--- title: "Administration of Medication in Schools: Are your Polices Up-To-Date?" description: The Department of Education and Training (DET) has a common law duty of care to ensure that when students attend school or school-related activities, such as excursions, they are kept safe. image: https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_490059091-1.jpg --- Latest Guide | Transform how you manage policies with our interactive guide [![Ideagen School Governance Horizontal 2024](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/hubfs/Ideagen%20School%20Governance%20Horizontal%202024.svg "Ideagen School Governance Horizontal 2024")](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au) * * Search ** Search [![Subscribe](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3786587/5eb7c708-5720-4c0c-874c-53f035b1dac7.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3786587/5eb7c708-5720-4c0c-874c-53f035b1dac7) - [ Boarding Schools ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/boarding-schools) - [ COVID-19/Coronavirus ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/covid-19-coronavirus) - [ Child Protection ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/child-protection) - [ Early Learning ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/early-learning) - [ Excursions ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/excursions) - [ Gov, Risk and Compliance ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/governance-risk-compliance) - [ Human Resources ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/human-resources) - [ Overseas Students ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/overseas-students) - [ Privacy & Complaints Handling ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/privacy-complaints-handling) - [ School Gov & Executives ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/school-governance-executives) - [ School Registration ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/school-registration) - [ Social Media ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/social-media) - [ Student Wellbeing ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/student-wellbeing) - [ Workplace Safety ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/workplace-safety) - [ Weekly Wrap ](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/tag/weekly-wrap) ## Administration of Medication in Schools: Are your Polices Up-To-Date? 29/06/16 ![Resources](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_490059091-1.jpg) The Department of Education and Training (DET) has a common law duty of care to ensure that when students attend school or school-related activities, such as excursions, they are kept safe. This duty of care is fulfilled through the actions of the DET’s staff members and applies to schools administering prescribed medication or health care procedures to students, or when students are able to self-administer prescribed medication or health care procedures, the self-administration of medication is carried out in a safe manner (to both the student concerned and other students and staff). ## Different states and territories in Australia: Different policies and procedures Depending on the state or territory in which your school operates, the DET provides a range of resources (policies, procedures, guidelines and information) for ensuring compliance with administering medication to students while they are at school or during school-related activities. In particular, the DET stipulates the roles and responsibilities of principals, teachers, parents, students and associated stakeholders for the administration of medication at school or during school-related activities. Additionally, each DET policy and procedure specifies what medication for administration is applicable, who can administer the medication, who must look after the medication, how the medication must be securely stored and when a student is required not to take medication (e.g. a student should not take their first dose of a new medication at school, or during a school-related activity, due to the dangers of a possible allergic reaction). ## Who is responsible for administering prescribed medication at school or school-related activities? Staff who volunteer to administer prescribed medication or health care procedures at schools or school-related activities must be appropriately trained and credentialed. In addition, staff who volunteer to administer prescribed medication or health care procedures must feel competent and willing to administer routine medication. Schools are responsible for ensuring that a number of staff members, who are available at any given time, are appropriately trained for the administration of medication to students while they attend school or during school-related activities. ## Can staff refuse administering routine medication? Staff have the right to refuse administering routine medication to students if they feel uncomfortable or unqualified to do so. However, in an emergency situation, a staff member may have an obligation to administer medication despite their reluctance or lack of experience,or if an emergency response requires the administration of medication to be provided immediately to prevent serious illness or injury. ## Non-prescribed medication Generally, schools do not administer medication to students which has not been specifically prescribed by a medical practitioner for a particular student who has a medical condition. However, in some instances, parental authorisation will be required for some non-prescription medications. ## Students who are able to self-administer prescribed medication There will be times when students will be able to self-administer their prescribed medication or health care procedures. Schools are responsible for ensuring that students who are able to self-administer prescribed medication or health care procedures whilst at school or school-related activities do so in a safe manner. However, students are not to be fully responsible for self-administering prescribed medication in emergency situations as their symptoms or condition may compromise their ability to do so. ## What if students refuse to take their prescribed medication? There are a number of factors (personal, family or school) that may be related to a student’s non-compliance with self-administering their prescribed medication. Whilst some students may be resistant to taking their prescribed medication at school or during school-related activities, often for fear of looking different to their peers, it is important that students are encouraged to take their prescribed medication. With regard to this, any non-compliance issues with will need to be addressed as soon as possible and the support of parents and or other health care professionals will be imperative. ## **Are your policies and procedures up-to-date?** Given the differences between state and territory policies, procedures and guidelines, it is important to ensure that your school policies and procedures are up-to-date and compliant with the relevant state and territory legislation, in addition to the DET’s requirements. For more information relating to the DET’s requirements, please see the below resources:   | **State / Territory** | **Policy and Procedure** ** ** | | --- | --- | | ACT | [Schools Policies and Procedures](http://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/policy_a-z) (Administration of Medication is under review) | | NSW | [Schools Policies and Procedures](https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/policiesinter/category.do?level=Schools)**(Public Schools NSW Site)** [Administering Prescribed Medication at School Policy](http://www.schools.nsw.edu.au/studentsupport/studenthealth/individualstud/adminmedicine/)   | | NT | [Current Policies](https://education.nt.gov.au/policies)[Medical – Administration of Medications to Students with Notified Medical Conditions Policy, Procedures and Supporting Documents](https://education.nt.gov.au/policies/medical-administration-of-medications-to-students-with-notified-medical-conditions)   | | QLD | [Policy and Procedure Register – School Education](http://ppr.det.qld.gov.au/pif/policies/Pages/school-education.aspx)[Supporting Student Health and Wellbeing Policy Statement](http://education.qld.gov.au/schools/healthy/student-health-wellbeing-policy-statement.html) [Administration of Medication in Schools Policy](http://ppr.det.qld.gov.au/education/management/Pages/Administration-of-Medications-in-Schools.aspx) | | SA | [Health and Wellbeing Policies](https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/supporting-students/health-e-safety-and-wellbeing/health-and-wellbeing)[Medication Policy](https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/education-skills-and-learning/health-wellbeing-and-special-needs/medication)   | | TAS | [Administration of Medication Procedures](https://www.education.tas.gov.au/documentcentre/Documents/Administration-of-Medication-Procedures.pdf)[School Information Brochure for Parents – Medication](https://www.education.tas.gov.au/About_us/publications/school-brochures/Pages/Medication.aspx) [Education and Care Services National Regulations](http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/regulations/2011-653.pdf) (Division 4 – p.111) – commenced 1 January 2012   | | VIC | [School Policies](http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/Pages/default.aspx)[School Policy and Advisory Guide – A-Z Index of Policies](http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/Pages/azindex.aspx) [Medication Policy](http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/spag/health/Pages/medication.aspx) | | WA | [Administration of Medication – Guidelines and Forms](http://www.det.wa.edu.au/studentsupport/behaviourandwellbeing/detcms/navigation/wellbeing/student-health-care/?tab=Main&page=3#toc3)[Student Health Care Policy and Procedures](http://www.det.wa.edu.au/policies/detcms/policy-planning-and-accountability/policies-framework/policies/student-health-care.en?oid=au.edu.wa.det.cms.contenttypes.Policy-id-3785035) [Student Health Care Policy (Version 3.1 - last updated 22 February 2016)](http://det.wa.edu.au/policies/detcms/policy-planning-and-accountability/policies-framework/policies/student-health-care.en?bbp.9.policyID=16594379&bbp.s=10&bbp.e=select&bbp.10.pane=0&bbp.v=7&bbp.i=d0.l.1.1.1.1.1.3.1.1.1.1.1&g11n.enc=UTF-8) [Procedures (Version 3.3 - last updated 15 June 2016)](http://det.wa.edu.au/policies/detcms/policy-planning-and-accountability/policies-framework/policies/student-health-care.en?bbp.9.policyID=16594379&bbp.s=10&bbp.e=select&bbp.10.pane=0&bbp.v=7&bbp.i=d0.l.1.1.1.1.1.3.1.1.1.1.1&g11n.enc=UTF-8) [Guidelines - Administration of Medication](http://www.det.wa.edu.au/studentsupport/behaviourandwellbeing/detcms/school-support-programs/behaviour-and-wellbeing/wellbeing/student-health/guidelines-administration-of-medication.en?title=Guidelines-Administration+of+Medication)   |   ###### Share this [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2016/06/30/administration-of-medication-in-schools-are-your-polices-up-to-date%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2016/06/30/administration-of-medication-in-schools-are-your-polices-up-to-date](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2016/06/30/administration-of-medication-in-schools-are-your-polices-up-to-date%20&body=Check%20out%20https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/news/2016/06/30/administration-of-medication-in-schools-are-your-polices-up-to-date) ##### About the Author ![](https://www.schoolgovernance.net.au/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(24).png) **Ideagen CompliSpace** ## Resources you may like ###### Article ##### Setting your boarding staff up for success: why policy clarity matters Boarding governance touches on child safety, complaints handling, student health, and much more.... 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