If your child requires staff to administer medication to your child during school hours, please contact the school office in the first instance.
Do not send medication to school in student's school bag. Parent/carers must sign medication into the school office.
Please note, school staff will only administer medication that:
· has been prescribed by a qualified health practitioner (e.g. doctor, dentist)
· is in its original container
· has an attached pharmacy label stating name, dosage, time to be taken.
Office staff will ask you to complete and sign Section 1 of the Administration of medication at school record sheet.
N.B. If your child requires more than one medication, you will need to complete a form for
each medication. If a student's dosage of medication changes (eg.20mg to 30mg), a new administer medication form must be completed.
Requirements for students at risk of anaphylaxis
If your child is at risk of anaphylaxis, it is important for you to provide the school with your child’s emergency medication and their ASCIA Anaphylaxis Action Plan, completed by your doctor. This Anaphylaxis Action Plan provides the instructions for the school to administer your child’s medication in an emergency, which is specific to respond to their health condition.
Requirements for students at risk of asthma
If your child has asthma and requires assistance to administer their medication, it is
important for you to provide the school with your child’s emergency medication and their Asthma Action Plan, completed by your doctor. An Asthma Action Plan provides specific instructions for the school to administer your child’s medication.
We recognise that some students are capable of managing their asthma without adult
assistance. If you are confident that your child can confidently, competently and safely
self-administer their asthma medication, let the school administration know. The school will record your decision and will not require your child’s Asthma Action Plan. Please note that if your child requires assistance in an asthma emergency, staff will provide Asthma First Aid.
Providing medication to the school
Before you provide the school with your child’s medication, check the expiry date to ensure it is in-date and there is enough for the agreed time period. It is also a good idea to take a note of the expiry date so that you can replace the medication before it expires.
Please note, school staff will not administer medication that you can buy over-the-counter at chemists and supermarkets (e.g. paracetamol, eye drops, cough syrup) unless it has been prescribed by your child’s qualified health practitioner. For example, the school would administer paracetamol to a student only if it has been prescribed by their dentist to be taken for a short time after dental treatment.
School staff are bound by these regulations as per Administration of medication in schools and we hope that all parents will acknowledge and cooperate with these rules.