The role of the College Health Professional (Nurse) is to provide medical support to students in the College, and to promote healthy living across the College.

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Guidelines

• If there are any changes to your child’s medical circumstances, these changes should be updated via the ESF App. Click on Ding!VLE and find the Update Demographics section..

• The nurse provides medical emergency intervention and assistance with incidental injuries such as cuts and grazes. The nurse does not provide medicine or diagnose illnesses.

• Parents should inform the Class Teacher (Primary) or Learning Advisor (Secondary) if they have any concerns regarding their child’s health.

• Parents should not send their child to school if the child is feeling unwell, or has a temperature over 37.5°C.

• Parents will be informed by staff if they consider a child to be unwell when the child comes to school.

• Students should remain at home for 48 hours after a fever and any other symptoms subside.

• Students should remain at home for 48 hours after they have been vomiting or having diarrhea symptoms more than 2 times within a 24 hour time period.

• Students should remain at home If they have any communicable disease. Parents must obtain confirmation from a doctor that their child is fully recovered, and supply a medical certificate to the nurse, before sending their child to school.

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Procedure for attending the medical room

• If a child is slightly unwell in class, the teacher will send the child to the medical room. The nurse will inform the teacher of any action taken. If the child is seriously ill, the Nurse may be called to the classroom.

• If a child is slightly unwell on the playground, the teacher or education assistant on duty will send the child to the medical room. The nurse will inform the teacher of any action taken. If the child is seriously ill, the nurse may be called to the playground.

• The nurse will inform the parents of any action taken, when deemed to be necessary.

• Any medical intervention will be recorded by the nurse in Gateway.

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Procedure for administering medicine

We encourage parents and physicians to minimise the prescribing of medication to be taken during the school day. Medications should be given before and after school hours when possible. Only the nurse administers medicine within the school premises. If your child requires medication in school, please adhere to the following guidelines:

• A completed Medication Authorisation Form must be submitted to the school before medication can be administered. The Medication Authorisation Form is available HERE, or from the medical room.

• Only medication prescribed by a doctor will be administered. A note, in English, should be received from the doctor to the effect that it is necessary for the child to take medication during school hours.

• Any medication should be brought to school by the parent or parent’s representative. It must be delivered personally to the nurse.

• Medications must be clearly labelled in English with contents, child’s name, dosage, and frequency.

• Medication will not be sent home with a child. A parent or representative must collect from the school where there is an excess of medication sent to the school.

• The school does not assume responsibility for any reactions that may occur following administration of medication sent from home, nor can there be any responsibility assumed if the parent does not send sufficient medication.

• A long-term medication form is available for download HERE or from the medical room, and should be completed at the beginning of each school year for medications used long-term, e.g. inhalers and EpiPens.

Procedure requiring external intervention / hospitalisation

• When an accident occurs requiring medical intervention beyond the capability of the nurse, the College will attempt to reunite parents/guardians and children as soon as possible. Parents will be informed of the situation and advised on next steps.

• If parents/guardians are unavailable or cannot be contacted, any urgent decisions on medical intervention will be based on available knowledge and in the best interests of the child.

• If a parent/guardian holds strong views against medical intervention based on religion, the nurse must be informed in writing, and alternative approaches must be agreed with the school nurse. The parent/guardian must also sign a waiver of the College’s responsibility for not intervening medically as normally required.

Allergies

Within the Discovery College Community, we have several individuals with severe allergies. These allergies may lead to anaphylaxis. This is a rapidly progressive allergic reaction that is potentially life-threatening. Common allergens in school-aged students are nuts, sesame products, and shellfish.

As a result, the College operates as a completely PEANUT-free area. In addition, some year groups, areas, or situations may be asked to operate with further restrictions on products based on the medical needs of adults and students using these spaces or involved in these activities. Your support is greatly appreciated as it will assist us in ensuring we have minimised the risk to all community members.

Head lice

• It is important NOT to send your child to school if they have head lice.

• Parents should inform the class teacher (Primary) or Learning Advisor (Secondary), as well as the nurse, if their child has head lice.

• If a student is found to have head lice during school hours, the nurse will inform parents/guardians and request that the student be collected and taken home.

• Once a student has received treatment and all lice and eggs have been removed, they can return to school.

Contacting parents

• If a student is unwell, or has a temperature over 37.5°C, and needs to go home, the College will contact the parents/guardians. The College will not send a child home with anyone unless a parent or emergency contact has been contacted first. If unable to contact a parent/guardian, then emergency contacts will be contacted.

• It is the parents’ responsibility to keep their contact information with the College updated, via the Gateway, whenever a change is made.

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We request the cooperation of all parents to help the College maintain a healthy environment.