Schoolcare+Program

=__**Schoolcare Program –**__=

This resource is not so much a strategy for teaching or in class resource, however the Victorian Department of Education have a great program established and funded known as the Schoolcare Program. It is not an age specific program, rather a medically specific program.

The Schoolcare Program is a service provided by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) in partnership with the Royal Children’s Hospital, RCH @ Home, which provides Victorian government school staff with the skills to support students who have complex medical needs. The Schoolcare Program enables students with ongoing complex medical needs to have their health care requirements met safely at school. This is done by providing training to the school staff that care for them. This service provides specialist training to staff who deliver interventional medical care to students whilst they are attending school.

As part of the program, a critical factor to the success of the program is the establishment of a Student Support Group. This must be established and maintained to plan and implement the educational support program for the student. A Student Support Group is a cooperative partnership between the parent/guardian/carer(s), school representatives and professionals to ensure coordinated support for the student’s educational needs. The Student Support Group has a key role in advising the principal on the educational program for the student and the nature of the resources required to support the student’s medical needs.

The program also provides formal training to educators in terms of management of specific medical conditions. Whilst this is not a teaching resource as such, I feel access to a program like this would be extremely beneficial for all states within Australia for all teachers teaching in schools. Having the in depth knowledge and understanding of the medical conditions associated with a particular disability would provide that extra element of inclusion for diverse learners. E.g. administering insulin for diabetic children.

[|Schoolcare Guidelines]