Please note that public consultations have now closed. This page explains how the Australian Government consulted with the public as part of the Review.
- Date opened
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- Date closed
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Public consultations for the 2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (the Standards) were held from 16 July to 25 September 2020.
The department asked people with disability about their experiences and whether any improvements to the Standards should be made. This included speaking with:
- students
- parents and carers
- educators
- education providers
- organisations representing people with disability
- state and territory governments
- national education agencies and regulators
- non-government organisations.
The consultation process was designed to be accessible, user-friendly, and centred on the experiences of people with disability. The department made efforts to hear the voices of young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and communities, and people who speak different languages or come from culturally diverse backgrounds.
The department published two discussion papers about the Review and the Standards. One discussion paper was about preschools, schools, vocational education and training and higher education, and the other was about early childhood education and care. The department also produced some short video presentations that shared the experiences of some students with disability.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the department could not speak to many people face-to-face. Instead, most of the consultation activities were held online, as part of an online Consultation Hub. Consultation activities included:
- interactive webinars
- focus groups – small group discussions on a specific topic
- discussion boards – online written discussions
- telephone interviews
- some face-to-face events in a small number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Organisations and individuals were also invited to complete an online questionnaire, and make written, audio or video submissions below.
Early childhood education and care consultations
Currently, the Standards do not apply to ‘child-care providers’. However, child-care providers must comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA).
The department ran a separate stream of consultations to consider how well the DDA is understood and applied in early childhood education and care.
The department also published an early childhood education and care discussion paper and questionnaire to support these consultations.