Anaphylaxis Management in Victorian Childcare: What Every Educator Must Know

Every childcare setting in Victoria carries a responsibility that cannot be overstated: the children in your care may have life-threatening allergies, and the educators around them may be the only people standing between a child and a fatal outcome. Anaphylaxis is serious, fast-moving, and treatable — but only if the right people know what to do and have the right equipment within reach.

This post outlines what Victorian childcare services are required to have in place for anaphylaxis management, what good practice looks like beyond the minimum, and how AB First Aid supports early childhood educators in Tullamarine and across Melbourne’s north and west.

What the Regulations Require

Under the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations, Victorian childcare services must meet specific anaphylaxis requirements as part of Quality Area 2 of the National Quality Framework (NQF).

Regulation 136 requires that at least one educator present at the service at all times holds a current anaphylaxis management certificate. This applies across all service types — long day care, family day care, OSHC, and vacation care. ACECQA (the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority) specifies which qualifications are approved, and certificates must be kept current.

Beyond staff training, services must hold an individualised anaphylaxis action plan for every child diagnosed with a severe allergy. These plans must be developed in consultation with the child’s medical practitioner and reviewed regularly — particularly when there is any change in the child’s health status or medications.

Recognising Anaphylaxis: The Signs Educators Must Know

Anaphylaxis can develop rapidly — sometimes within minutes of exposure to a trigger. The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) identifies the following as signs of a severe allergic reaction requiring immediate treatment with adrenaline:

In young children, symptoms may include sudden paleness, becoming floppy or unresponsive, or persistent crying. Older children may describe throat tightening, difficulty breathing, or a feeling that something is seriously wrong. Educators should treat any combination of respiratory symptoms, cardiovascular symptoms (pale skin, weak or rapid pulse, collapse), and known allergen exposure as potential anaphylaxis.

Critically, anaphylaxis does not always begin with hives or a visible rash. Waiting for a rash to appear before acting is dangerous. If the signs point to anaphylaxis, the action plan is clear: use the adrenaline auto-injector first, then call triple zero.

Anaphylaxis Action Plans: What They Must Include

ASCIA provides standardised anaphylaxis action plan templates that are widely used in Australian childcare settings. An effective plan will include the child’s name and photo, their known allergens, a description of their typical symptoms, clear instructions on when and how to use an adrenaline auto-injector, and emergency contact details including the child’s doctor and closest hospital.

Plans must be stored where they can be accessed immediately — not in a filing cabinet, but visibly posted near the child’s medication or in a clearly identified first aid location. All educators who may care for the child should know where the plan is and understand what it says.

Services should also establish a clear protocol for what happens when a child with a known allergy is collected. If a child’s allergy status changes or a new allergy is diagnosed, the service must be notified and the plan updated before the child returns.

Adrenaline Auto-Injectors: Training Beyond Reading the Label

Knowing how to use an adrenaline auto-injector under pressure is different from reading the instructions on the packaging. Research consistently shows that people perform better in emergencies when they have practised a skill on a trainer device — not just read about it.

Training should cover how to recognise when to use the device, how to hold and administer it correctly (outer mid-thigh, firm pressure, hold for the required count), and what to do immediately after (call triple zero, keep the child calm and still, monitor for a second reaction). Services should also practise the full emergency response — locating the action plan, retrieving the device, administering it, and making the triple zero call.

ASCIA recommends that all childcare staff complete anaphylaxis e-training annually, but this should be supplemented with hands-on training that includes practice with trainer auto-injectors. A short online module does not build the muscle memory needed in a real emergency.

Neffy and What It Means for Childcare Settings

As of mid-2026, Neffy — the adrenaline nasal spray — is now listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), making it more accessible for Australians with severe allergies. For childcare services, this may mean some children will carry a nasal spray instead of, or in addition to, a traditional auto-injector.

Educators should be familiar with both delivery methods. The administration of a nasal spray is different from an auto-injector: Neffy is inserted into one nostril and the plunger is pressed while the child is upright or lying down. Services should ensure that any child’s action plan clearly specifies which device they carry and update staff training accordingly.

Regardless of the device, the same principle applies: if anaphylaxis is suspected, use the prescribed adrenaline medication without delay, then call triple zero.

Book First Aid Training for Your Childcare Team

AB First Aid delivers nationally recognised first aid, anaphylaxis, and asthma training designed specifically for early childhood educators in Victoria. Our practical, scenario-based courses reflect the real situations childcare staff face — including paediatric emergencies, managing incidents under the NQF, and practising with trainer auto-injectors.

We run regular public courses from our Tullamarine training centre, and we offer on-site group training to fit around your service’s roster. View our current schedule and book your team’s training at abfirstaid.com.au.

References

ASCIA. (2024). Anaphylaxis management in childcare centres, schools and other education and care settings. Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy. www.allergy.org.au

ACECQA. (2024). National Quality Framework: Guide to the National Quality Standard. www.acecqa.gov.au

Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011, Regulation 136. Commonwealth of Australia.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. (2026). Neffy (adrenaline) nasal spray PBS listing. Australian Government Department of Health. www.pbs.gov.au

National Asthma Council Australia. (2024). Asthma and anaphylaxis in early childhood settings. www.nationalasthma.org.au