For schools

The Department of Education provides funding through the SDSS Program to specialist service providers to support students with disability in Queensland state and non-state schools.

The approved SDSS organisations deliver services to improve access to and participation in curriculum and the educational outcomes for eligible school-aged students with disability through:

• identification of barriers to access, participation and achievement; and
• provision of supports to enhance student attendance, participation and achievement in schooling.

All approved SDSS organisations have a current service agreement with the Department of Education and receive funding to support schools and students with disability.

Services provided by organisations under the SDSS Program are complementary services to those offered by the education sectors and are not intended to be a duplication of those services available in schools.

While SDSS organisations may approach a school to offer a service, SDSS Program services are only delivered at the written request of the school, based on the needs of the student to access and participate in the curriculum. The Principal, or delegate of the Principal, decides if assistance is required and requests the services of a SDSS organisation.

Many of the supporting services are state-wide services, which means that all schools, including those in rural and remote locations, have the opportunity to access services from funded organisations to engage a specialist education support service.

SDSS organisations are funded under service agreements with the Department of Education for 3 types of funding categories:

School Support Services

Funding for the provision of a range of professional services and consultation in schools for eligible students with disability. Services may include support services from educators, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, orientation and mobility specialists, and psychologists.

Resource Centre Services

Funding to provide equipment, materials and resources to schools for the support of eligible students.

Specialised Equipment

Funding for specialised equipment is:

This funding may not be used for equipment for individuals or minor equipment and materials.

The list of SDSS Program funded organisations provides details of the SDSS organisations and an overview of their services.

Prior to requesting a SDSS service, schools should consider the needs of students in conjunction with any services already available to the school, such as school based therapies. Should it be established that a complementary service is needed to improve the student’s access to and participation in the curriculum, then a SDSS service can be requested.

Schools should make direct contact with a SDSS organisation to discuss service provision at their respective school and are encouraged to only request support from one SDSS organisation at a time for each impairment to minimise duplication of services and potential confusion.

The Principal of the school, or delegate, decides if assistance is required and requests the service from a SDSS organisation by completing and signing a school request for support form.

The SDSS program and the NDIS have two distinct purposes.

The SDSS program supports schools to enhance the learning outcomes for eligible students who require significant educational adjustments. The SDSS organisations are funded by the Department of Education and their services are engaged by schools.

NDIS services are focussed on supporting people with disability in their daily lives and do not include supports within schools to access the curriculum. NDIS funding is allocated to parents of students with disability under a NDIS participant plan, with parents directly engaging a provider.