Nationally Consistent Collection of Data

NCCD

Schools must complete the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disabilities (NCCD) every year. 

The NCCD is a collection that counts: 

• the number of school students receiving an adjustment or extra support due to disability
• the level of adjustment they are receiving to access education on the same basis as other students.

Students are counted in the NCCD if they receive ongoing adjustments at school due to disability. This 'support' allows them to access education on the same basis as a child without a disability. The NCCD uses the definition of disability in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

All schools in Australia must collect information about students with a disability.

Why is the data being collected? 

All schools in Australia must collect information about students with a disability. The NCCD: 

• ensures that the information collected is transparent, consistent and reliable
• provides better information that improves understanding of students with a disability
• allows parents, guardians, carers, teachers, principals, education authorities and the government, to support students with disability better.

How is this data used? 

The NCCD data inform funding and work by schools and sectors. It ensures that support for students with disabilities becomes routine in the day-to-day practice of schools. The NCCD also supports students in the following ways:

• The NCCD helps schools better understand their legislative obligations and the Disability Standards for Education 2005.
• Schools focus on the individual adjustments that support students with a disability. This encourages them to reflect on students’ needs and support them better.
• The NCCD facilitates a collaborative and coordinated approach to supporting students with a disability. It also encourages improvements in school documentation.
• The NCCD improves communication about students’ needs between schools, parents, guardians, carers and the community. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) publishes high-level, non-identifying NCCD data annually.

Students with a disability loading 

Funding from the Australian Government for students with disability is based on the NCCD through the student with disability loading. 

Students with a disability who are counted in the top three levels of the NCCD (extensive, substantial and supplementary) attract the loading. Funding is based on a per-student amount at each of the three levels of additional support. The amount of the loading reflects the level of support students with a disability need to participate fully in school, with higher funding for those who need higher levels of support. 

Australian Government recurrent school funding is provided as a lump sum to school authorities, including state and territory governments, which can then distribute the funding to their member schools according to their needs-based arrangements. 

The Government expects schools and school systems to consider their funding from all sources (i.e. Australian Government, state and territory and private) and prioritise their spending to meet the educational needs of all of their students, including students with disability.

What are the benefits of the NCCD for students?

The information collected by the NCCD helps teachers, principals, education authorities and governments to better support students with a disability at school. The NCCD encourages schools to review their learning and support systems and processes. This helps schools to improve educational outcomes for all students continually.

We are currently collecting data to submit in the August census period. The attachment below shows More information about the data collection and its use in Catholic schools.

If you have any questions or would like to know more, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Connie Drossaert

Learning Diversity Leader