The Victorian Department of Education is working with the Healthy Trajectories team at the University of Melbourne to carry out the 2026 Disability Inclusion Needs Survey. The purpose of this survey is to find out how many children in 3- or 4-year old kindergarten have additional needs and the level of their support needs when they have a disability, developmental delay or complex medical conditions. We want to learn more about this so that we can effectively plan and develop how to support kindergarten services and teachers to assist all children in Victoria to participate and learn at kindergarten.

This survey was first completed in 2024. It is important to repeat the survey to ensure that our data provides an accurate picture of the functional impact of disability and complex medical needs and levels of adjustment required for children to participate. In 2026 we are enhancing the survey procedures by training expert inclusion consultants  to collect the data during a visit to the kindergartens  in collaboration with service leaders and teachers. The survey will focus on the type of impacts (e.g., sensory needs, physical needs) as well as the levels of adjustment needed (e.g., a low, moderate or high level of extra support needed from kindergarten staff).

Understanding the additional needs of children with disability, developmental delay and complex medical conditions is an important step to making sure that all children are included at kindergarten.

This project is funded by the Victorian Department of Education, and is a collaboration between Healthy Trajectories and the REEaCh team at the University of Melbourne. This project is led by Professor Christine Imms from Healthy Trajectories.