HEALTH CARE NEEDS POLICY

HEALTH CARE NEEDS POLICY 2026 - 2029

Help for non-English speakers 

If you need help to understand this policy, please contact Glenroy College on 9304 0400 

Purpose 

To ensure that Glenroy College provides appropriate support to students with identified health care needs. This includes support required during camps, excursions, sporting activities and other school activities

Objective 

To explain to Glenroy College parents, carers, staff and students the processes and procedures in place to support students with identified health care needs at school. 

Scope 

This policy applies to: 

• all staff, including casual relief staff and volunteers 

• all students who have been diagnosed with an identified health care need that may require support, monitoring or medication at school.   

Policy 

This policy should be read with Glenroy College’s First Aid, Administration of Medication, Anaphylaxis and Asthma policies 

A  Student Health Support Plan must be completed for each student with an identified health care need who: 

• needs medical or health-related support at school 
• has a health care need or condition that may impact the student at school 
• has a health care need or condition that may impact their engagement and participation in education. 

A Student Health Support Plan is not required for a student:  

• who has a diagnosed health condition but who does not need any medical or health-related supports or adjustments at school 
• with anaphylaxis or an allergy – refer to Anaphylaxis and Allergies about the requirements for those conditions 
• with well-controlled asthma that does not need any individualised supervision or care as per their provided Asthma Action Plan – refer to Asthma 
• with an Epilepsy Management Plan and Epilepsy Medication Management Plan – refer to Epilepsy and Seizures. 

Student health support planning 

In order to provide appropriate support to students at Glenroy College who need medical or health-related support at school, a Student Health Support Plan will be prepared by Wellbeing Coordinator or Nurse in consultation with the student, their parents, carers and student’s treating health team.  

Student Health Support Plans help our school to assist students with: 

• routine health care support needs, such as supervision or provision of medication 

• personal care support needs, such as assistance with personal hygiene, continence care, eating and drinking, transfers and positioning, and use of health-related equipment 

• emergency care needs, such as predictable emergency first aid associated with asthma, seizure or diabetes management. 

Students with complex medical care needs, for example, tracheostomy care or tube feeding, must have a Student Health Support Plan. Appropriate staff will receive training and guidance necessary to safely support the student’s medical needs.

At enrolment or when a health care need is identified, parents/carers are responsible for providing accurate information about the student’s condition or health care needs, supported, where appropriate, by documentation from the student’s treating medical or health practitioner, including a Medical Advice Form.

Glenroy College may invite parents and carers to attend a Student Support Group meeting to discuss the contents of a student’s Health Support Plan and assistance that the student may need at school or during school activities.  

Where necessary, Glenroy College may also request consent from parents and carers to consult with a student’s treating health team, to assist in preparing the plan and ensure that appropriate staff understand the student’s needs. Consultation with the student’s treating health team will not occur without parent/carer consent unless required or authorised by law.  

Student Health Support Plans will be reviewed: 

• when updated information is received from the student’s medical or health practitioner  

• following any medical incident or emergency related to the student’s health condition

• if there is a change in needs or level of support, including where a student is learning to independently manage their condition 

• when the school, student or parents and carers have concerns with the support being provided to the student, or 

• at least on an annual basis.  

Management of confidential medical information  

Confidential medical information provided to Glenroy College to support a student will be:  

• recorded on the student’s file 

• shared with all relevant staff so that they are able to properly support students diagnosed with medical conditions and respond appropriately if necessary.  

Glenroy College manages confidential medical information in accordance with Victorian privacy laws and Department of Education policy.

COMMUNICATION 

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• School website
• Compass
• Staff briefings and meetings
• Enrolment and transition processes
• Newsletter
• Hard copy available on request

Further information and resources 

• The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):  

• Epilepsy and Seizures 

• Health Care Needs 

• Health Support Planning Forms 

• Complex Medical Care Supports 

• Child and Family Violence Information Sharing Schemes  

• Privacy and Information Sharing 

• Duty of Care Policy
• Camps and Excursions Policy

• Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

   

This policy should be read alongside the school’s Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL