The Department of Education Victoria and Riverwalk Primary School are committed to supporting NDIS participants and their families to maximise the benefits available through the NDIS. In line with this commitment, Victorian government schools are encouraged to facilitate students and their parents/carers in exercising choice and control over NDIS-funded support.
Accordingly, requests for NDIS-funded therapy services to be delivered at school during school hours must be approved by the Principal Team.When deciding whether to approve a request for NDIS funded therapy in schools, principals may consider a variety of factors including:
- individual circumstances of the student
- student access to the curriculum
- Child Safe Standards and duty of care including the ability of staff to supervise the student while NDIS funded therapy is being provided
- practical and administrative capacity
- anti-discrimination obligations
Ultimately, the decision to allow NDIS-funded therapy onsite rests with the school principal and as delegate of the Minister for Education, has the right to permit and refuse entry of NDIS therapists into a Victorian Government school premise.
Responding to NDIS funded therapy requests
Upon receiving a request from an NDIS-funded therapist to deliver therapy services within the school setting, the Principal will seek additional information from the therapist and obtain consent from the student’s parent/carer before proceeding.
Requests from NDIS providers to conduct observations of students within the school environment will be assessed separately from requests to deliver therapy at school. In determining whether such requests can be accommodated, the Principal will consider factors including the school’s operational capacity, the administrative requirements associated with facilitating observations, and any educational impacts, including the needs of the individual student. Based on these considerations, the request may be approved or declined.
Request Form
The NDIS Funded Therapy Request Form requires the therapist intending to conduct the therapy sessions/observations to provide all relevant information about their request, including:
- the purpose of the proposed therapy
- the proposed date and time that therapy will be provided
- the proposed duration, frequency and style (in person or virtual) of therapy
- the proposed aims and benefits of the therapy being provided at school and in school time
- proof of a valid Working with Children Check
- Professional registration details, if the therapist is an NDIS registered practitioner
- copies of certificates of currency for the following insurances held by the therapist:
- public liability insurance
- professional indemnity insurance
Parents/carers are encouraged to work collaboratively with the NDIS-funded therapist to complete the request form, providing details of the student’s individual circumstances and the reasons for seeking the delivery of NDIS-funded therapy services within the school setting.
Therapists should be aware that all therapy sessions are to be conducted inside the student’s classroom to promote collaboration with staff working with students, unless approved by the Principal Team due to other circumstances regarding the student’s educational and wellbeing needs.
All requests for NDIS-funded therapist access must be submitted via email to the school at Riverwalk.PS@education.vic.gov.au. Requests received through other channels may not be processed until an email request has been received.
Upon receipt of an email request, and on behalf of the Principal, a member of the Riverwalk Primary School Administration Team will provide the NDIS-funded therapist with the relevant Request Form and any supporting documentation required to progress the request. Completed documentation must be returned before the request can be considered.
Parents and Carers Consent Form
The Parents and Carers Form is located alongside the Request Form. This is to be completed by a parent/carer or legal guardian of the student proposed to receive the therapy services.
Once the Request Form and Parents and Carers Form has been completed and returned to the school, the Principal Team should respond within 10 business days with the outcome of the request.
Licence to use the school premises and Information Sharing Deed
Riverwalk Primary School must ensure that any arrangement permitting an NDIS funded therapist to regularly access and use school premises is formalised through the execution of a licence agreement. NDIS-funded therapists must not commence the provision of ongoing therapy services on school grounds until the relevant licence agreement has been signed and approved.
The licence agreement includes an Information Sharing Deed, which must be signed by the NDIS-funded therapist before any therapy services commence on school premises.
The purpose of the Information Sharing Deed is to outline how and when the therapist will share relevant information about the student with the school. This ensures the school receives the information it needs to effectively support the student’s learning, wellbeing, and educational needs, while meeting its legal obligations.
The Licencing Agreement and Information Sharing Deed must be reviewed and recompleted every 12 months from the initial completion.
Commencement of NDIS Funded Therapy Sessions
Once all the required documentation is submitted and approved by the Principal Team, sessions are permitted to commence on school grounds. Therapists are to sign in at front reception each visit and check in with the administration staff located at the front office before entering the premises.
For any other inquiries regarding this process, please contact the school via email (Riverwalk.PS@education.vic.gov.au).
