The Centre has a comprehensive Health Policy. This policy includes the following areas.

First Aid / Accident / Injury / Resuscitation Protocol

It is the policy of 5 Star Childcare & ELC that a staff member with a First Aid certificate is always in attendance.
Parents will be contacted in the case of an injury to a child. All accidents and illnesses are recorded in the Centre's Accident/Illness book and parents will be required to sign the report.
The Department of Human Services will be notified in the case of a serious accident or injury to a child.
A Resuscitation Protocol has been developed, (although the Centre hopes never to have to resuscitate a child, parent or staff member). Parents should be reassured that all staff are familiar with the policy and procedure should the need arise and will be able to work professionally during the crisis.

Infectious Diseases

When a child is suffering from an infectious or transmittable disease, they shall be excluded from the Centre. Exclusion times set by the Department of Human Services will be followed.
Notices of the occurrence of an infectious disease will be posted to advise parents.
The Centre must be notified of any child absent due to an infectious disease, to ensure that all attending parents can be notified. Please ring the Centre as soon as possible.

Illness

Children who are ill must remain at home. A sick child cannot cope in a group situation, and they need to rest quietly at home.
At first sign of ill health of a child, parents are informed and may be asked to take their child home; staff will advise whether a doctor's visit is recommended.
The Centre must be notified when a child is to be absent due to ill health. Please contact the Centre as soon as possible.
In the case of an illness or injury and the parent or emergency contacts cannot be contacted, the child's doctor shall be contacted. If the Centre considers the injury or illness serious enough, the Centre shall call for an ambulance immediately at the expense of the child's parent and then shall notify the parent.

Administration of Medications

No medication will be administered to any child without the written authority of the parent. It is a Regulation requirement that parents must sign for every medication that is to be administered.
All medication must to be named and clearly labelled, and handed to the Person in Charge.
If there is a concern/doubt regarding a particular medication the parent or family doctor will be contacted before the administration of the medication.
Parents must again sign for any medication that has been administered.

Child Abuse

When a staff member has reasonable grounds to suspect that a child in our care is at risk of physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect or violence, Child Protection Victoria will be notified in accordance with legislative guidelines.