We’ve just released the important school dates calendar for 2026. The calendar provides all the Australian Government Department of Education activities you’ll need to complete for your school next year.
The calendar is a handy resource that helps approved authorities and their representatives plan for their collection activities and payments during the year.
The NCCD Guidelines have been updated to ensure they remain current, accurate, and accessible. The Guidelines apply from the 2026 School Census, remaining in effect until updated or replaced by subsequent guidelines.
Visit the NCCD Portal to download the NCCD Guidelines: Effective 2026 Onward.
✅ Important: There are no changes to the NCCD process for 2026.
What’s New in the 2026 Guidelines?
- Consultation requirements
Schools must now document reasons if they do not consult with a parent, guardian or carer before making adjustments for a student (Refer to Section C.2.3).
- Clarification on Timing of Adjustments
The Guidelines state that adjustments do not need to occur every day over the 10-week period, the weeks may be non-consecutive, and any amount of adjustment within a school week counts as a ‘week’. They now clarify that this flexibility does not apply to Extensive adjustments, which must be in place at all times (Refer to Section C.3.1).
- Guidance on Imputing Disability
Before making the decision to impute disability, the school team confirms that adjustments are due to disability—not academic performance, learning difficulties, or external factors such as limited attendance or family disruption (Refer to Section C.4.2).
- Examples of supporting evidence
The Guidelines now include clear examples, such as an Individual Learning Plan, to help support a student’s inclusion in the NCCD (Refer to Section C.5.1).
Supporting Resources
To help you implement these updates:
Updated Quick Guide
A refreshed version summarising key requirements.
📄 Download the NCCD Quick Guide.
Evidence Management Template
Optional tool to help you record, manage and assess evidence.
📄 Access the Template.
Online Guidance
Practical advice and guidance now available.
📄 Visit the NCCD Guidelines webpage.
About the Guidelines
The NCCD Guidelines are the official source of information on:
- How to submit NCCD data
- Which students must be counted
- What information must be provided for each student.
For a quick overview, check the NCCD Quick Guide.
Have Questions?
Contact the NCCD Support Team at: NCCDSupport@education.gov.au.
Due to planned maintenance, SchoolsHUB will be unavailable on Thursday 25 September after 2 pm (AEST).
You can resume using SchoolsHUB at 9 am (AEST) Friday 26 September 2025.
Approved authorities must declare their school’s data by 24 October 2025.
Sign in to SchoolsHUB now to begin, or visit the STATS support and help page for more information.
The online estimator has been updated to include:
- final 2025 indexation based on the final 2025 indexation update, and
- published 2025 Capacity to Contribute (CTC) scores as at 12 August 2025.
For further information on indexation rates, download the Department of Education factsheet How is school funding indexed?
The Australian Government has committed to a temporary 12-month rollover of 2025 CTC scores for 2026. The rollover will be incorporated into the online estimator tool once the Australian Education Regulations 2023 have been amended.
We will notify you via a SchoolsHUB news item when the CTC rollover has been added to the online estimator.
If you have any enquiries, please contact recurrentfundingestimates@education.gov.au.