To access information about the Regional Disability Liaison Officer Initiative and the Disability Coordination Officer Program, click on the specific sections identified below or scroll down the page to access all information.
What is the role of the Regional Disability Liaison Officers?
Who funds the National Regional Disability Liaison Officer Initiative?
Where are the Regional Disability Officers located ?
What is the role of the Disability Coordination Officers ?
Who funds the National Disability Coordination Officer Program?
Where are the Disability Coordination Officers located?
Functions of the RDLOS and DCOs
What is the role of the Regional Disability Liaison Officers?The role of the RDLOs is to enhance post-secondary education, training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Specifically, the position aims to:
Improve transitions for people with a disability between schools, post-secondary education and training, and employment.
Increase awareness of post-school options, supports and services available for people with a disability, their families, support networks and relevant stakeholders.
Increase the successful participation of students with disabilities in post-secondary education by facilitating the coordination of services for people with a disability in education and training within a region and improving linkages between schools, VET providers, higher education providers and providers of disability programs and assistance, such as those funded by the Australian Department of Family and Community Services.
For further information refer to the RDLO/DCO functions section
Who funds the National Regional Disability Liaison Officer Initiative?
The National RDLO Initiative is funded through the Higher Education Equity Programme (HEEP), which is administered by the Higher Education Group of the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). In 2004 funding was approved to continue the initiative nationally until June 2005.
Where are the Regional Disability Liaison Officers located?
There are currently ten officers employed throughout Australia: two in New South Wales, three in Queensland (one position is job-shared), and one in each of the other States. For contact details, please refer to the National Network of Regional Disability Liaison Officers and Disability Coordination Officers section. The RDLO positions are hosted by a relevant university within their region.
Leonie Challans occupies the Regional Disability Liaison Officer position for the Adelaide and Environs region in South Australia. The University of South Australia is the host institution.
What is the role of the Disability Coordination Officers?In 2001, the Federal Government provided funding via the Australians Working Together package, to establish the Disability Coordination Officer (DCO) Program. The program began in 2002. It works concurrently with the existing Regional Disability Liaison Officer Initiative to enhance education, training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Although the RDLO and DCO Programs are funded from separate funds and different titles, they operate under similar principles and guidelines as the RDLO Initiative.
For further information refer to the RDLO/DCO functions section
Who funds the National Disability Coordination Program?
The Disability Coordination Officer (DCO) Program is funded through the Australians Working Together package, which is administered by the Vocational Education and Training group of the Department of Education, Science and Training.
Where are the Disability Coordination Officers located?A range of organisations may host the DCO positions. These include relevant universities, TAFE institutes and community organisations. For contact details, please refer to the National Network of RDLOs and DCOs .
Functions of the
Regional Disability Liaison Officers and the
Disability Coordination Officers
The RDLOs and DCOs perform a range of functions, which are focused on the provision of practical assistance and support for students with disabilities to make the transition from school to university or from school to TAFE and then to employment. These functions include:
supporting disability liaison officers in post-secondary education and training institutions to facilitate the appropriate support needed for students to plan their course of study at either university or at TAFE
working cooperatively with higher education institutions within their region to form a central information source on support services available, such as enrolment assistance, orientation, advocacy, alternative assessment and examination requirements, bridging courses, personal and study counselling, tutoring, alternative teaching and learning approaches, study skills programs and student support networks
participating with State and regional level tertiary education disability networks and consulting with secondary school liaison officers
liaising with community organisations and other bodies as appropriate
coordinating, as necessary, a range of appropriate educational and support services on a regional level for students with disabilities (eg health services, financial assistance, housing assistance, employment services and child care)
assisting in the development of appropriate services that support graduates with disabilities in their search for employment
as part of their role, they may contribute to policy initiatives at State level or undertake research projects
producing a range of resource materials to assist students, graduates and staff
conducting conferences, seminars and workshops for staff and students
advising on gaps in the provision of services and ways to overcome these problems.
South Australian Contact Leonie Challans
Regional Disability Liaison Officer, Adelaide and Environs SA
Human Resources Unit
University of South Australia
GPO Box 2471
Adelaide SA 5001
Email: leonie.challans@unisa.edu.au
Phone: 08 8302 1756
Fax: 08 8302 1666
TTY 08 8302 2112
Further information Refer to the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training websites for
RDLO information DEST RDLO Initiative and
DCO Information DEST DCO Programme