Catholic Education SA began an independent review of its policies, programs and support arrangements for students with disability in March 2020 to learn what it is doing well, what it should do less of, and what it should do better.

The Review presented its Final Report in December 2020.

The Overview of Final Report paper outlines the Review’s key findings and the directions it recommends for Catholic education to improve the learning, wellbeing and inclusion of students with disability. 

The Students with Disability Review developed and released the following papers during the course of the review:

Review Discussion Paper - information about the context of the Review and the key matters it intended to address.

Student Conversations Paper - the summary of conversations the Review held with 122 students with disability in 24 schools across metropolitan and country South Australia.

Survey Summary Reports - summaries of surveys the Review undertook with the following groups:

• Parents/carers/guardians of students with disability
• Members of the community
• Principals of Catholic schools
• Staff of Catholic schools: teachers, positions of responsibility, deputy principals and support staff
• Staff in the Catholic Education Office.

Each Survey Summary Report consists of three main components:

• an overview synopsis of each survey’s responses
• data reports for the survey questions that invited a quantitative response
• a brief outline of the themes that people presented in their comments.

Profile of Students with Disability Report 2020  - the Review’s presentation of key characteristics of Students with Disability enrolled in South Australian Catholic schools.

UPDATE: Profile of Students with Disability Report 2021

Issues and Challenges Paper - the Review’s analysis of the views of key stakeholders on specific aspects of the Australian Government’s Disability Standards for Education. For each Disability Standard, the paper identifies a range of key issues and challenges.

The South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools approved in-principle the Final Report’s 40 recommendations at its December 2020 meeting.

The Commission approved the Implementation Focus Areas for immediate action in 2021 as outlined in the Final Report. 

The Commission authorised the development of a three-year Review Implementation Plan for 2022 – 2024 to ensure implementation of the Final Report’s recommendations.

If you wish further information about the Students with Disability Review and the Final Report please:

• email to SWDReview@cesa.catholic.edu.au
• mail a letter to PO Box 179, TORRENSVILLE PLAZA SA 5031.