Graduate Certificate in Education (Learning Difficulties) Program - Privacy Notice
This notice explains how we collect, use, and manage your personal information when you apply to the Graduate Certificate in Education (Learning Difficulties) Program (the program).
The program is delivered by the Inclusive Education Scholarships Unit (IESU), part of the Department of Education (the department), and reflects the department’s commitment to excellence and equity in education.
About the Program
The program is an integral part of the Inclusive Education Scholarships Initiative, designed to support teachers in Victorian government schools and regional areas to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to deliver high-quality, inclusive education.
The program equips participants to:
- Design and implement evidence-based teaching strategies that meet the needs of all students
- Collaborate effectively with colleagues to build inclusive practices across the school
- Lead whole-school approaches that embed inclusive education as a core priority
Through this program, teachers become highly skilled leaders of inclusive practice, contributing to positive outcomes for students, colleagues, and the broader Victorian education system.
Privacy Laws
Your personal information is protected under:
What Information We Collect
To register and communicate with you, the program collects:
- Full name
- School or region, and role
- Mobile phone number
- Work and personal email addresses
- Home and mailing address
Optional information (used to improve the program and support equity initiatives):
- Age
- Gender
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status
Providing optional information is voluntary but assists in shaping and enhancing program design and outcomes.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must provide:
- VIT registration number – current, full registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching
- Citizenship or work status – Australian citizen, permanent resident, or authorised to work indefinitely in Australia
- Employment – employed by the department in a part-time or full-time capacity (not directly by a school)
Note: Casual Relief Teachers (CRT) and Education Support (ES) staff are not eligible as the program requires sustained engagement in teaching or leadership roles to support students with diverse learning needs over time.
Scholarships
The program ensures that every school has access to a highly qualified inclusive education teacher. Priority is given to schools that have not previously participated in the scholarship program.
Guaranteed Scholarships
- Specialist schools – 2 scholarships per school
- Supported inclusion schools – 2 scholarships per school
Additional Scholarships
- Multiple campuses – each campus may be allocated an extra scholarship
- Large schools – schools with more than 500 students receive 1 scholarship per 500 students, plus 1 additional scholarship for every 250 students beyond that
Who Sees Your Information?
The program collects your personal information via SmartyGrants and email. Your information will not be shared without your consent, except where required by law.
If you do not provide the required information, you cannot participate in the program. For enquiries, contact the IESU.
How We Use Your Information
Only authorised staff responsible for the program can access your information. Your information is used to:
- Advance inclusive teaching practices across Victoria
- Monitor your progress and provide tailored support where necessary
- Report program outcomes using anonymised data
Regional and area teams may also access limited participant information (name, course, and school) to:
- Connect statewide system capability initiatives
- Identify gaps and target areas for support in inclusive education
- Facilitate collaboration between schools and program participants to maximise statewide impact
Information is also used for program administration, including scholarship payments.
SmartyGrants
Your information is securely stored in SmartyGrants, hosted on Amazon Web Services in Australia. For more information, see the SmartyGrants privacy policy.
Feedback
We may contact you to understand how the program has enhanced your teaching practice and impacted student learning. Your feedback helps us refine future programs and evaluate:
- Growth in teacher capability and confidence in inclusive practice
- Development of whole-school inclusive strategies
- Positive outcomes for student engagement, participation, and achievement
Debt Recovery and Return of Service
If awarded a scholarship, you are required to remain in an eligible role with the department for 2 years after completing the program, in accordance with program guidelines.
Debt recovery may occur if you:
- Cannot fulfil the 2-year service requirement
- Move to a role that does not support Disability Inclusion work or direct student support
- Depart from the program or the department without meeting obligations
Your employment and personal information may be used to recover scholarship costs, as outlined in your scholarship agreement.
Updating Your Information
You may request access to, or correction of, your personal information.
Contact IESU:
We may contact you to update your details and ensure the program operates effectively. For more information, visit the department’s Privacy Policy.
Optional Program Activities
Participants may be invited to:
- Join communities of practice or professional networks
- Contribute to projects, interviews, or promotional materials
Participation is encouraged but entirely optional.
Recipient Network
If successful, you can join a network of past and current participants of the program, which provides opportunities to:
- Share experiences and best practice
- Receive mentoring and professional support
- Provide guidance to new participants
Twice a year, we distribute an updated list of participants who have consented to share their information. This may include:
- Name
- Work email
- School or region
- Course undertaken or completed
- Year of commencement
- Course status
This list is strictly for program-related contact and is not shared outside the program. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.
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