Poster Presentation Australian Diabetes Society and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association Annual Scientific Meeting 2017

Meeting the National Standards - A rural and remote approach to support children and young people with diabetes in schools and preschools (#364)

Collette Hooper 1 , Jane Giles 1 , Tania Kelly 2 , Linda Burcher 3
  1. Diabetes Service, Country Health SA, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  2. Diabetes and Endocrine Department , Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  3. Diabetes Service , Flinders Medical Centre , Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Background: The ‘Diabetes in Schools’ Report1 identifies risks related to children and young people with diabetes in schools and preschools in Australia.

Under National Law2 and Regulations3, services providing education and care must have a diabetes policy. Currently, there is no national policy.

The NDSS has a guide for school policy, professional practice, staff training and support but is only available online.4

Diabetes SA conducts generalised training for school staff however, access is difficult for those in rural and remote areas.

In country SA, Credentialled Diabetes Educators (CDE) and/or Diabetes Educators (DE) provide staff training and support for implementation of individual care plans. A variety of resources have been used.

Aim: To develop a service pathway and training package for rural CDE/DEs to use with the Department of Education and Child Development (DECD) resources5 which provides a consistent approach to training and care plan support.

Method: Children and young people with diabetes, families, DECD, and school staff were consulted. Guidance was taken from Metropolitan Paediatric Diabetes Services.

Results: A service pathway and training package was developed and promoted to CDE/DEs for implementation. Feedback from stakeholders has been positive.

Conclusion: The pathway and training package offers a consistent approach in staff training and implementation of school care plans to ensure a safe and supported learning environment for children and young people with diabetes, and their families. Ongoing monitoring is required.

  1. Diabetes Australia, 2017, School Report. Available at:https://static.diabetesaustralia.com.au/s/fileassets/diabetes-australia/7dc95662-684e-4f31-8a4e-e579d20f58e4.pdf
  2. Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority. 2010. National Quality Framework. Available at: www.acecqa.gov.au/national-quality-framework/national-law-and-regulations
  3. South Australia, 2011, Education and Early Childhood Services (Registration and Standards) Act. Available at https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/EDUCATION%20AND%20EARLY%20CHILDHOOD%20SERVICES%20(REGISTRATION%20AND%20STANDARDS)%20ACT%202011.aspx
  4. National Diabetes Services Scheme, 2015, Mastering Diabetes in preschools and schools. Available at: https://static.diabetesaustralia.com.au/s/fileassets/diabetes-australia/f3133e0a-eb9a-45bf-900f-d98710a9ce0a.pdf
  5. South Australia Department for Education and Child Development 2017, Health Care Plans – Diabetes. Available at: https://www.decd.sa.gov.au/supporting-students/health-e-safety-and-wellbeing/health-care-plans