Education Guidelines

Know how the system supports your child

Parents will find it helpful to understand how the education system is designed to work and to be able to use the correct wording of standards and guidelines in their requests for support. You will find links to both Australian and State/Territory programs on these pages, and attachments that summarise some programs.

Further information is available under the following headings:

  • Outline of School Support Across Australia
  • NDIS and Schools
  • Education authorities in each state or territory for low vision
    • Australian Capital Territory
    • New Sout Wales
    • Northern Territory
    • Queensland
    • South Australia
    • Tasmania
    • Victoria
    • Western Australia

Outline of School Support Across Australia

Across Australia, students with albinism who meet eligibility requirements, can apply to the vision support group in their state for formal support in the classroom at all year levels. Those with visual acuity reading better than 6/18 generally do not qualify for specially funded programs, but schools need to make accommodations to overcome any potential difficulties, such as enlarging work or handouts or allowing the child to sit at the front. Parents and older children can be involved in education decisions through the student support group meetings. In NSW the minimum visual acuity for eligibility for programs is 6/24. See more detailed information links and attachments for individual State/Territory information below.

Those with Low Vision with a visual acuity reading of between 6/18 to 6/60 best corrected vision (or 6/24 to 6/60 in NSW) are funded at a lower level, usually providing access to a visiting teacher trained in Vision Impairment, from the relevant Catholic, Independent or State education authority. This teacher works with the child and their teachers on the Extended Core Curriculum (ECC) to teach specific low vision skills and recommend the supply of equipment as necessary. This teaching covers how to use assistive technology (electronic or mechanical), any large print or text issues and orientation and mobility (O&M) etc. More information is available on the Extended Core Curriculum in the Primary or Secondary schools tab in this section.

Schools generally have teaching aides (or school support officers) who can support the teacher to enlarge work, attend an excursion or assist in a practical class where the child may have difficulty (eg science with experiments). These assistants aren’t allocated to the individual child and generally don’t work in normal classes, unless there is a perceived danger to your child.

Those who are legally blind (with a visual acuity reading greater than 6/60) generally have a higher level of support provided (through state disability programs) and are generally eligible for allocated individual teaching aide time as well as the recognised supports for low vision.

A few students with very poor vision may choose to learn Braille, which supports them in reading at senior levels or for reading music, with access to braille equipment and books. Adults who have learnt Braille reflect that it has been of benefit in times of extended study, eye fatigue or general overuse of their functional vision. The optimal time to learn Braille is in these younger, formative literacy years.

Pre-schools and schools also have access to advice and funding for environmental assessments, with funding provided to make adjustments to buildings, equipment and grounds in order to ensure safety and access for all students. This may include ground markings on stairs or on changes in surface or edges of designated areas of playgrounds, providing shaded areas, installing blinds or shade sails to reduce glare or making changes in lighting.

NDIS and Schools

NDIS will not fund anything related to formal education (is considered as the school’s responsibility to provide), but they will allow approved NDIS funded providers to work within the school’s venue or open times on teaching general life skills. During 2019 most state education authorities developed partnership agreements to allow this, but it must be with permission of the individual school, and meet their guidelines. One example of this is to allow orientation and mobility training by an NDIS provider to occur within the grounds – a great advantage for students new to a school setting, to learn to navigate an unfamiliar area.

  • To find more information for NDIS and schools: search “NDIS and Schools” followed by your state name.

Education authorities in each state or territory for low vision

Australian Capital Territory

The Vision Support Team is a team of specialist trained staff who provide support to children and young people from preschool to year 12 who meet the ACT disability criteria for vision impairment (vision loss 6/24 or less). The following attachment (with links) provides more information for those in ACT, including education funding and provision.

New South Wales

Each Education Region has a School Services Officer (Assistant Principal, Vision) who leads a team to oversee the provision of support for students in government schools. There is no longer a support unit, but Itinerant Support Teachers – Vision (ISTV’s) within each regional team work from a base school, visiting each student in their own mainstream government school.

The following attachment provides more information for those in NSW, including education funding and provision.

Northern Territory

The Vision Support Unit within the Departmant of Education in the NT, provides support to students, schools and parents across the NT. This is based in Darwin but Eduation Advisors work with students across the territory. Production staff in Darwin produce all braille, tactile and active learning resources.

Queensland

Education Adjustment Program (EAP) oversees support for vision impaired (VI) students and the Statewide Services provide support for children with visual impairment. The following attachments (with links) provide more information for Queenslanders, including education funding and provision.

South Australia

South Australian School Vision Impaired (SASVI) oversees support for low vision students in South Australia. The following attachments and links provide more information for South Australians, including education funding and provision.

Tasmania

The Vision Service supports children and students who are blind or have low vision and their families. Vision Services work with young people 0-18 years across the state and offer specialist teachers and a broader team of support professionals to mainstream schools. The following attachments and links provide more information for Tasmanians, including education funding and provision.

Victoria

Statewide Vision Resource Centre (SVRC) oversees and provides support for low vision students in Victoria. The following attachments and links provide more information for Victorians, including education funding and provision.

Western Australia

The School of Special Educational Needs (SSEN): Sensory provides educational support for children with vision impairment in both public and non-government schools throughout the state. The following attachments and links provide more information for Western Australians, including education funding and provision.