External support agencies, NDIS funded therapists, volunteers, practicum students and other para professionals wishing to access Ben Venue Public School during school operational hours are required to follow departmental and school processes to ensure the highest level of safety is maintained at all times.
The process should begin by contact being made with the School office and the procedures being followed. Please email all requests to benvenue-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Failure to comply with all steps of the relevant procedure could result in access to students and school facilities being denied. Access is at the discretion of the Principal and may be withdrawn at any time.
External Therapists
Ben Venue Public School is committed to working with external service providers in meeting the diverse needs of its students. Through collaboration and partnerships, we strive to work towards enhancing the learning outcomes of all our students.
Key steps for therapists wishing to deliver therapy during school operational hours:
- Consult with parents/carers as the necessity and need for therapy to be delivered during school operational hours. Parents/Carers are to make the initial request to the School for therapy to occur during school operational hours by completing Parent Request for External Therapy and sending to benvenue-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au or delivering to the office.
- Familiarise yourself with the Ben Venue Guidelines for Therapy Provision document and follow the flowchart of actions.
- Provide 100 points of ID for screening (department screening can take up to 7 working days to process).
- Provide all screening and departmental required documents.
- Complete External Provider Engagement Agreement and Individual Service Schedule including goal setting, to allow Principal to decide on validility and necessity of therapy during school operational hours. (Therapy delivery available between 9:10am- 3:10pm).
- Pending approval of agreement with the school - Establish visitation schedule.
Note: ALL changes to the agreed upon schedule should be communicated to the school with a minimum notice of one school day. It is the responsibility of each family to notify the therapist of student absences. - Goals, session notes, assessments, reports and regular feedback is required to school staff and the student’s family throughout the period of therapy.
- For a one-off observation with no further appointments required, only a department screening is required. Please email the school benvenue-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au to request an observation time.
Screening Documents:
- WWCC-Declaration (Declaration for child related workers)
- Working with children check
- Proof of Identity - 100 points of identification
Departmental required documents:
- External provider engagement agreement
- External provider service schedule
- Relevant health care training for a specific circumstance or student (Ben Venue requires all external services to hold an ASCIA anaphylaxis certificate).
- Evidence of currency of the following insurances:
- Workers compensation, or, if the provider is an individual or sole trader performing the work themselves, evidence of personal insurance cover in the event they have an injury.
- Professional indemnity (for at least $2 million for any single occurrence and in the aggregate).
- Public liability (for at least $20 million for any single occurrence and in the aggregate).
- School Induction checklist, willl be completed onsite upon the arrival of first consultation.
- Proof of the departments Mandatory Child Protection Training, or other suitable alternative training program developed by the provider for its staff, within the last year.
Helpful links
- Externally funded service providers delivering health, disability and wellbeing services to students - Information for providers and provider checklist
- NSW Department of Education Code of Conduct
- Requesting a NDIS-funded therapy service for your child at a NSW public school
- Term 1 Therapy Booking Form 2025
- 2025 Dates for External Providers Visiting Ben Venue
Volunteers
Key steps for volunteers:
- Contact school office to initiate process and make an appointment with Principal.
- Complete all screening paperwork and requirements prior to appointment with Principal.
- Establish agreed visitation schedule and learning programs or classes to be working with.
Note: If you are unable to attend a scheduled session, please contact the School Office to ensure this is communicated to relevant staff.
Helpful links for volunteers: