Support at school
Your school can help you access extra support if you have a health condition. Talk to your teachers and the principal of your school about accessing these support services.
Student support services
Student support services officers are professionals who are available to help you and your school. They include:
- visiting teachers
- psychologists
- guidance officers
- speech pathologists
- social workers
- other health professionals.
More information
Visit the Student support services page on the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) website for more information.
Visiting teachers
Visiting teachers work with students who have:
- a vision impairment
- a hearing impairment
- learning difficulties
- a physical impairment
- a chronic health condition.
They provide additional educational assistance, advice and support to:
- school-aged children and young people
- their parents
- schools
- school communities.
More information
The Student Learning Needs page on the Catholic Education Office website will tell you how a visiting teacher could help you.
The Victorian Government state support services page on the Independent Schools Victoria website explains how you can access a visiting teacher if you attend an independent school.
School wellbeing and support staff
Every school has a team of teachers and other professionals who attend to student wellbeing.
These staff members can help you with things like bullying, social issues, frequent absences from school, drug use and depression.
They will work with you and other welfare professionals and agencies to develop support and learning programs to meet your needs.
Talk to the relevant staff member in your school for help with health problems.
More information
Visit the Support in schools page on the DEECD website or the Student Learning Needs page on the Catholic Education Office website for more information about student wellbeing.
Support for students with disabilities and additional learning needs
All Victorian schools offer support for students with disabilities and additional learning needs.
To access these programs, your school needs to find out if you are eligible. Eligibility criteria, application processes and the type of support offered varies across school systems.
If you are eligible for any of these programs, your school will organise a Student Support Group to:
- create some shared learning goals
- monitor your learning progress.
More information
Visit the Program for Students with Disabilities page on the DEECD website for information about additional support in government schools.
Read the Students with Disabilities Handbook to find out how this program works in independent schools.
Visit the Student services page on the Catholic Education Office website for more information about support for students with disabilities and additional learning needs.
Teach your teachers
Show your teachers and other school staff information you have been given about your health condition.
Ask your medical team at the hospital if they can recommend any good websites for you to direct your teachers to. This will help them understand your health needs.
