Thank you for your interest in enrolling your child at Jacana School for Autism (JSA).
Disability Inclusion
The Victorian Government has launched Disability Inclusion, a new world leading reform package for children with disability in Victorian government schools. Visit Disability Inclusion: extra support for children with disability for more information. During the transition into Disability Inclusion (DI) updates will be shared with families as needed, processes may change under the new reform, the eligibility criteria for enrolment will remain the same for Jacana School for Autism under DI, the application process is now referred to as a specialist school verification (SSV).
Enrolment Process
Foundation/Prep Enrolment 2026.
- Complete Prospective Enrolment Form
- Your child will be placed on a Foundation/Prep waitlist
- Optional, attend one of the school’s facility tours, which are held in after school hours.
- Parents are required to submit all the required eligibility documentation, and provide proof of address (utility bill, license etc.). If you do not have a current Speech Assessment, Vineland Adaptive Scale Assessment, or a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder from a psychologist, please contact your local mainstream government school and they can assist you with this process.
- Eligibility documentation is sent to the Education Department for a Special School Verification (SSV) either by JSA or local mainstream.
- Parents whose child is deemed eligible with a SSV for enrolment at JSA will be notified and offered a placement for their child in Foundation/Prep 2026. (please note vacancies are limited)
- Parents will be offered an optional operational classroom tour, so they can observe classrooms in action.
- Parents will be given an Enrolment Pack
- Information for Foundation/Prep Orientation and Transition Program will be given to parents.
Transfers from other Special Schools and Mainstream Schools with current PDS/DI funding.
- 1.Complete Prospective Enrolment Form and provide proof of address (utility bill, license etc.)
- Optional, attend one of the school’s facility tours.
- Provide all eligibility documentation.
- Current school is required to submit all the required eligibility documentation for Special School Verification to attend an Autism specific school.
- Parents whose child is deemed eligible with a SSV for enrolment at JSA will be notified and placed on the waiting list.
- Students on the waiting list will be offered a placement as soon as a suitable vacancy occurs. Parents will be offered an operational classroom tour; they can visit their child’s new classroom.
- Parents will be given an Enrolment Pack.
- Both schools will do a transfer.
Transfers from Mainstream or Interstate with no current funding.
- Complete Prospective Enrolment Form and provide proof of address (utility bill, license etc.)
- Optional, attend one of the school’s facility tours.
- If your new from interstate, enrol your child into your local mainstream.
- Provide all eligibility documentation.
- If you are missing documentation, your current school can help obtain eligibility documentation, except for a diagnosis from a paediatrician. Alternatively, you can use private allied health professionals.
- Current school is required to submit all the required eligibility documentation for Special School Verification to attend an Autism specific school.
- Parents whose child is deemed eligible with a SSV for enrolment at JSA will be notified and placed on the waiting list.
- Students on the waiting list will be offered a placement as soon as a suitable vacancy occurs. Parents will be offered an operational classroom tour; they can visit their new classroom.
- Parents will be given an Enrolment Pack.
To access Students with Disabilities Transport Program (SDTP), students must live within the Designated Transport Area or DTA. Please see the link below to see if your residential address lies within our DTA.
https://www.findmyschool.vic.gov.au/dta_search/
The school is at full capacity across all Sub Schools. Should a place by year level become available, those already on the waitlist will be considered. At times, part-time placements may become available, and these will be offered to students at mainstream schools.
At present our prospective enrolment list has many students on it and less than a handful of positions become available each year due to student relocation or integration into mainstream settings.
Requests for Interpreters to Support Enrolments
If you require an interpreter to support you during the school tours, prep orientation, meetings or to translate the policies and information on this website for the purpose of enrolment, please contact the school office via phone on 9309 6258.
State the day, time and purpose of the booking, along with the language required and the office will make a booking for you. The interpreter will meet you at the school office at the designated time of the booking. If you specifically require a female or male interpreter, the request can be made at the time of booking however your request is dependent on availability of interpreters at the time.
ENROLMENT REQUIREMENTS
The following criteria are used and approved by the Department of Education to establish eligibility for enrolment at Jacana School for Autism.
- A diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder from a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist (or multidisciplinary team). A written statement providing an explicit diagnosis of autism based on DSM-V-TR criteria from a paediatrician or psychiatrist is required.
AND
- A diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder by a registered Psychologist. A written report from a psychologist providing a statement confirming the diagnosis of autism as a result of formal assessment and reference to formal diagnostic criteria outlined in the DSM-V-TR.
AND
- A Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale, Third Edition – Comprehensive Teacher Form. The findings of the assessment must show an adaptive composite score of 70 or below (two standard deviations below the mean). Assessment must be less than 12 months old.
AND
- A language assessment by a Speech Pathologist. Assessment must be less than 12 months old. The findings of the assessment must show a language score of 70 or below (two standard deviations below the mean) and include a statement that the results of the assessment or presentation are consistent with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. This statement concurring with the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder may be contained in the same report, or a separate one.
Note: The multidisciplinary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder can be provided as:
| A combined diagnostic report involving:
a paediatrician/psychiatrist, a psychologist and a speech pathologist OR
|
Separate diagnostic reports from a team
including: ▪ a paediatrician/psychiatrist ▪ a psychologist ▪ a speech pathologist
|
Optional:
A Cognitive Assessment that is less than 2 years old from a registered psychologist which clearly indicates a cognitive functioning score (IQ). This report should include observations of Autism Spectrum Disorder traits by the psychologist, family, and if possible, a teacher.
Enrolment Policy
