Overview
The Inclusive Classrooms professional learning program is part of the Inclusive Education Professional Learning system initiative supporting Disability Inclusion. It is designed to strengthen the capability of education workforces to improve support for students with disability in schools.
Inclusive Classrooms supports school staff in implementing inclusive practice by providing a suite of high-quality professional learning courses. Some courses are blended (including online and face-to-face or virtual components) and some are fully online.
All courses have been co-designed by the Department of Education in partnership with national and state peak bodies.
Eligibility
The Inclusive Classrooms courses are specifically designed for Department of Education school staff, including teachers, education support staff and school leaders. Participation for all courses is fully funded.
Components of the blended learning courses focus on student assessment, goal setting and program planning. For this reason, education support staff in classroom support roles are requested to participate alongside a teacher from their school, where possible.
School staff can access fully online courses at any time.
Blended learning courses
- Supporting students with autism
- Supporting student behaviour
- Supporting students with complex communication needs
- Supporting students with hearing loss
- Supporting students with oral language and learning
- Supporting primary students with learning difficulties
- Supporting secondary students with learning difficulties
- Supporting students with vision impairment
The blended learning courses are facilitator-led and are undertaken over 5 to 8 weeks. Registrations open each term approximately one month before the course start date.
Accelerated courses undertaken over 2 weeks for those with relevant prior learning are also available. These are available upon request.
View the full catalogue of Inclusive Classrooms professional learning courses.
Blended learning courses include:
- self-paced online modules
- opportunities to collaborate with others in online discussions and reflect on your own learning
- 1 - 2 live sessions (face-to-face or virtual)
- learning activities to ensure learning is meaningful and applied.
Successful completion of an Inclusive Classrooms blended learning course provides eligibility to claim professional learning hours. This contributes to relevant association registration requirements.
Examples of Inclusive Classrooms courses in schools
For examples of how Inclusive Classrooms professional learning could support a school, see these videos:
Greater Shepparton Secondary College
Kings Park Primary School and Movelle Primary School
Warringa Park School
Become a course facilitator
Facilitating an Inclusive Classrooms blended learning course provides an opportunity for school-based and regional/area-based staff to actively build the capability of others. Course facilitation also strengthens knowledge, skills, leadership and coaching competencies.
To become an Inclusive Classrooms facilitator for the:
- Supporting students with autism course,
- Supporting primary school students with learning difficulties course,
- Supporting secondary students with learning difficulties course, or
- Supporting students with oral language and learning course,
you need to complete the course and seek manager or principal endorsement to facilitate. Following this, facilitators need to complete the fully online Inclusive Classrooms Facilitator Training.
Support available
Schools can get reimbursed for Casual Relief Teacher expenses when school-based facilitators run blended learning courses to upskill others. Regional Online Professional Learning Coordinators are also available to support participants and facilitators.
Fully online courses
- Human Rights Approach to Diversity and Inclusion (30 minutes)
- Individual Education Planning (1.5 hours)
- Supporting Students with Learning Difficulties including Dyscalculia (2 hours)
- Inclusive Classrooms Facilitator Training (3 hours)
How to apply
For more information on Inclusive Classrooms courses, including intake dates, view the Inclusive Classrooms Professional Learning Catalogue.
Useful Links
Disability Inclusion https://www.schools.vic.gov.au/disability-inclusion
Diverse Learners Hub https://www.vic.gov.au/diverse-learners-hub
Graduate Certificate in Education program https://www.schools.vic.gov.au/graduate-certificate-education-learning-difficulties-program
Masters of Inclusive Education program https://www.schools.vic.gov.au/master-inclusive-education-program
Inclusion Outreach Coaching https://www.schools.vic.gov.au/inclusion-outreach-coaching
If you would like more information and/or are interested in running an Inclusive Classrooms course at your school, please email the Inclusive Classrooms team at inclusive.classrooms@education.vic.gov.au
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