Special education funding
Special education funding
Special education funding is allocated to non-government schools for eligible students with special education and high support needs.
Applications
Non-government schools must apply to their relevant sector body, and provide medical documentation to support the need for special education funding.
For independent and Catholic schools, committees formed by the Association of Independent Schools Western Australia Inc and Catholic Education Western Australia collect, validate and assess data relating to students with special education and high support needs.
Funding
Special education funding is provided to non-government schools by the WA State Government in recognition of the additional costs required to educate a student with a disability. This funding is only to be used for the education of the students for whom it is provided, either individually or collectively.
Special education funding for eligible students is paid in addition to per capita funding, at a loading of either 110%, 210% or 360% of the per capita rate based on the students' assessed levels of disability. For example, mild, moderate or severe. This funding is paid twice each year, so each semester's payment equates to half the amount listed in the following table.
High support needs (HSN) funding is provided for students assessed as having very severe disabilities, in lieu of per capita and special education funding.
2025 rates
The 2025 special education funding rates are outlined in the sections below. The 2025 HSN annual rate is $13,807 for Kindergarten students and $34,519 for compulsory primary, middle school and upper secondary students.
- Kindergarten
- Compulsory primary (Pre-primary to Year 6)
- Middle school (Year 7 to Year 10)
- Upper secondary (Year 11 and Year 12)
A full-time equivalent (FTE) of 1.0 equals 4 sessions per week.
| School funding category | Per capita rate | Mild rate (110% loading) | Moderate rate (210% loading) | Severe rate (360% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | $2,393.00 | $2,632.30 | $5,025.30 | $8,614.80 |
| B | $2,758.00 | $3,033.80 | $5,791.80 | $9,928.80 |
| C | $2,768.00 | $3,044.80 | $5,812.80 | $9,964.80 |
| D | $2,856.00 | $3,141.60 | $5,997.60 | $10,281.60 |
| E | $2,996.00 | $3,295.60 | $6,291.60 | $10,785.60 |
| F | $3,125.00 | $3,437.50 | $6,562.50 | $11,250.00 |
| G | $3,223.00 | $3,545.30 | $6,768.30 | $11,602.80 |
| G (A) | $4,800.00 | $5,280.00 | $10,080.00 | $17,280.00 |
| H | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| I | $6,388.00 | $7,026.80 | $13,414.80 | $22,996.80 |
| School funding category | Per capita rate | Mild rate (110% loading) | Moderate rate (210% loading) | Severe rate (360% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | $1,596.00 | $1,755.60 | $3,351.60 | $5,745.60 |
| B | $1,837.00 | $2,020.70 | $3,857.70 | $6,613.20 |
| C | $1,848.00 | $2,032.80 | $3,880.80 | $6,652.80 |
| D | $1,903.00 | $2,093.30 | $3,996.30 | $6,850.80 |
| E | $1,997.00 | $2,196.70 | $4,193.70 | $7,189.20 |
| F | $2,082.00 | $2,290.20 | $4,372.20 | $7,495.20 |
| G | $2,149.00 | $2,363.90 | $4,512.90 | $7,736.40 |
| G (A) | $3,202.00 | $3,522.20 | $6,724.20 | $11,527.20 |
| H | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| I | $4,259.00 | $4,684.90 | $8,943.90 | $15,332.40 |
| School funding category | Per capita rate | Mild rate (110% loading) | Moderate rate (210% loading) | Severe rate (360% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | $2,346.00 | $2,580.60 | $4,926.60 | $8,445.60 |
| B | $2,701.00 | $2,971.10 | $5,672.10 | $9,723.60 |
| C | $2,714.00 | $2,985.40 | $5,699.40 | $9,770.40 |
| D | $2,799.00 | $3,078.90 | $5,877.90 | $10,076.40 |
| E | $2,933.00 | $3,226.30 | $6,159.30 | $10,558.80 |
| F | $3,060.00 | $3,366.00 | $6,426.00 | $11,016.00 |
| G | $3,159.00 | $3,474.90 | $6,633.90 | $11,372.40 |
| G (A) | $4,707.00 | $5,177.70 | $9,884.70 | $16,945.20 |
| H | $4,707.00 | $5,177.70 | $9,884.70 | $16,945.20 |
| I | $6,261.00 | $6,887.10 | $13,148.10 | $22,539.60 |
| School funding category | Per capita rate | Mild rate (110% loading) | Moderate rate (210% loading) | Severe rate (360% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | $2,422.00 | $2,664.20 | $5,086.20 | $8,719.20 |
| B | $2,979.00 | $3,276.90 | $6,255.90 | $10,724.40 |
| C | $3,051.00 | $3,356.10 | $6,407.10 | $10,983.60 |
| D | $3,141.00 | $3,455.10 | $6,596.10 | $11,307.60 |
| E | $3,280.00 | $3,608.00 | $6,888.00 | $11,808.00 |
| F | $3,386.00 | $3,724.60 | $7,110.60 | $12,189.60 |
| G | $3,508.00 | $3,858.80 | $7,366.80 | $12,628.80 |
| G (A) | $5,223.00 | $5,745.30 | $10,968.30 | $18,802.80 |
| H | $5,223.00 | $5,745.30 | $10,968.30 | $18,802.80 |
| I | $6,902.00 | $7,592.20 | $14,494.20 | $24,847.20 |
