Medical Information and Medications

General Medical Information

To ensure that the School has up to date contact and medical details for all students, we would appreciate parents and caregivers accessing these records on the Parent Portal and making any changes or additions required for the start of each school year.

There will be occasions when the administration of medication is necessary to support students. All prescribed medicines for all students is kept securely in the First Aid room. It is the responsibility of students to present themselves at the appropriate time for their medication. Dosage will be given as directed on the prescription or stated on the medical certificate provided. A record will be kept of times and quantities of medication given. Students needing medicines during the day should leave these with the First Aid staff, along with a parent note approving their use and including dosage indications.

Anaphylactic students are required to have two EpiPens for school use. One EpiPen travels to and from school, and a spare EpiPen, any prescribed antihistamine medication and their Action Plan for Anaphylaxis is held by the school for emergency purposes. We recommend our Stage 1 students have their EpiPen on them at all times, worn in an EpiPen pouch or similar holder. These students are also required to have identification in the form of white cording on their school hats (see photo below), which can be purchased from fabric stores. Students are permitted to wear a Medi-Alert bracelet if deemed necessary.

To assist with your child's medical needs, we ask that all medications and related equipment (i.e. EpiPens, spacers for asthma etc.) be brought to the First Aid room on the first day of the school year. It is expected that all antihistamines, EpiPens and other medications have expiry dates covering the entire year. All medications should be accompanied by an up to date Action Plan or letter from your child's doctor outlining your child's condition, medications and/or treatment options. Student medications should be collected on the last day of school each year. If you have any enquiries, please email our first aid room.

Primary School
First Aid staff cannot give Paracetamol or any other medication to students in Primary School unless a Medical Practitioner has prescribed it and the School has been provided with a copy of the prescription.

Secondary School
Students in Secondary School under 14 years of age can have paracetamol or ibuprofen administered with written permission from a parent/caregiver on each occasion. For students aged 14 and over a verbal approval for paracetamol or ibuprofen to First Aid Staff from a parent/caregiver is required on each occasion. Any other medications can only be administered at school if a Medical Practitioner has prescribed it and the School has been provided with a copy of the prescription.

Please note: No students are permitted to self-medicate at any time.

Is St Columba Anglican School a nut-free school?

The general banning of foods or food products in schools is not recommended by health experts as there is a lack of evidence to suggest that banning a food from entering a school helps reduce the risk of anaphylaxis. The school cannot guarantee a school site is nut or allergen free (eggs, seafood etc), and such a claim may lead to a false sense of security about exposure to irritants.

The following guidelines are in place:

Primary School

  • Students in Primary School who have severe allergies are identified on a Health alert so that staff are aware.

  • Meetings are held with parents each year to confirm each student's Health plan.

  • The School requests that all parents clearly label lunch boxes, bottles and other drinks with the name of the child for whom they are intended.

  • Students with allergies identify this with a white braid on their hat.

  • Our staff regularly discuss with students the importance of washing hands, eating their own food, and not sharing food, food utensils or food containers.

  • The Primary School has a supervised eating time in a specified area for all students.

  • We avoid using foods as rewards for classroom behaviour.

  • It is recommended that parents who have children with allergies provide alternatives for birthday celebrations.

  • Staff are aware that adjustments may need to occur for students when planning incursion and excursion activities, for example, camps.

Secondary School

  • Students in Secondary School who have nut allergies are identified on a Health alert so that staff are aware.

  • Students in Secondary School are encouraged to take on responsibility for the management of their own food consumption.

  • Subject-specific kitchen operations in the Secondary curriculum involve the use of nuts.