School leaders are central in making sure that school-wide strategies, policies and initiatives are in place to support the inclusion of students with disability. The Disability Standards for Education (DSE) 2005 requires leaders to
understand and meet their obligations, providing the necessary leadership to
support teachers in creating a safe and inclusive school environment for
students with disability.
AITSL has developed a suite of leadership guidance resources that provide a deep dive articulation of explicit leadership roles, responsibilities and accountabilities for middle leaders and principals with respect to inclusive education and adherence to the DSE. These resources align to the five Professional Practices of the Australian Professional Standard for Principals (Principal Standard) and consider practical elements of whole-of-school implementation so that leaders within schools can meet their obligations under the DSE.
DSE In the Classroom
AITSL’s DSE In the Classroom video series helps visualise the obligations of the DSE through the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers with access to discussion questions and supplementary
resources to facilitate professional learning opportunities. Each series includes:
- Full lesson footage showcasing teachers in action; aligned to Teacher Standard Focus Areas
- Teacher audio commentary providing insights into lesson planning and implementation
- Interviews with teachers and leaders discussing how they support students with disability in their school context
Illustration of Practice
In this secondary school setting, the deputy principal provides insights to their whole-school approach to inclusion, illustrating collaborative methods that empower teachers to share and build knowledge of how to best support the diverse learning needs of students with disability.