From NESA:

• There are not "Dyslexia", "ADHD" or “Autism Spectrum Disorder" provisions, rather individualised decisions for students 

• As of 2023, digital signatures on Medical Forms will not be accepted by NESA.  

• Slow or messy writing is not a disability and will not result in provisions

• Provisions are designed specifically for the HSC exam, its environment and demands 

• Disability Provisions are practical supports to access the HSC examinations, not to achieve potential. NESA may approve provisions if a student has a need that would, in an exam situation, prevent them from; 

  • • reading the exam questions 

    • communicating their responses  

• There is no longer a requirement for updated medical/psychometric/assessment results only the evidence in the table and completion of forms by the doctor 

      NEW Requirements from 2024 onwards:  

               ACCEPTABLE WRITING SAMPLES:

• Year 11 Yearly exams are acceptable writing samples 

• Samples cannot be earlier than September 1 of the year preceding the HSC exams 

• Practice Past HSC exam or in-class task over 40 min 

               MEDICAL FORMS: 

• The doctor must answer every section - even if N/A 

• The doctor must sign every page of the form  

• You must attend an appointment on the day the doctor/allied health professional completes the form

• Amendments must be initialed and dated by the doctor   

• Digital signatures will not be accepted  

• Dates of consultation including the date signed on the form 

• If there has been no consultation within the last two years; the form will be rejected by NESA

Reminder: doctor's requesting provisions does not mean that it will be automatically approved; they may know and see the diagnosis but that is separate from its function in the HSC examinations

Information correct as of November 2023, NESA

In order to seek approval for the use of provisions, a formal application must be made to NESA during the year the student will sit the HSC examinations. This application is made by the school and principal on behalf of the student. The application requires a number of forms, reports, tests and work samples to be submitted, including a statement of diagnosis from specialist professionals working with the student. Students will also sign a declaration form to be supplied to NESA as part of their application. Classroom teachers submit comments relating to the provisions in the application in answer to a range of case study questions posed by NESA. Shire Christian School aims to submit these applications by the initial due date - final day of Term 1, 2025.

NESA is responsible for making an independent and objective decision regarding each student’s application based on many pieces of evidence. The school is not involved in that process and therefore cannot guarantee or predict the final decision of NESA.

In 2021, NESA sought to refine and educate students, parents and teachers to increase their understanding of the difference between Exam Stress and diagnosed Anxiety.  

It’s normal for students to feel stressed when preparing for exams (especially big exams). A bit of stress aids success by increasing

motivation, but at high levels it can reduce academic performance. Research suggests that around 1 in 5 senior school students will experience very high levels of stress during the exam period. (NESA 2021) 

Please read the following publications from NESA (2021) to identify whether your stress is normal, ways to reduce it and how to recognise if it needs further attention from someone such as a psychologist or counsellor.

Before beginning an application students and parents must read both NESA's Guide to Disability Provisions and the information sheet provided by Shire Christian School (below).

To apply for HSC Disability Provisions, you must provide recent evidence from medical specialists or allied health professionals that confirm your diagnosis and provide information about your condition.  

Forms/evidence students must collect:

• Medical specialists and allied health professionals must also complete a Medical Provisions Form (see thumbnail below, collect from Miss Dalrymple).  

  • MEDICATION: If you take medication for a condition and may/will need to take it during the day of your exam/s you MUST apply for the provision "Access to medication". You will not be allowed access to medication without approval. 

  • ADDITIONAL TESTING/EVIDENCE: Some applications may require evidence such as reading test results and/or writing under timed conditions.   

• Individuals must complete a Student Declaration (see thumbnail, collect from Mrs Waters after submitting the Medcical Provisions Form).  

HSC Disability Provisions decisions are released to students through Students Online and to the school through Schools Online. 

Over the next 6 months, should you wish to make an application for HSC Provisions, you will be required to submit a detailed form and declaration completed by the medical/specialist professionals, related to your care. Due to the regular updates and changes made to treatment and care plans, some of these forms may need to be updated and re-submitted throughout the year if changes to your condition occur which need to be addressed further. In addition, you will be required to complete and submit a Student Declaration. We would ask that you consider this in the application for provisions and understand that only the most recent and relevant information is taken into consideration by NESA when making their decisions; this includes the frequency and recency of your appointments with the medical professionals taking care of you. 

In order to complete the application process, NESA requires medical and/or psychological reports, writing samples etc be no older than Term 4 of the year prior to the HSC. 

Please advise whether you would like to make an application for provisions by contacting Miss Dalrymple via email. Once you have contacted me, you will be sent a copy of the forms to be completed by a specialist or Doctor managing your condition. Alternatively, if you feel you are performing well you may choose not to pursue an application. If so, you will complete examinations during Year 12 with the main cohort. 

Applications for provisions are made based on medical/specialist information and declarations, a student declaration, teacher comments and NES’s independent review panel. Applications for provisions will only be made on reasonable grounds guided by the NESA provisions Case Studies with evidence to support.

Please contact Miss Dalrymple for clarification or to make an application, learningsupporths@shirechristian.nsw.edu.au 

Sample NESA Forms

Once you have received your decision from NESA you may be notified that they have declined one or more of your provisions for a range of reasons. In this instance, Shire Christian School can lodge an appeal on your behalf. In order to do this, you must inform the school of your intention to appeal the decision immediately. 

Based on your declined provisions you will be informed about the steps you need to take; this could be seeking further information from your doctor/allied health professional, completing an additional test (eg. YARC, WIAT-III), supplying evidence of your writing under timed assessment conditions etc.  Please read the following from the NESA Handbook: 

Following this, as per the NESA handbook attached above, the application will be reassessed by NESA and a decision based on the appeal will be sent in time.