Parents and carers may wish for their child to have medication administered at school on a 'routine', 'as-needed' or 'emergency first aid' basis.
All medications you provide for the school to administer to your child must be prescribed by a qualified health professional who is authorised to prescribe medications under the Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulation 1996 (Qld) Act e.g. doctor, dentist, optometrist.
Information for parents/carers
1. Does your child need medication during school hours?
If your child needs to take medication at school and/or during school-related events or activities, please provide the school with:
- a completed and signed Consent to Administer Medication form;
- the medication in its original container; and
- medical authorisation (e.g. the pharmacy label*, or a letter from the doctor, or a completed and signed health action plan).
For further information, please refer to the Information for parents/carers and health practitioners.
*Important: Please note the Pharmacy Label must include:
- A qualified health practitioner (i.e. the name of the prescribing Doctor, Dentist or Optometrist)
- Student's name
- Strength and description / name of the medication
- Dose and route of administration (may include the duration of the therapy)
- Initials/logo of the pharmacist responsible for dispending the medication
- Time or interval the medication is to be taken; and
- Any other relevant directions for use e.g. whether the medication is to be taken with food.
If you have any queries, please contact the office on (07) 3725 5666.
If my child has to take medication at school, how will the doctor know what paperwork the school needs?
When you next visit your child's doctor (or other health practitioner), you could give them a copy of the Administration of medication in Queensland state schools: Information for parents/carers and health practitioners.
This document explains what advice they need to provide to help the school to safely administer medication to your child.
2. Easy medication packaging
If your child takes tablets or capsules each day, you can ask the pharmacist to pack them individually in sachets, blister packs or bubble packs.
This packaging is known as a 'dose administration aid' (or DAA) and has the pharmacy label instructions as part of the packaging.
When medication is packaged in a DAA it can make it easier for the school to safely store and administer it.
Please note: A pill case (e.g. a weekly medication organiser) filled by yourself is not a DAA and is not something the school is approved to use.
3. Medication safety at school
If your child requires medication at school, there are some things you can do to help.
- Only provide medication that has been medically authorised.
- Check that the medication hasn't expired.
- Provide medication in the pharmacy packaging.
- Hand medication to the school in person.
- Collect unused medication in person.
- Provide a pill-cutter if tablets need to be halved or quartered, or arrange for the pharmacist to package the medication using a dose administration aid.
Additional Information & Medical Forms Required
Consent to Administer Medication Form
Information for Parents and Carers and Health Practitioners
Types of Medications