Victorian Education Minister Martin Dixon has announced a $20 million boost in 2011-12 and $44 million in 2012-13 to support students with disabilities, brining the total State Government funding in the area to $156 million.

 

Around 21,000 students currently receive support under the Program for Students with Disabilities in Victorian schools, with that number expected to grow by around 700 in 2012.

 

The State Government’s 2011-12 Budget will include an extra $44 million in 2012-13 to increase the program's total funding to around $550 million.

 

The funding is used by schools to provide extra staff, specialised equipment, teacher training, specialist assistance and curriculum resources including IT software.

 

The State Government will provide more than $60 million of new funding to complete major and minor capital works at 11 different special and autism schools across Melbourne and regional Victoria.

 

The funding announced by Mr Dixon is part of the State Government’s provision of $700 million in new funding for the State’s schools over the next four years.