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Nationally Consistent Collection of Data

All schools in Australia are required to participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on Students with Disability on an annual basis.

The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) allows the Catholic sector to continue to provide and prioritise innovative and high-quality teaching and learning to support all students on their learning journey.

Above all, our Catholic tradition demands that educators see every child as equal, inherently sacred and worthy of dignity and respect.

Our Catholic schools support children and young people with disability as an act of love, not merely as a legislative requirement.

Two students playing in the playground.

What is the National Consistent Collection of Data?

  • The NCCD is a process that all schools must complete on an annual basis.
  • It is designed to count the number of students who receive additional adjustments or “help” at school because of a disability.
  • This national data collection helps federal and state governments as well as schools and school systems plan for the needs of students with disability. It is also the way that schools seek and receive funding to support the learning needs of their students.

Who is included in the data collection?

To include a student in the NCCD collection, schools must consider some key questions:

  1. Is the student receiving adjustments to assist them with their ability to participate in schooling on the same basis as their peers?
  2. Does the student meet the NCCD's broad definition of disability?
  3. Has this school discussed the adjustments (help) with the student and/or parent/carer/guardian?
  4. Does the school have documentation (assessments, medical reports or other paperwork) about the student’s functional needs, the adjustments (help) that they provided and how the student progressed overtime?

Where the school decides that the four steps above are in place (i.e. the student meets the NCCD criteria), the school then decides the most appropriate disability category and how much help (adjustment level) the student needs.

As the approved sector authority, CSNSW provides schools and dioceses:

  • a portal to verify with the Commonwealth, the eligibility of students for the NCCD including supporting evidence
  •  access a credible source of information, resources and training to maximise consistency in decision-making and minimise risk of non-compliance.

Schools utilise the NCCD portal within the CSNSW Personalised Planning online tool to enter student NCCD information including the disability category, level of adjustment and confirmation of evidence collection for each student that is eligible to be included in the count. In the lead up to the census in August, CSNSW assists in any necessary moderation of adjustment levels.

Principals must also complete the CSNSW Principal NCCD Confirmation within the CSNSW Personalised Planning online tool at the end of the moderation period to verify their school data. CSNSW then submits the data drawn from NCCD portal to the Commonwealth on the first Friday in August each year.

Visit the NCCD website for detailed information and guidance on the NCCD.

Want to find out more information?

Diocesan schools

For further information on the NCCD, diocesan schools should firstly direct all queries to their Educational Officers in their diocesan office.

RI/MPJP schools

For further information, contact the Senior Manager, Diverse Learning, Education Policy.

Funding available to support students with disability

The NCCD is used as the basis for calculating the funding loading for students with disability under the Commonwealth funding model.

Learn more about how Catholic schools are funded.