Victorian students will receive the support they need to succeed at school under the Liberals and Nationals' Successful School Starters program, delivering access to specialist support to assess, refer and diagnose neurodiverse students when they start primary school.
In a first-of-its-kind program in Australia, Successful School Starters will commence in every Victorian prep classroom from Term 1, 2028, with occupational therapists and speech pathologists embedded within the existing Primary School Nursing Program.
These specialists will observe students, help identify potential learning and developmental needs, provide advice to parents and guide families through the initial stages of specialist assessment and diagnosis.
Students requiring further specialist review and diagnosis will receive a $500 subsidy towards their initial specialist appointment.
For too many families, navigating the pathway to diagnosis is complex, time-consuming and expensive. Successful School Starters will help families access the information, guidance and specialist services that they might need, sooner.
The program will also support teachers by helping identify student needs earlier, enabling appropriate learning adjustments to be put in place and creating more effective classroom environments which will improve learning outcomes for all students.
The program will also support students and families in culturally and linguistically diverse communities, where awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity vary.
Successful School Starters forms part of the Liberals and Nationals' Excellence in Education Plan, supporting students, parents and teachers across Victoria.
Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said: "Every child has their own strengths, talents and potential."
"Successful School Starters is about making sure children get the support they need early, so they have the opportunity to reach their full potential."
"For many families, navigating assessments and specialist services can be overwhelming. This program will make that journey easier and help parents get the answers they need sooner."
Shadow Minister for Education, Brad Rowswell said: "For too many Victorian families, the journey to getting answers for their child is stressful, confusing and expensive, and that's simply not good enough."
"Every child deserves the chance to start school with the support they need to thrive, not be left behind while waiting for a diagnosis.
"By identifying learning and developmental needs earlier, we can give children the best possible start, help parents get the answers they need, and ensure teachers have the tools to support every student in their classroom.
"This is a practical, compassionate reform that puts students first and helps set them up for success from day one."
