This page outlines how education staff, care services, parents, guardians, and health professionals work together to manage a child or student who experiences seizures or epilepsy in education and care settings.

About seizures or epilepsy

Epilepsy is a medical condition that affects the brain and causes seizures. Seizures occur because of a disruption to electrical activity in the brain, leading to a change in a person’s movement, behaviour, level of awareness and feelings.

Learn more about epilepsy including:

• causes
• myths and misconceptions
• what is a seizure
• seizure first aid.

Health support plans and agreements

If the child or student experiences seizures or epilepsy, the education or care service should refer to health support planning for children and students in education and care settings to ensure that the appropriate plans and agreements are in place. This is in addition to the seizures or epilepsy-specific plans and agreements listed on this page.

Emergency medication agreements

If a child or student is prescribed medication that needs to be administered in emergency situations, a parent or guardian must complete one of the following plans. A health professional can help to complete them.

• 1 seizure type - emergency medication management plan (DOCX 120 KB)
• 2 seizure types - emergency medication management plan (DOCX 122 KB)
• 3 seizure types - emergency medication management plan (DOCX 126 KB)

Emergency care and first aid plan

The standard seizure first aid (PDF 232 KB) must be followed unless a health professional or epilepsy specialist has advised otherwise in a seizure management plan.

Child having seizure with no known seizure history

If a child is having a seizure and has no known seizure history:

1. follow standard seizure first aid (PDF 232 KB) and management of a seizure incident flowcharts (PDF 184KB)
2. as soon as possible after the seizure incident meet with parents or guardians to discuss the incident
3. develop a health support agreement – HSP120 (DOC 243KB) and safety and risk management plan – HSP121 (DOC 147KB)
4. the parent or guardian must provide a seizure management plan – HSP340 (DOC 1MB)
5. education and care staff must undertake seizure training and education.

The child can return to the education and care service without a care plan and be managed by standard seizure first aid if there is another seizure incident.

Child with known seizure history

If a child has a history of seizures:

1. the parent should provide a seizure management plan – HSP340 (DOC 1MB)
2. develop a health support agreement – HSP120 (DOC 243KB) and safety and risk management plan – HSP121 (DOC 147KB)
3. staff must undertake seizure training and education.

If a seizure occurs in the education and care service it is managed by following the:

1. seizure management plan – HSP340 (DOCX 121 KB)
2. management of a seizure incident flowchart (PDF 198 KB)
3. intranasal midazolam administration first aid (PDF 219 KB) if required
4. intransal zyamis administration first aid (PDF 232 KB) if required.

As soon as possible after the seizure incident, education and care staff must:

1. complete the seizure observation log – HSP341 (DOC 141KB)
2. complete an IRMS report
3. review the health support agreement – HSP120 (DOC 243KB) and safety and risk management plan – HSP121 (DOC 147KB).

Training for education and care staff

Staff must be trained to support children diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy. Training and support must be individualised to each child and the specific requirements documented in the care plan and support agreements for that child.

Epilepsy awareness

Epilepsy Action Australia can provide epilepsy awareness and seizure first aid training. Training is provided onsite or online and can be tailored to meet individual needs. Epilepsy Action Australia also have a suite of online courses designed to provide comprehensive and flexible education on epilepsy and seizures including.

The Epilepsy Centre offers the epilepsy smart schools program to assist schools to support children and young people with epilepsy. For enquiries complete the online training form.

The Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) provide Epilepsy Awareness education. For enquiries phone 1300 364 26 or email bookings.disabilities [at] rdns.org.au .

Professional development

The Registered Nurse Delegation of Care program (RNDCP) provides professional, individualised training delivered onsite that covers:

• general information about epilepsy and seizures
• seizure first aid and management strategies
• individualised training to the child or young person’s seizure management plan
• the skills and knowledge for education staff to confidently administer midazolam where prescribed.

Complete the 3D Health referral form (DOC 278 KB) to book in a training session.

How parents and guardians help

Parents or guardians must:

• notify the school, preschool or care service if their child experiences seizures of epilepsy
• complete health care plans and agreements with their health care professionals and provide them to the school, preschool or care service
• provide required medication to the school, preschool or care service.

If a medication agreement is in place, parents and caregivers must fulfil the roles and responsibilities outlined on the medication management and care page.

How health professionals help

Health professionals support schools, preschools, care services and families by helping to develop the care plan and any supporting medication and care agreements.