Date
16 April 2025

Provide professional learning for all staff

Ongoing professional development strengthens knowledge, skills, attitudes and systems.

On this page:

Identify staff needs

Identify staff needs

 

Ensure all staff know how to:

  • minimise a learner's exposure to known allergens
  • recognise signs and symptoms of an mild-to-moderate allergic reaction
  • locate a learner's EpiPen
  • respond appropriately in the event of anaphylaxis
  • administer adrenaline with an EpiPen
  • follow agreed systems and processes, for example, for accessing allergy action plans or accessing medication
  • provide immediate first-aid assistance.

Public health nurses provide training

Public health nurses provide training

Public health nurses provide annual training for staff on:

  • what allergy is
  • what anaphylaxis is
  • triggers for allergies and anaphylaxis
  • recognising anaphylaxis
  • preventing anaphylaxis
  • what to do in the event of a child having a severe allergic reaction
  • using an adrenaline autoinjector.

Source: Allergy and Anaphylaxis Guidelines for Schools and Kura (opens in a new tab/window)

Partner with outside agencies

Partner with outside agencies

These agencies offer professional learning.

  • Allergy New Zealand – guidelines and resources to assist parents and caregivers, educators, and school staff.
  • Anaphylaxis e-training – free online modules for early childhood services  and schools, developed by ASCIA.
  • DHB Public Health Nurses (PHNs) – schools are allocated a PHN to support and advise on children's health and liaise with family doctors, specialists, and other health providers.
  • EpiClub® – provide an information resource pack for New Zealand teachers and students. The pack contains a range of tools that  explain anaphylaxis and what to do in an allergic emergency. It includes a free EpiPen® training device.
  • NZQA-approved, first-aid training for all staff. Check that the course provided includes training about anaphylaxis and trains according to ASCIA guidelines.

Early learning services

Early learning services

A paediatric dietitian shares how childcare providers can ensure safe environments for children with food hypersensitivities.

This is part 1, view part 2 of the series.

Useful resources

Useful resources

Website

ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for schools and early childhood education/care

These are practical online training modules.

Publisher: Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy

Visit website

Website

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia

This website provides practical information about allergies and anaphylaxis and resources for parents and schools

Visit website

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Guidelines thumbnail v2

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Guidelines for Schools and Kura

Read time: 37 min

Guidelines to support school leadership, management, and teachers throughout New Zealand to manage allergies and anaphylaxis.

Visit website

Next steps

More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Create inclusive systems”:

Return to the guide “Allergies and learning”

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