Mandatory Anaphylaxis Training for all initial teacher education students
The NSW Institute of Teachers and the Department of Education and Communities now require that all initial teacher education students have training in anaphylaxis. In order to meet this requirement, ALL CSU students in teacher education courses (other than the Bachelor of Education/Bachelor of Teaching (Birth-5) must complete the training module provided by the Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) before undertaking any professional experience placement. This is a free, online module available at http://etraining.allergy.org.au/. The training is required to be successfully undertaken every 2 years.
This is the only training that will be accepted by the Department to meet the requirement of anaphylaxis training for initial teacher education students.
On successful completion of the online module, participants will receive a certificate of completion which should be printed immediately.
A copy of this certificate must be attached to your application for your professional experience placement. The NSW Institute and Department of Education and Communities require that students also present a copy of their certificate of completion to principals at the commencement of their professional experience placements.
The NSW Department of Education and Communities advises that students who do not successfully complete this training, as verified by the university and the principal of their placement school, will not be able to undertake professional experience activities in NSW public schools.
Please note below a set of Frequently Asked Questions and responses prepared by the Department of Education and Communities.
Frequently Asked Questions – Anaphylaxis Training for Initial Teacher Education Students
- The ASCIA e-training module (January 2013) is now asking that a supervisor is to witness the students using an auto-injector prior to professional experience in school. Is this necessary?
The Department does not require university personnel to witness that students have demonstrated use of the auto-injector prior to professional experience in schools. Initial teacher education students are required to complete the online module (students must comply with this requirement by no later than the end of Semester 1, 2013).
Where possible, students on professional experience placements will be given the opportunity to practice with the EpiPen trainer that was provided to each NSW public school in December 2012.
- Will students need to show the principal of the school a copy of the e-training certificate?
Yes. Principals will ask students to show a copy of the certificate at the commencement of professional experience placements. Students who do not successfully complete this training (required every two years) and/or are unable to provide a certificate to a principal on request will not be able to undertake professional experience in NSW public schools.
- Are ‘observation days’ covered under this new requirement?
Yes. Any professional experience actually being undertaken in NSW public schools is deemed as being part of this new requirement of anaphylaxis training.
- Some students have been unable to access the ASCIA e-training. Is there a reason for this?
All government school teachers including casual and temporary staff had to complete anaphylaxis training by the start of Term 1, 2013. Because of the high numbers of staff using the site the ASCIA e-training was temporarily overloaded. The Department has extended the timeframe until 18 February 2013. For this reason, some students may have been having trouble accessing the site. Students should complete the training as soon as they are reasonably able to access the site. The Department thanks students and university personnel for their patience.
- A student has presented with a certificate/course that covered anaphylaxis management. Is this acceptable?
No. The ASCIA e-training module is the only training that will be accepted by the Department to meet the requirement of anaphylaxis training for initial teacher education students.