The Tasmanian Department of Education has reassured parents that it has "robust processes in place to manage the needs of children who suffer from allergies".
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It comes after the National Allergy Strategy released revised guidelines that suggested nuts and other common food allergens could find themselves back in the school yard.
The new guidelines were designed in consultation with key stakeholders and parents and found that "banning" certain food groups was no longer the most effective way to prevent anaphylaxis in the school setting. In its revised guidelines, the National Allergy Strategy cited inconsistencies in staff training around anaphylaxis prevention and emergency treatment as cause for concern.
"These variations create confusion and anxiety for parents and educators in schools, and ultimately put children's safety at risk," Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia chief executive and National Allergy Strategy co-chair Maria Said stated.
"While the sectors have a lot of demands on them, no one wants to live with a tragic incident that could have been prevented."
"All schools adhere to these [allergy aware] procedures," a Department of Education spokesperson said. "School staff are also provided with resources and training to assist children in the event of an allergic reaction.
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"Principals are to ensure all staff receive training on anaphylaxis management on a regular basis."
The spokesperson said the department would continue to monitor national guidelines to ensure any changes to requirements were reflected in DoE approaches.
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