Medication at school
If a student needs to take medication during school hours or at school camp, you must let the school know. You can let them know by getting your doctor to complete a medication agreement form. Students cannot take any medication at school or camp without a medication agreement form.
'Medication' on this page means:
- prescribed medicine
- non-prescribed medicine
- medicated creams including medicated moisturisers
- alternative therapies (vitamins, minerals, supplements).
Giving medication to students
Education and care staff can help with medication taken:
- aurally (by ear)
- orally (by mouth)
- inhaled
- applied to the skin.
Education and care staff cannot administer medication taken any other way. This includes medication that needs to be injected using a needle. Ask the school about these sorts of medications. They need special planning and sometimes the help of a nurse.
Staff will only help with medication that cannot be taken before or after school. For example, some medication needs to be taken three times a day – you can administer this yourself at breakfast, after school and at the end of the day.
Taking medication for the first time
Students must not take the first dose of a new medication at school. The first dose should always be supervised by a parent or health professional. The only exception is emergency medication.
Examples of emergency medication are:
- an asthma inhaler for an asthma attack
- an adrenaline autoinjector for anaphylaxis (for example, an Epipen)
- midazolam for seizures.
Labelling and storing student medication
If your child takes medication to school, make sure it’s in the original container from the pharmacy, including the label. This will help staff identify it.
Schools will store medication safely at the school or campsite.
This means:
- according to the instructions on the label
- where it cannot be accessed by other students.
An exception is emergency medication that your child might need immediate access to. For example, an asthma puffer for asthma relief. Your child can keep this with them, or you can arrange for a staff member to look after it.
If your child has allergies or other long-term health issues, ask your school to set up ongoing storage.
Contact
Health Support team – Department for Education
Email: Education.Health@sa.gov.au
Related information
On this site
First aid and medical emergency
Other websites
Medication management - Department for Education
