Here are 20 notable special needs universities for disabled children in the Australia that offer various forms of assistance, educational and recreational support:
1. The University of Melbourne
- Focus: The university provides an ongoing support program for disabled students, ongoing medical conditions or any type of disabilities. You must register for the program.
- Established year: 1853
- URL: https://students.unimelb.edu.au/student-support/student-equity-and-disability-services
- Course: https://students.unimelb.edu.au/your-course
- Apply: https://students.unimelb.edu.au/student-support/student-equity-and-disability-services/registration-for-ongoing-support
- Fees: https://students.unimelb.edu.au/your-course/manage-your-course/fees-and-payments
- Address: Grattan Street, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
2. The Australian National University
- Focus: Accessibility supports students within the Australian National University community whose participation in academic studies is impacted by physical and learning disabilities, mental health conditions, chronic medical conditions, and short-term illnesses/conditions.
- Established year: 1946
- URL: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/contacts/accessibility
- Course: https://www.adcet.edu.au/students-with-disability/key-contacts/disability-services-university
- Apply: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/accessibility/how-to-register
- Fees: https://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/fees-payments
- Address: Canberra ACT 2601
3. The University of Sydney
- Focus: The University is dedicated to ensuring that all students have equal access to learning. By registering with Inclusion and Disability Services, students who have a disability or carer responsibilities can gain access to the adjustments and services they need to succeed in their studies.
- Established year: 1850
- URL: https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/health-wellbeing/inclusion-and-disability.html
- Course: https://www.sydney.edu.au/courses/search.html?search-type=course&page=1&sort=metatitle
- Apply: https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/health-wellbeing/inclusion-and-disability.html
- Fees: https://www.sydney.edu.au/study/fees-and-loans.html
- Address: Camperdown New South Wales 2050
4. The University of Adelaide
- Focus: The University of Adelaide’s Disability Support team provides confidential, personalized assistance to students with a disability or ongoing health condition.
- Established year: 1874
- URL: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/disability/
- Course: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/learning/resources-for-educators/curriculum-resources
- Apply: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/disability/how-to-register
- Fees: https://college.adelaide.edu.au/admissions/fees/
- Address: Adelaide, South Australia, 5005 Australia
5. The University of Western Australia
- Focus: They support people with disabilities and medical conditions to perform at their best and be involved in all aspects of university life.
- Established year: 1911
- URL: https://www.uwa.edu.au/about/leadership-and-governance/strategy-and-values/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/disability-medical-conditions-and-mental-health
- Course: https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/areas
- Apply: https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/how-to-apply
- Fees: https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/fees-and-scholarships
- Address: 35 Stirling Highway, Perth WA 6009 Australia
6. Griffith University
- Focus: They support students with disabilities, injuries or health conditions who are studying through Griffith University.
- Established year: 1971
- URL: https://www.griffith.edu.au/student-support/student-disability-accessibility
- Course: https://www.griffith.edu.au/study?location=dom
- Apply: https://www.griffith.edu.au/apply
- Fees: https://www.griffith.edu.au/apply/international/fees
- Address: 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan QLD 4111
7. Monash University
- Focus: Monash promotes access and equity for students who have a disability, ongoing medical or mental health condition.
- Established year: 1958
- URL: https://www.monash.edu/students/support/disability
- Course: https://www.monash.edu/study/courses
- Apply: https://www.monash.edu/students/support/disability/services/register
- Fees: https://www.monash.edu/study/fees-scholarships/fees
- Address: Wellington Rd, Clayton VIC 3800
8. James Cook University
- Focus: JCU is committed to ensuring that all students have equal opportunities though you live with disability, are neurodivergent, have a temporary or permanent health condition or injury.
- Established year: 1961
- URL: https://www.jcu.edu.au/student-equity-and-wellbeing/accessability-at-jcu
- Course: https://www.jcu.edu.au/courses
- Apply: https://jcu-access.symplicity.com/public_accommodation/
- Fees: https://www.jcu.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/1975973/JCU-2023-International-Fees.pdf
- Address: Ground Floor/349 Queen St, Brisbane City QLD 4000
9. La Trobe University
- Focus: If you are a student who identifies as Autistic, ADHD, Dyslexic and/or another minority neurotype with Neurodiversity support needs, or live with or have a mental health condition, ongoing medical condition or disability then AccessAbility Advisors can assist you to meet the requirements of your course.
- Established year: 1964
- URL: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/students/support/wellbeing/services/accessability-hub
- Course: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/courses
- Apply: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/students/support/wellbeing/services/accessability-hub/register
- Fees: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/students/admin/fees-and-money
- Address: Level 3, Sylvia Walton Building, Bundoora VIC 3083
10. University of Tasmania
- Focus: UTAS IT Services provides four Assistive Technology software solutions to assist students with disabilities to access and to participate in their studies.
- Established year: 1890
- URL: https://www.utas.edu.au/service-desk/students-with-disabilities
- Course: https://www.utas.edu.au/courses
- Apply: https://www.utas.edu.au/study/apply
- Fees: https://www.utas.edu.au/study/scholarships-fees-and-costs
- Address: Churchill Ave, Hobart TAS 7005
11. Central Queensland University
- Focus: If you have a disability, illness, medical or mental health condition and require assistance with your studies or training, contact Accessibility and Equity for support
- Established year: 1967
- URL: https://www.cqu.edu.au/study/experience/support/accessibility-equity
- Course: https://www.cqu.edu.au/study
- Apply: https://delivery-cqucontenthub.stylelabs.cloud/api/public/content/student-accessibility-equity-student-registration-form.pdf
- Fees: https://www.cqu.edu.au/study/international/fees
- Address: 400 Kent St, Sydney NSW 2000
12. Flinders University of South Australia
- Focus: The University provides a free, confidential service for students who have disabilities like medical condition, mental health condition, learning difficulty, or any disability that impacts on study.
- Established year: 1966
- URL: https://students.flinders.edu.au/support/hcd/disability
- Course: https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/health/disability-community-inclusion
- Apply: https://students.flinders.edu.au/new-students
- Fees: https://students.flinders.edu.au/finances-and-admin/fees/fees-and-charges
- Address: Sturt Rd, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042
13. Charles Sturt University
- Focus: The provides accessibility program to students suffering with following mental health, temporary or ongoing medical, neurodiverse, sensory, physical, neurological, intellectual or a specific learning disorder.
- Established year: 1989
- URL: https://www.csu.edu.au/current-students/support/personal/accessibility-inclusion
- Course: https://www.csu.edu.au/current-students/support/first-nations-students/accessibility-inclusion-support
- Apply: https://www.csu.edu.au/current-students/support/personal/accessibility-inclusion/register
- Fees: https://study.csu.edu.au/apply/fees
- Address: Panorama Avenue, Bathurst NSW 2795
14. Australian Catholic University
- Focus: ACU has a dedicated team whose primary focus is to establish support for students with a temporary or ongoing medical/mental health condition, disability or significant carer responsibilities.
- Established year: 1991
- URL: https://www.acu.edu.au/student-life/student-services/disability-support
- Course: https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/find-a-course/core-curriculum
- Apply: https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/how-to-apply
- Fees: https://collegedunia.com/australia/university/593-australian-catholic-university-brisbane
- Address: https://www.acu.edu.au/contact-us
15. Bond University
- Focus: Bond university provides a program named Accessibility & Inclusion. In this program they provide students with support to ensure an accessible and inclusive campus for all.
- Established year: 1989
- URL: https://bond.edu.au/current-students/services-support/accessibility-inclusion
- Course: https://bond.edu.au/study
- Apply: https://bond-access.symplicity.com/public_accommodation/
- Fees: https://bond.edu.au/current-students/study-information/enrolment/fees-other-costs
- Address: 14 University Drive (off Cottesloe Drive), Robina QLD 4226, Australia
16. Victoria University
- Focus: If you're a VU student with a disability or medical condition that impacts your studies, Accessibility Services can support you.
- Established year: 1916
- URL: https://www.vu.edu.au/about-vu/university-profile/inclusion-belonging/accessibility
- Course: https://www.vu.edu.au/study-at-vu/courses
- Apply: https://vu.edu.au/study-at-vu/apply-to-vu
- Fees: https://www.vu.edu.au/study-at-vu/fees-scholarships
- Address: 160 Sussex St, Sydney NSW 2000
17. Charles Darwin University
- Focus: If you have a disability, medical or mental condition (permanent or temporary), Access and Inclusion can assist you with your studies to ensure equal access.
- Established year: 2003
- URL: https://www.cdu.edu.au/current-students/life-health-wellbeing/access-inclusion
- Course: https://www.cdu.edu.au/current-students/life-health-wellbeing/access-inclusion
- Apply: https://www.cdu.edu.au/current-students/life-health-wellbeing/access-inclusion#/register-with-access-
- Fees: https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-01/2024-HE-unit-fees.pdf
- Address: Ellengowan Dr, Casuarina NT 0810
18. University of Canberra
- Focus: They provide inclusivity for students living with disability or an ongoing health condition, services are available to help them to succeed in their studies.
- Established year: 1967
- URL: https://www.canberra.edu.au/future-students/support-at-uc/disability-and-ongoing-health-conditions
- Course: https://www.canberra.edu.au/future-students/study-at-uc/
- Apply: https://www.canberra.edu.au/future-students/apply-to-uc
- Fees: https://www.canberra.edu.au/future-students/study-at-uc/fees-and-costs
- Address: 11 Kirinari St, Bruce ACT 2617, Canberra, Australia.
19. University of Southern Queensland
- Focus: They are committed to providing an equitable environment for students with disability, injury, mental health or medical condition that impacts on their ability to study and achieve academic success.
- Established year: 1967
- URL: https://www.unisq.edu.au/library/unisq-libraries/study-spaces-facilities/disability-support
- Course: https://www.unisq.edu.au/study/degrees
- Apply: https://www.unisq.edu.au/current-students/support/disability
- Fees: https://www.unisq.edu.au/current-students/administration/fees/fee-schedules
- Address: Toowoomba, 487-535 West St, Darling Heights QLD 4350
20. Federation University Australia
- Focus: The University's Disability Learning Access Unit will continue to offer all their services to students with disabilities. This includes making reasonable adjustments to study requirements for students with a disability, medical condition or mental health condition.
- Established year: 1870
- URL: https://federation.edu.au/current-students/assistance-support-and-services/student-support-services/accessibility-support
- Course: https://www.federation.edu.au/study/search/
- Apply: https://www.federation.edu.au/apply/
- Fees: https://federation.edu.au/current-students/essential-info/fees-and-charges/fees
- Address: University Dr, Mount Helen VIC 3350
Wrapping up
The top universities for students with disabilities in Australia demonstrate the importance of creating supportive and inclusive learning environments. That commitment should also extend to university websites, where students, parents, educators, and applicants depend on digital platforms to access admissions information, learning resources, support services, forms, and campus information.
All in One Accessibility®, the accessibility product by Skynet Technologies, provides a range of features that can help users personalize their website experience, including screen reader support, keyboard navigation, text resizing, color adjustments, and other accessibility options. These features can complement broader efforts to support the Australian Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and WCAG accessibility practices.
Skynet Technologies also provides accessibility audits, remediation, accessible design and development, document accessibility, consulting, monitoring, training, and ongoing support for educational institutions. Request a Free Accessibility Assessment to identify opportunities for making your university website more inclusive for students with disabilities.
