Health and Safety

Supporting Student Health and Safety

We are committed to supporting the health and safety of every student.

This includes being prepared to manage medical conditions, allergies, and anaphylaxis. Our goal is to provide a safe and inclusive environment where all children are well cared for and supported.

Medical Conditions

Many children live with health conditions that require careful management during the school day. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Other diagnosed medical conditions

If your child has a medical condition that requires management during the school day, please ensure the School is informed and provided with current medical management documentation, including an Action Plan where appropriate, along with any required medication.

Providing current information helps us understand your child’s needs, support their health and respond appropriately if symptoms arise during school hours.

Allergies and Anaphylaxis

While some allergic reactions are mild, others can cause anaphylaxis, a severe and rapidly progressive allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires prompt recognition and treatment.

The School stocks adrenaline autoinjectors for use in an anaphylactic emergency, and relevant staff receive training in recognising and responding to allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, including the safe and appropriate use of adrenaline autoinjectors.

Parents/carers of children with diagnosed allergies or anaphylaxis are required to provide the School with a current Action Plan, along with any prescribed medication. Where required, this information is kept readily accessible to relevant staff and includes a recent photograph of the student.

Medication Allergies

Some children may have allergic reactions to specific medications, including antibiotics or common pain relievers.

If your child has a known medication allergy, please inform the School and provide relevant medical documentation, including an Action Plan where appropriate.

Insect Sting Allergies

Reactions to insect stings, such as those from bees, wasps or ants, can range from mild local reactions to severe anaphylaxis.

If your child has a diagnosed insect sting allergy or is at risk of anaphylaxis, please ensure the School has a current Action Plan and any prescribed medication.

Food Allergies

Food allergies affect around 1 in 10 one-year-old children in Australia and, while some allergic reactions are mild, some can be severe, and even life-threatening. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency and requires prompt recognition and treatment.

The most common food allergens in children are:

• Peanuts
• Tree nuts, including almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios, walnuts, macadamias and Brazil nuts
• Eggs
• Dairy
• Fish and shellfish
• Wheat
• Soy
• Sesame

Supporting students with food allergies requires a shared approach between the School, families and students as they develop greater independence.

Creating an Allergy-Aware School

The School is committed to supporting students with food allergies and reducing the risk of allergic reactions while helping students develop the knowledge and independence they need to manage their allergies as they grow.

We work in partnership with parents/carers to understand individual students’ allergies, identify appropriate risk-management strategies and ensure staff are aware of students who may be at risk of anaphylaxis.

The School does not claim to be a completely nut-free environment. Claiming to be ‘nut free’ can create a false sense of security, as it is not possible to guarantee that an allergen will never enter a school environment. For example, a packaged food may contain an unexpected ingredient, or a home-baked item may have been made using almond meal or another nut product without this being immediately apparent.

Rather than relying solely on banning particular foods, an allergy-aware approach recognises that reducing the risk of anaphylaxis involves a range of measures, including:

• Knowing which students are at risk of anaphylaxis and their individual allergy management requirements
• Ensuring relevant staff are appropriately trained to recognise and respond to anaphylaxis
• Reducing students’ exposure to known allergens wherever reasonably possible
• Working in partnership with parents/carers to support individual allergy management
• Helping students develop age-appropriate skills to manage their own food allergies

Nuts and Other Allergens

We ask families not to intentionally send nuts or nut products to School. This includes items such as:

• Packs of nuts
• Peanut butter
• Nut spreads
• Food bars containing nuts
• Chocolate or confectionery containing nuts
• Cakes, biscuits or other foods made with nuts
• Home-cooked foods made using nuts or nut products

Families are encouraged to check ingredient labels carefully when packing food for School. We recognise, however, that it is not always possible for families to know or control every ingredient that may enter the School environment.

As students grow, they can gradually develop greater independence in managing their allergies. This includes learning to:

• Not share food or drinks
• Wash their hands before eating
• Ask whether food is safe for them before eating it
• Tell others about their allergy
• Recognise when they may be having an allergic reaction
• Seek help from an adult if they feel unwell, think they may have been exposed to an allergen, or are worried about a possible reaction