By BEST Childcare Consulting
Every morning, families place their children into our arms with complete trust. They trust that we will notice the small things. They trust that we will act quickly if something is wrong. And for children living with allergies and anaphylaxis, that trust carries life-saving weight. In early childhood education and care, an ASCIA Action Plan is not just a document — it is a child’s safety, a family’s reassurance, and an educator’s guide in moments where every second matters.
With ASCIA releasing updated Action Plans, introducing new devices such as Jext and Neffy, and confirming important changes around review requirements, it is essential that services understand exactly what this means for their practice, their compliance, and their responsibility to children.
This article provides a complete guide for Western Australian childcare services, including:
- What ASCIA is and why its Action Plans are critical in childcare
- What has changed in the latest ASCIA updates
- The legal requirements under the National Quality Framework and ECRU
- What paperwork is required, where to access official templates, and how often they must be reviewed
- Staff training requirements and where to access approved training and trainer devices
- Incident notification requirements and decision-making guidance
- What families must provide, including medication and action plans
- Other medical action plans childcare services may need, including asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, and eczema
- Guidance on stock adrenaline and new device availability in Australia
Most importantly, this article explains how to ensure your service is not only compliant — but prepared, confident, and ready to protect every child in your care.
Because when it comes to anaphylaxis, preparation is not paperwork.
It is protection.
Resource alert. New information page published by ACECQA on 18 February 2026. QA 2 Information sheet -Guidance for medical management plans, risk minimisation and communication plan (Part B)
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/media/47576
What is ASCIA and Why It Is Important to Childcare Services
ASCIA stands for theAustralasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy.
Official website:
https://www.allergy.org.au
ASCIA is the peak professional medical body in Australia and New Zealand for allergy and immune conditions. It develops the official medical guidelines, emergency action plans, and best-practice recommendations used by doctors, hospitals, schools, and childcare services.
ASCIA’s guidelines are recognised and used nationally across health and education settings.
Why ASCIA Is So Important in Childcare
In early childhood education and care, ASCIA plays a critical role in protecting children with allergies and anaphylaxis.
This is because ASCIA provides the official Action Plans used in emergencies.
These plans tell educators exactly:
- How to recognise an allergic reaction
- When to administer adrenaline
- What emergency steps to follow
Without ASCIA Action Plans, educators would not have clear medical instructions to follow.
ASCIA Action Plans Are the Official Medical Plans Used in Childcare
Under the National Quality Framework, children with medical conditions must have a Medical Management Plan.
For children with anaphylaxis, this is the ASCIA Action Plan.
Download here:
https://www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/ascia-action-plan-for-anaphylaxis
These plans:
- Are completed and signed by the child’s doctor
- Include the child’s photo
- Show the child’s specific medication
- Provide step-by-step emergency instructions
ASCIA confirms these plans are designed to be used in: “schools, childcare and other community settings.” (Source: ASCIA website)
ASCIA Helps Childcare Services Meet Their Legal Responsibilities
Childcare services have a legal duty to protect children’s health and safety under the National Regulations.
ASCIA Action Plans help services meet this requirement by providing:
- Clear medical instructions
- Emergency treatment guidance
- Safe medication management procedures
These plans are essential for compliance with:
- Regulation 90 – Medical Conditions Policy
- Regulation 136 – First Aid and Emergency Training
- Quality Area 2 – Children’s Health and Safety
ASCIA Provides More Than Just Anaphylaxis Plans
ASCIA also provides plans and guidance for:
- Food allergies
- Drug allergies
- Allergic reactions
- Eczema
- Allergy prevention
This helps childcare services manage a wide range of medical conditions safely.
ASCIA Saves Lives in Childcare Settings
Anaphylaxis can happen suddenly and without warning.
ASCIA Action Plans ensure educators:
- Know what to do immediately
- Do not delay treatment
- Can administer life-saving medication
These plans provide the confidence and clarity educators need in an emergency.
What Has Changed in 2026?
ASCIA has confirmed several important updates and points for services:
1. New and updated formats released
ASCIA has released updated Action Plans (2025 versions continuing into 2026), with ongoing improvements and additional device options.
2. New adrenaline devices included
New devices such as Jext and Neffy (nasal adrenaline) are now included in ASCIA plans.
ASCIA device update information:
https://www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/info-updates/two-new-adrenaline-epinephrine-devices-are-tga-registered
Services must ensure staff are familiar with any device prescribed to a child.
Neffy is a needle-free adrenaline (epinephrine) nasal spray used to treatsevere allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)in people who have been prescribed adrenaline by their doctor, offering an alternative to traditional auto-injectors.
Jext is an adrenaline (epinephrine) auto-injector penused to treatanaphylaxis in children and adults, designed to deliver a fast, life-saving dose of adrenaline into the thigh during a severe allergic emergency. Similar to EpiPen and Anapen, different in how you use it.
3. Plans no longer technically expire
ASCIA confirms plans do not have a strict expiry date. However, services must ensure:
- Plans match the child’s current medication
- Plans reflect current medical advice
- Plans are reviewed regularly
Assessors will expect to see evidence of this.
4. Electronic completion is now standard
Plans can now be:
- Completed digitally, typed up
- Include digital photo and signature
- Saved and printed professionally
This improves clarity and accuracy.
Requirements for managing medical conditions in a childcare
1) What the rules actually require
Medical conditions policy is mandatory (even if you have no enrolled children with allergies)
Services must have a medical conditions policy and procedures in place, and it must cover children diagnosed at risk of anaphylaxis.
Parents must provide a medical management plan (ASCIA Action Plan fits here)
Regulation 90 requires your policy to include requirements for families to provide a medical management plan for a child with a medical condition (including allergy/anaphylaxis).
Risk minimisation plan and communication plan are not optional extras
The NQF expects (and assessors look for) an individual risk minimisation plan and a communication plan developed/implemented for each child with a relevant medical condition, in line with Regulation 90 requirements.
Your medical conditions policy must be given to families
Approved providers must ensure a copy of the medical conditions policy is provided to parents.
You can administer adrenaline in an emergency even if the written authorisation is missing
Regulation 94 allows medication to be administered without authorisation in an anaphylaxis emergency (this is crucial to state in procedures and staff training).
2) Staffing/training expectations
Minimum legal requirement: at least one “currently trained” person on shift
National Regulations require at least one educator/nominated supervisor on duty with current approved:
- first aid qualification
- anaphylaxis management training
- emergency asthma management training
(ACECQA summarises these requirements and links them to Regulation 136).
Best practice (and what assessors increasingly probe): refreshers and hands-on device practice
ACECQA highlights National Allergy Council guidance: anaphylaxis training at least every 2 years, with refresher training every 6 months, including hands-on practice with trainer devices.
Recommended childcare supplier (ALL trainer devices in one place)
Best childcare training supplier is Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia shop:
https://allergyfacts.org.au/shop
They supply:
- EpiPen trainers
- Anapen trainers
- Neffy trainers
- Jext trainers
Anaphylaxis training is included in childcare first aid qualifications
The required childcare first aid qualification is:
HLTAID012 – Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting
This is the official childcare first aid course.
ACECQA confirms this qualification includes training in:
- Anaphylaxis management
- Asthma management
- Emergency response
Official ACECQA list:
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/qualifications/requirements/first-aid-qualifications-training
This course replaced HLTAID004.
However — ASCIA training is still strongly recommended
ASCIA training is not legally required if staff already hold HLTAID012.
But ACECQA and ASCIA recommend it as additional best practice.
Because HLTAID012:
- Covers many emergency topics
- But does not go into the same depth on allergy prevention and ASCIA Action Plans
ASCIA training link:
https://training.ascia.org.au/
3) Incident and notification requirements (often missed in “ASCIA plan” write-ups)
If a child has an anaphylaxis event that results in hospital attendance/should have attended hospital or emergency services attended, it may meet the definition of a serious incident (Reg 12), triggering notification duties.
Notify the Regulatory Authority within 24 hours for serious incidents
WA regs set the timeframe: serious incidents must be notified within 24 hours.
ECRU also publishes guidance on incident notification for WA services (useful to reference in governance/procedure sections).
This National Decision Tree is provided to assist Approved Providers in deciding whether a notification is required and the timeframe in which that notification should be made.
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/notify
What services must do for each child with a medical condition
Services must do more than collect the ASCIA Action Plan. They must embed it into practice.
1. Obtain the ASCIA Action Plan before the child attends
Under Regulation 90, services must ensure parents provide a medical management plan.
The child cannot safely attend without it.
2. Develop an Individual Risk Minimisation Plan
This must outline:
- How exposure to allergens will be prevented
- Food safety procedures
- Supervision strategies
- Environmental risk controls
This must be developed with the family.
3. Develop a Communication Plan
This must identify:
- How staff are informed
- How relief educators are informed
- How families are informed
Assessors often ask educators:
“How do you know which children have anaphylaxis?”
4. Ensure medication is available and accessible
Adrenaline must be:
- In date
- Easily accessible
- Not locked away
- Known to staff
5. Your services’ medical conditions policy must be given to families
6. Ensure trained staff are present
Under Regulation 136, at least one educator present must hold current:
- First Aid
- Anaphylaxis Management Training
- Emergency Asthma Management Training
More information from ACECQA:
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/qualifications-0/qualification-requirements/first-aid-qualifications-training
Best practice includes regular refresher training and emergency drills.
7. Emergency authorisation: educators can act immediately
Under Regulation 94, educators can administer adrenaline in an emergency without written parent authorisation.
8. Notify ECRU if a serious incident occurs
If anaphylaxis results in:
- Ambulance attendance
- Hospitalisation
- Or could have required hospital treatment
- The service must notify the Regulatory Authority within 24 hours.
Where to get the Medical Paperwork Required for Children with Medical Conditions in Childcare
(Western Australia – National Quality Framework Compliance)
Under the National Regulations, children with medical conditions such as anaphylaxis, epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, or eczema must have specific medical documentation in place. These documents ensure educators can safely support the child and respond in an emergency.
1. ASCIA Action Plan (Medical Management Plan)
This is the most critical medical document.
Download here:
https://www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/ascia-action-plan-for-anaphylaxis
ASCIA confirms these plans:
- Are completed and signed by the child’s doctor
- Include the child’s photo
- Provide emergency response instructions
- Must match the medication provided
- Do not expire and may still be used beyond the review date
Families must also provide the medication listed on the plan
For example:
- EpiPen
- Anapen
- Antihistamines
- Insulin
- Epilepsy emergency medication
ASCIA confirms:
Medication included should be “the same one that the family provides to school or child care.”
This is a legal requirement under National Regulations.
The plan alone is not sufficient without the medication.
2. Individual Risk Minimisation Plan
New resource alert. Official template (ACECQA):New, published 27 January 2026, Medical Conditions Risk Management and Communication plan template.
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/media/47351
This is completed by the service with the family.
It outlines:
- How allergens will be avoided
- Supervision strategies
- Food safety procedures
- Emergency procedures
This is required under Regulation 90.
3. Medical Communication Plan
This is included in the ACECQA template above.
It outlines:
- How staff are informed
- How relief staff are informed
- How families are informed
This ensures all educators know how to manage the condition safely.
How Often These Documents Must Be Reviewed (Legal Requirement)
There is NO law that says these must be updated yearly.
Instead, National Regulations require they must be:
Reviewed and updated:
- When the child’s medical condition changes
- When medication changes
- When the ASCIA Action Plan changes
- When emergency procedures change
ASCIA confirms plans remain valid even after the review date.
However, best practice is review every 12 months.
ASCIA Action Plans Available on Their Website
ASCIA provides multiple official plans:
Main page:
https://www.allergy.org.au/hp/anaphylaxis/ascia-action-plan-for-anaphylaxis
ASCIA plans include:
Anaphylaxis (Red Plan)
Device-specific versions:
- EpiPen
- Anapen
- Jext
- Neffy
These are emergency plans for severe allergic reactions.
ASCIA Action Plan for Allergic Reactions (Green Plan)
Used for:
- Mild to moderate allergies
- Non-anaphylaxis allergies
ASCIA First Aid Plan for Anaphylaxis (Orange Plan)
Used by:
- Childcare services
- Emergency response situations
ASCIA Drug Allergy Plan
Used for:
- Medication allergies
Other ASCIA Medical Plans Available (Not Just Anaphylaxis)
ASCIA also provides action plans for other medical conditions.
These include:
ASCIA Eczema Action Plan
Download here:
https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-and-anaphylaxis/eczema
This helps services manage eczema flare-ups.
ASCIA provides specific eczema action plans on their website.
ASCIA Food Allergy Plans
For managing:
- Food allergies
- Dietary avoidance
ASCIA FPIES Action Plan
For:
- Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome
Other Common Medical Action Plans Needed in Childcare
These are not from ASCIA but are commonly required:
Epilepsy Action Plan
Download here:
Epilepsy Action Australia:
https://www.epilepsy.org.au
Services require:
- Epilepsy Management Plan
- Emergency medication instructions
Diabetes Medical Management Plan
Download here:
National Diabetes Services Scheme:
https://www.ndss.com.au
Includes:
- Insulin instructions
- Hypoglycaemia treatment
Asthma Action Plan
Download here:
National Asthma Council:
https://www.nationalasthma.org.au
This is doctor-completed.
Eczema Medical Plans
Download here:
ASCIA eczema plan (above)
Or from treating doctor.
Can Childcare Centres Have Their Own EpiPen?
Yes — and this is strongly recommended.
While not mandatory, ACECQA and ASCIA strongly recommend this.
ACECQA allergy guidance:
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/latest-news/blog/allergy-awareness
Why Stock Adrenaline is Important
Stock adrenaline can be used if:
- A child has first-time anaphylaxis
- A child’s own EpiPen is unavailable
- A second dose is needed
ASCIA childcare guidance:
https://www.allergyfacts.org.au/allergic-reactions-in-childcare/
Availability of EpiPen, Jext, and Neffy in Western Australia
EpiPen and Anapen are currently available and Jext and Neffy are expected in later half of 2026.
BEST Childcare Consulting
When families place their child into your care, they trust you to protect them.
By ensuring ASCIA Action Plans are current, staff are trained, and emergency medication is accessible, services meet not only their legal responsibilities — but their ethical responsibility to keep every child safe.
Contact us TODAY.
