Non Education Service Providers – Parent Information

As the National Disabilities Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has been implemented we are seeing an increase of families requesting the services of non-education service providers to work with their child/ren during school hours. These services include speech and occupational therapies, and psychology.

In relation to the use of non-education service providers, the Department for Education has a mandated procedure for non-Education Service Providers that must be followed when requests are made to have an external provider working with students in government schools.

In accordance with this procedure, schools must ensure that a number of issues are addressed as part of the decision making process before allowing service providers to work in schools. These include the health / learning needs of the student, access and participation to school learning environments and organisational / compliance issues.

Parents / carers who wish to request for their child to receive services from a non-education service provider (eg, speech pathologist, occupational therapist etc.) during school hours need to complete and submit a request form– attached below.

Please note, any previous agreement between the school, parent and service provider, must be renewed on an annual basis at the beginning of each school year.

Upon the school’s receipt of the request form, a meeting will then be arranged between the deputy principal, family / carer, and the non-education service provider. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the health / learning needs of the student, access and participation in school learning environments and organisational / compliance issues.

The non-education service provider will need to provide:

a current copy to the school of their current Teachers Registration certificate OR a DHS Working with Children Check Unique Identifier and a current Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care certificate (RRHAN – EC) OR a DHS Working with Children Check Unique Identifier, a current Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care Bridging Course certificate (RRHAN – EC) and a Safe Environments Training certificate completed in the last three years run by DHS approved providers
evidence of a completed Child Safe Environments Compliance Statement
a copy of the non-Education service provider’s Public and Products Liability Insurance Policy
a copy of qualifications in the professional field of practice. Current registration or membership with a relevant professional organisation, for example, Psychology AHPRA Registration certificate, Occupational Therapy AHPRA Registration certificate, full membership of Speech Pathology Australia, membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers or qualifications relevant to the proposed service being delivered to the child or young person
any information that details limitations or restrictions that have been placed on professional practice
details of the proposed service being delivered to the child or young person, including frequency of service, time involved, and program being delivered.

It is important to note that the procedure requires that a department employee must have ‘line of sight supervision’ of the child or young person, when working with a non-Education Service Provider. This is a significant and determining factor as part of the approval process.

Please understand that these requirements are extensive and may result in our school not being able to offer the same options for your child as we have in the past.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Nicky Taylor

Deputy Principal