Deputy Principal/Student Wellbeing

MACS Medical Management Policy - changes

As was shared with families in our previous newsletter...

Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) have made some significant changes to the Medical Management Policy and practices within schools (see below).  

The Medical Management Policy reflects the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority requirement for all registered schools to provide evidence of the school’s policies and procedures for: 

– the duty of care owed to students, including: 

• that it owes all students a duty of care to take reasonable measures to protect them from reasonably foreseeable risks of injury 
• that different and sometimes greater measures may need to be taken for younger students or students with disabilities to discharge this duty of care

– the management of student wellbeing, including: 

• arrangements for ill students 
• an accident and incident register 
• first aid 
• distributing medicine 

– the school’s records of student medical conditions and management 

– an emergency management plan that addresses emergency and critical incidents which include circumstances that pose a critical risk to the health, safety or wellbeing of one or more students or staff.

This policy requires a Student Health Support Plan (SHSP) (see link below) to be developed between the school and the parents of the child to articulate implementation of required care, support and risk mitigation.

What is a Student Health Support Plan?

This plan documents how to manage the student's health at school, during excursion or school camps, as well as any educational adjustments due to the health condition, in carrying out the required care, support and risk mitigation.

This document details how school staff will provide the required support (who will provide the support, where will medication be stored, process for informing emergency teachers, what will happen on excursions, camps etc)

Who requires a Student Health Support Plan?

Applies at any time that a child with a diagnosed medical condition, health care need, complex medical need or requires personalised care and support is being educated and cared for at school.

How is a Student Health Support Plan developed?

The advice provided by the medical/allied health practitioner in the Medical Management Plan (MMP) (see link below) is used in consultation between the school and the family to document the SHSP. It is the document that the School and Parent create and agree upon and sign off.

What documents inform a Student Health Support Plan?

• Condition specific Medical Management Plans e.g. Asthma Action Plan, Diabetes Action Plan
• MACS Generic Medical Management Plan
• Personal Care Plans e.g. mobility assistance, supervision of eating and drinking
• MACS Medication Authority Form 

If the student requires medicine to be administered during school, then the following forms need to be completed: MACS Medication Authority Form and MACS Generic Medical Management Form

When does the Student Health Support Plan need to be completed?

The updated Student Health Support Plan should be developed and must be in place by 1 March, 2023.

When to review a Student Health Support Plan?

Student Health Support Plans should be reviewed annually OR as required e.g. child's condition changes and MMP is updated; student changes school campus; principals instigate a review; student's medication has changed; before an excursion/trip/camp.

Below are the links to the forms required to be completed for the Student Health Support Plan.

All these forms will also be uploaded to Operoo before the end of the year.

Parents will need to complete all forms relevant to their child and medical needs as we begin 2023. In particular, ALL current Year Four and Five children who will be attending the Senior Camp to Canberra early next year.

Thanks for your understanding, cooperation and support with these changes.

Year 5 Leadership Speeches

Congratulations to all the Year 5 students who presented their Leadership Speech to staff, parents and students on Tuesday. All candidates spoke confidently and provided excellent examples of how they would conduct themselves in the various roles they applied for, and some changes that they would make to improve our school. The 2023 Year 6 Leaders will be announced to the school community next week.

Christmas Wellbeing Day - Tuesday 13 December

More details to follow

Assemblies

Term 4 Assemblies will be held on Fridays at 2.30pm in the MPR. Parents are invited to attend. The following dates indicate which class/year level will be presenting Spotlight on Learning:

Friday 9 December - 6AP (Recorded presentation)

Friday 16 December - Year 6 (11.15am)

Please note a change to 6AP.