This study describes some of the major developments in the involvement of both the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments in the education of school aged Victorian children with disabilities from 1970 to 1985. The information has been obtained mostly from published government reports and legislation. Four issues: government responsibility; integration; teacher training; and human rights, which are concerned with certain aspects of the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments arrangements or the education of disabled children, have been selected for discussion. The two most important findings are that there are significant inconsistencies in the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments policies, partly as a result of two different government authorities being involved at each of the two levels of government, and that the theme of human rights is an emergent issue with enormous implications for the future involvement of both the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments in the education of children with disabilities.