Anaphylaxis

2 Glossary of terms

Where the phrases ‘at risk of anaphylaxis’ or ‘student who has been diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis’ or similar phrases are used in these Guidelines in relation to a student, it means a student who has been diagnosed by a medical practitioner as having a medical condition that relates to allergy and is at high risk of progressing to an anaphylactic reaction.

Act
The Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic)

Adrenaline autoinjector
An adrenaline autoinjector device, approved for use by the Commonwealth Government Therapeutic Goods Administration, which can be used to administer a single pre-measured dose of adrenaline to those experiencing a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). These may include EpiPen, EpiPen Jr, or Anapen 500.

Adrenaline autoinjector for general use
A 'backup' or 'unassigned' adrenaline autoinjector purchased by a school.

Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA)
A national non-profit organisation that raises awareness of allergy and anaphylaxis in the Australian community. A range of items including children’s books and training resources are available from the online store on the Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia website. A free online curriculum resource is also available.

Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction when a person is exposed to an allergen. Common allergens include:

• eggs
• peanuts
• tree nuts such as cashews
• cow's milk
• fish and shellfish
• wheat
• soy
• sesame
• insect stings and bites
• medications.

Signs of mild to moderate allergic reaction include:

• swelling of the lips, face and eyes
• hives or welts
• tingly mouth
• abdominal pain and/or vomiting (signs of a severe allergic reaction to insects).

Signs of anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) include any 1 of the following:

• difficult/noisy breathing
• swelling of tongue
• swelling/tightness in throat
• difficulty talking and/or a hoarse voice
• wheeze or persistent cough
• persistent dizziness or collapse
• pale and floppy (young children)
• abdominal pain and/or vomiting (signs of a severe allergic reaction to insects).

Anaphylaxis management training course
This means:

• a course in anaphylaxis management training that is accredited as a VET accredited course in accordance with Part 3 of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cth) that includes a competency check in the administration of an adrenaline autoinjector
• a course in anaphylaxis management training accredited under Chapter 4 of the Act by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority that includes a competency check in the administration of an adrenaline autoinjector
• a course in anaphylaxis management endorsed and delivered by a tertiary level specialist allergy service within a tertiary level academic teaching hospital that includes a competency check in the administration of an adrenaline autoinjector
• any other course including an online course, approved by the Secretary to the department for the purpose of the Order as published by the department.

ASCIA
Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, the peak professional body of clinical immunology and allergy in Australia and New Zealand.

ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (RED)
This plan is a nationally recognised action plan for anaphylaxis developed by ASCIA. These plans are device-specific; that is, they list the student's prescribed adrenaline autoinjector (EpiPen, EpiPen Jr or Anapen 500) and must be completed by the student’s medical practitioner. Should a different adrenaline autoinjector become available in Australia, then a different ASCIA Action Plan specific to that device would be developed. This plan is one of the components of the student’s individual anaphylaxis management plan.

Communication plan
A plan developed by the school which provides information to all school staff, students and parents/carers about anaphylaxis and the school’s anaphylaxis management policy.

Department
The Department of Education.

Emergency response procedures
Procedures which each school develops for emergency response to anaphylactic reactions for all in-school and out-of-school activities (for example, how to raise the alarm to first aid staff, how to get the adrenaline autoinjector to the student, who will call the ambulance and so on). The emergency response procedures, which are included in the school’s anaphylaxis management policy, are not limited to the ASCIA Action Plan for Anaphylaxis (RED).

Guidelines
Anaphylaxis Guidelines – A resource for managing severe allergies in Victorian schools, published by the Department of Education from time to time.

Individual anaphylaxis management plan
An individual plan for each student at risk of anaphylaxis, developed in consultation with the student's parents/carers. The individual anaphylaxis management plan includes the ASCIA Action Plan which describes the student's allergies, symptoms, and the emergency response to administer the student’s adrenaline autoinjector should the student display symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction. The individual anaphylaxis management plan also importantly includes age-appropriate strategies to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction occurring.

EpiPen and Anapen
Autoinjectable devices that deliver the drug epinephrine. They are used when someone is experiencing a severe allergic reaction.

Medical practitioner
This is a registered medical practitioner within the meaning of the Health Professions Registration Act 2005 (Vic), but excludes a person registered as a non-practising health practitioner.

Online training course
Means the course called ASCIA Anaphylaxis e-training for Victorian Schools approved by the Secretary pursuant to clause 5.5.4 of the Order.

Order
Ministerial Order 706 — Anaphylaxis Management in Victorian schools (PDF)

Parent
In relation to a child means any person who has parental responsibility for ‘major long term issues’ as defined in the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) or has been granted ‘guardianship’ for the child pursuant to the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic) or other state welfare legislation.

Principal
Defined in section 1.1.3 of the Act as meaning a person appointed to a designated position as principal of a registered school or a person in charge of a registered school.

Registered school
Defined in section 1.1.3 of the Act as meaning ‘a school registered under Part 4.3’.

Relevant school staff
School staff with a direct teaching role with a student that is at risk of anaphylaxis, and other school staff directed by the school principal.

School
Defined in section 1.1.3 of the Act as meaning a place at or from which education is provided to children of compulsory school age during normal school hours, but does not include:

• a place at which registered home schooling takes place
• a university
• a TAFE institute
• an education service exempted by Ministerial Order
• any other body exempted by the regulations.

The Education and Training Reform Regulations 2017 (Vic) exempt various other bodies from the definition of school.

School anaphylaxis management policy
This is a school-based policy that is required to be developed under section 4.3.1(6) of the Act because the school has at least one enrolled student who has been diagnosed as being at risk of anaphylaxis. This policy describes the school's process for management of the risk of anaphylaxis. The Order prescribes the matters which the policy must contain.

School anaphylaxis supervisor
A school staff member nominated by the principal to undertake appropriate training to be able to verify the correct use of adrenaline autoinjector (trainer) devices and lead the twice-yearly briefings on the school’s anaphylaxis management policy.

School staff
Any person employed or engaged at a school who:

• is required to be registered under Part 2.6 of the Act to undertake duties as a teacher within the meaning of that Part
• is in an educational support role, including a teacher’s aide, in respect of a student with a medical condition that relates to allergy and the potential for anaphylactic reaction
• the principal or their allocated staff member, determines who should comply with the school’s anaphylaxis management policy.