As part of the 2024 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO), the Australian Government has quadrupled the Disability Support Fund to increase support for students with disability in higher education. This means funding is increasing by approximately $40 million per year (indexed) payable from 2025. Further details can be found in the DSF Factsheet.
Additional funding to support students with disability
As part of the 2023-24 Budget, an additional $17.7 million will be provided under the DSP (from 2023-24 to 2026-27) to increase support for students with disability in higher education. Find out more about the 2023-24 Budget.
Program objectives
The DSP provides funding to eligible higher education providers, to assist with supporting students with disability to access, participate and succeed in higher education.
Funding is allocated by formula, based on enrolment numbers of domestic students with disability at a provider, and the total number of students with disability at all eligible higher education providers. A smaller funding component reimburses providers for equipment and educational supports for students with disability with high-cost needs.
Providers may use funding for staff training, to better support students with disability, and to modify course content, teaching materials and delivery methods to better meet the needs of students with disability.
Eligible higher education providers are those listed at Table A of the Higher Education Support Act (HESA) 2003. Program guidelines can be found in the Higher Education Support (Other Grants) Guidelines 2022.
The Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training (ADCET)
The DSP also provides annual funding to ADCET, which is an online resource, hosted by the University of Tasmania, that provides information, advice and resources to disability practitioners, teachers and students with disability, on inclusive practices within the post-secondary education sector. Further information is at the Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training website.
For further information, please email disability@education.gov.au