Bellarine schools join $1.8b inclusion push

FIVE Bellarine schools are among 24 across the Greater Geelong region to receive specialist support aimed at making classrooms more inclusive for students with disabilities.

Bellarine Secondary College and the Leopold, Wallington, Surfside and St Leonards primary schools are now supported by the state government’s Inclusion Outreach Coach program.

The coaches are specialists who work directly with teachers to implement practical classroom adjustments and develop inclusive teaching habits across the entire school.

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant welcomed the rollout.

“We’re investing to make sure staff and students are supported in inclusive learning environments,” she said.

The initiative is a part of the state’s $1.8 billion disability inclusion program. A major component of the scheme is the use of disability inclusion profiles, which shift the focus towards a student’s individual strengths and functional goals rather than just their diagnosis.

To date, these profiles have been developed for more than 26,000 students across Victoria, incorporating data from families and specialists to ensure schools make the right physical or curriculum adjustments.

Education minister Ben Carroll said the program was about ensuring schools were a viable option for all families.

“We’re giving parents and carers the choice of enrolling their child in a world-class public school that’s right for them, whether that’s an inclusive local school or a specialist school,” he said.

“Labor’s Disability Inclusion Program is transforming our public education system – making sure students with special needs can flourish.”