes are expected to be ongoing for the remainder of the service agreement period. If approved, the approved funding tables in your service agreement will be changed for the remainder of the service agreement period.
Frequently asked questions
Student eligibility and survey
Student verification is a mandatory requirement for SDSS Funding and the SRSF will identify the status of each student’s verification.
Yes, your organisation can still issue a survey if it is required. 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 one or more funding categories, the minimum number of case studies required for each funding category is one.
The minimum requirements for case studies is contained in the performance report templates. Organisations can determine the format of the remaining content as services vary widely.
School request for support form
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 August 2019) and separately identified expenditure in both the Expenditure Certificate and Audit Statement.
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
Telephone: (07) 3513 6743