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Rules and responsibilities

Responsibilities under the Disability Discrimination Act

The Disability Standards for Education 2005, issued under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act, outlines the obligations of education and training providers to ensure that students with disabilities are able to access and participate in education without experiencing discrimination. Schools need to assess their students’ examination needs, and, when necessary, submit applications for disability provisions for the HSC examinations.

The Board’s HSC disability provisions program provides practical arrangements for students who wouldn’t otherwise be able to make a reasonable attempt at an examination paper. Disability provisions are approved for students with a disability that would, in a normal examination situation, prevent the student from reading the examination questions and/or communicating a response.

The Board’s Student Support Services Branch can provide advice to schools that would like further information on the disability provisions program or assistance completing an application. The application can only be completed through Schools Online.

Principles for Special examination modifications

The Board has approved a set of principles to guide decisions about the types of arrangements to enable students with a disability to best access the Higher School Certificate examinations. The principles were developed to ensure that the Board complies with the Disability Standards for Education 2005.

Read the 10 principles for special examination modifications in the Special education needs section.