Allergy Aware Schools and Children’s Education and Care Program
Aims and Objectives
Managing allergies and anaphylaxis in Schools and Children’s Education and Care.
To reduce risk of children with allergies having reactions at school or CEC. Ensure appropriate management of allergic reactions if they do occur.
How are we working towards this?
The National Allergy Council worked with key interest holder organisations, managers, principals and staff working in the schools and children’s education and care services, allergy specialists and parents of children with allergies to develop and update the Best Practice Guidelines for Anaphylaxis Prevention and Management in Schools and Children’s Education and Care.
To support implementation of the best practice guidelines, a suite of sample documents and templates have been developed.
The Allergy Aware Resource Hub was developed to provide one easy location for resources about how to prevent and manage anaphylaxis in schools and children’s education and care.
Collaboration with ACECQA to promote evidence-based, best-practice training and resources to children’s education and care services across Australia.
Development of resources to specifically support cooks and chefs working in children’s education and care services.
Target Audience
Staff working in schools, children’s education and care services including outside school hours care and school camps.
Our target audience also includes engaging with managers, policy makers and other key interest holders across these sectors.
What we have achieved so far
The Best Practice Guidelines for Anaphylaxis Prevention and Management in Schools and Children’s Education and Care were updated in 2023.
New easy read resources to support families of children with allergies were also created.
Recommendations from the best practice guidelines are now imbedded in State and Territory policies and procedures.
More than 3000 copies of the best practice guidelines have been distributed to Australian schools and children’s education and care services.
We undertook an audit of state and territory policies and guidelines in relation for anaphylaxis prevention and management in schools and children’s education and care and there has been an increase in alignment with the best practice guidelines since 2019. Alignment with the best practice guidelines in state and territory policies and procedures will help support sustained change.
Collaboration with the Healthy Eating Advisory Service to provide resources for cooks and chefs working in children’s education and care.
Work in progress
Development of a booklet and resources to support food technology and home economics staff working in schools.
Development of a booklet and resources to support campsites managing children with food allergies on school camps.
