Keeping Our Kids Safe: Asthma & Anaphylaxis Training Requirements for Victoria Educators

As a provider of emergency preparedness training, EDS Training Group is committed to helping schools and childcare services remain compliant, informed, and able to respond confidently in medical emergencies. If you work in education or childcare in Victoria, here’s what you need to know about asthma and anaphylaxis training, recent regulatory updates, and how ARC / ANZCOR guidance links with your obligations.

Why asthma and anaphylaxis training matters

• Asthma attacks and severe allergic (anaphylactic) reactions can develop quickly and unpredictably in children and adults. Early recognition and prompt response can be lifesaving.
• In a setting with many children, some of whom may have known or unknown conditions, staff must be ready to respond.
• In Victoria, under the National Quality Framework (NQF) and state regulatory requirements, approved services must always have at least one educator on-site holding current first aid, emergency asthma, and anaphylaxis training when children are present.
• The Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and its sub-committee ANZCOR provide resuscitation and first aid guidelines that inform best practices used in approved training courses.

What the regulations require (Victoria / NQF / ACECQA)

Under Victorian and federal regulations applicable to early childhood education and care:

• Centre-based services must ensure that during operating hours, at least one educator has:
  1. A current approved First Aid qualification,
  2. Current emergency asthma management training, and
  3. Current anaphylaxis management training.
• Family day care services have equivalent requirements: both educators and assistants must hold the above qualifications whenever care is being provided.
• These qualifications must be “approved” under the NQF. ACECQA maintains a published list of approved training courses meeting the standards for First Aid, asthma, and anaphylaxis.
• Approved training must include practical assessment components (e.g. using auto-injector devices, CPR, asthma device use) and align with ARC / ANZCOR first aid codes of practice.
• The credentials typically remain current for a three-year period, after which renewal or re-assessment is needed.

The role of ARC / ANZCOR guidelines in training

While ARC itself does not issue training certificates for asthma or anaphylaxis, the ARC (via ANZCOR) publishes, and updates evidence-based resuscitation and first aid guidelines used by training providers.

Training courses must align with these guidelines to ensure:

• Best practices for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in children and adults
• Correct protocols for managing respiratory distress (e.g. asthma)
• Safe use of auto-injectors (adrenaline devices) and emergency response in anaphylaxis
• Integration of first aid procedures into broader emergency response planning

When selecting a training provider, you should verify that their course content references or is consistent with ARC / ANZCOR protocols.

Recent updates and considerations for Victoria educators

• The Requirements for First Aid, Emergency Asthma, and Anaphylaxis Management Training documents (ACECQA, 2025) have been updated to reaffirm the need for approved training, practical assessments, and alignment with clinical bodies including ARC / ANZCOR.
• Some providers in Victoria now offer “combined asthma & anaphylaxis” courses (e.g. units 22556VIC and 22578VIC) that meet workplace and childcare compliance.
• The practice of refresher courses (short, interim training) is supported for staff to maintain confidence until full re-certification. For example, ASCIA offers anaphylaxis refresher e-learning for school and childcare staff.
• Always check that the training provider’s course is in the approved list under NQF / ACECQA, especially after any changes to course content or regulations.

How EDS supports you in compliance & best practice

At EDS, our asthma and anaphylaxis training is designed to meet or exceed regulatory requirements for Victorian educational and childcare settings:

• We deliver approved, compliant courses that include theory and practical assessments (e.g. auto-injector simulation, asthma device use, CPR).
• Our content is aligned with ARC / ANZCOR first aid guidelines and incorporates current best practices.
• We offer refresher and full courses, so your staff can maintain certification and confidence without disruption.
• We tailor training scenarios to your environment (school, childcare centre, excursions) for realism and relevance.
• We help you manage renewal timelines, ensuring your training courses stay approved and valid.

What you should do next

1. Audit your current staff certifications — check expiry dates for first aid, asthma, and anaphylaxis training.
2. Check your training provider’s approval status under ACECQA’s NQF approved lists.
3. Schedule refresher or full compliance courses well before certifications expire.
4. Incorporate your procedures (e.g. medical action plans, allergy registers, incident reporting) into staff training and emergency planning.
5. Monitor updates in guidelines from ARC / ANZCOR and regulatory bodies to ensure your training remains current.

By staying on top of these requirements, Victorian teachers and childcare workers can be confident that they are legally compliant, medically competent, and ready to protect the children in their care during emergencies.