Overview

The Department of Education and Training (the department) is committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to receive quality education. This includes enabling students with any additional needs, including disability, to access the same educational and social opportunities as other students.

To advance this commitment, the department has been funding a Student Advocacy Service in Darwin and Palmerston since 2021. The service supports families of students with disability and additional needs to access equitable opportunities in Northern Territory Government schools. It addresses critical gaps where families often face challenges navigating the education system or advocating for the adjustments their children require.

The service assists the department in meeting its obligations under the Disability Standards for Education 2005 by promoting inclusive practices, strengthening family consultation, and ensuring students receive appropriate and reasonable adjustments to support their full participation in education.

Importantly, the service also strengthens student and family voice within the education system. By providing independent, accessible support, it empowers families to express concerns, navigate complex systems, and advocate effectively. This contributes to a feedback loop that helps the department identify systemic barriers, inform continuous improvement, and ensure inclusive education policy and practice are grounded in lived experience.

Since its commencement in 2021, the service has supported over 300 families in Darwin and Palmerston. Building on this success, the department will expand the Student Advocacy Service to the Central region in 2026 through a two-year trial. This expansion recognises the growing demand for advocacy support in regional and remote areas and aims to improve access, engagement, and outcomes for students with disability and additional needs across the Territory.

Grant recipients will advocate for students of all ages in NT Government Central Region Schools and their families by:

• supporting collaborative consultation between schools and families, including supporting families to voice their concerns and work towards improvement or resolution in education matters affecting them
• assisting to understand and navigate the education system, policies and procedures
• assisting families and schools to resolve issues at a school level
• educating them about their rights to inclusive education and training opportunities, with NT Government schools, helping make informed decisions
• providing referral to other services to resolve disputes, if required.

The department will provide grant recipients with a comprehensive toolkit and induction workshop to support the delivery of the advocacy service. This toolkit includes practical advice, guidance, and adaptable tools to ensure service alignment with operational standards and expectations. Key components of the toolkit include:

• service scope, categories and client groups
• delivery standards and required tools and templates
• clarification of eligible and ineligible activities
• strategies for improving access for diverse communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and rural/remote client
• guidelines for managing conflicts of interest
• information on networks and partnerships
• quality assurance, complaints and serious incident management processes
• data collection methods, tools and reporting requirements
• case study writing guidance.

The following areas are out-of-scope for the advocacy service in the Central region:

• professional advocacy services for families of students not enrolled in NT Government schools
• resolving disputes or issues unrelated to education, including but not limited to family matters, health or medical issues, or housing-related concerns
• delivering educational content, teaching, or directly providing classroom-based support
• addressing current complaints or disputes progressing to external agencies or tribunals
• providing legal representation or legal advice though families can be referred to legal professionals or advocacy services for further support
• overseeing or auditing school administrative functions or decision-making processes.

Organisations that deliver independent advocacy to individuals with disability, irrespective of the type of disability, and who have expertise working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities are strongly encouraged to apply for this grant opportunity.

Available funding

A total of $300,000 (GST exclusive) is available to deliver the Student Advocacy Service in the Central region for a two-year trial period, anticipated to run from approximately January 2026 to December 2027.

While there is no maximum grant amount per applicant, the total value of all grants awarded under this funding round must not exceed the available funding pool.

There is no guarantee of ongoing or additional funding beyond the two-year grant period. Continuation of the service beyond December 2027 will be subject to evaluation outcomes and future budget considerations.

Contact Details

Name: Inclusion Reform

Role: Department

Phone: 0889449257

Email: oswips@education.nt.gov.au