Departmental Data on Complaints About Disability?Related Enrolment Refusals

Question

Senator HODGINS-MAY: That's all good-I'm just making sure. The budget provided some additional funding for the Inclusion Support Program. The additional funding was provided because demand exceeded available funding. This is backed up by the 2025 data from ACARA that shows 27 per cent of enrolled school students receive educational adjustments. That's more than one in four children. Obviously, these children don't appear out of nowhere once they start school. I'm curious as to why the 2026-27 top-up is significantly smaller than in previous years. Ms O'Connor: The top-up in 2026-27 was provided in two parts. The first part was provided through MYEFO, which was $59.2 million, and the second part was provided through the budget, which was $54.8 million-a total of $114 million. Senator HODGINS-MAY: Is that more than previous years? Ms O'Connor: It is, yes. Senator HODGINS-MAY: That's good to know. I hadn't seen that. Will this top-up continue as needed, year to year? It's probably a question for the minister. Mr Cook: I'm sorry; it's a matter for the government. Senator Walsh: In the budget we've provided for the further $54.8 million top-up. As you know, any further decisions will be decisions for government in the future. Senator HODGINS-MAY: We do continue to hear reports of children with additional needs being unable to access early learning because services can't afford the additional support required. Has the department received complaints from families who have been refused enrolment or effectively been turned away because of a child's additional needs? Ms Crane: I think we answered this question last time. At that stage we had not received any correspondence from them. Senator HODGINS-MAY: So interesting! Ms O'Connor: Not that I'm aware, but we can take it on notice. Senator HODGINS-MAY: Please take it on notice, because I get approached about this regularly. I'll ensure that they contact the department so it's not ending up in an abyss. I'm sorry if I did ask this last time, but, on notice, how many complaints have happened in the last three years? Ms O'Connor: We can take that on notice.

Answer

Please see the attached PDF.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• SQ26-000708.pdf (opens in a new tab)