Emergency Process – Student Injury and Hospital Visit 

If a student is injured and requires medical attention at a hospital, the following process will be followed to ensure the student is supported and the family is kept fully informed. 

1. Contact the Parents 

Parents or guardians will be contacted as soon as possible and provided with an overview of what has happened. Further investigation of the incident may be ongoing, and additional information will be shared with parents in a follow-up message. 

2. Emergency Situations – Two Levels of Severity

A. If the injury or illness is not life-threatening and does not require immediate transport to the hospital by an ambulance, then the parents are requested to come and collect the student and accompany them to the hospital.

B. If the situation is considered a serious emergency (as determined by the school nurse) that requires immediate transport to the hospital, then an ambulance will be called immediately. The student’s safety and access to appropriate medical care will always take priority. 

3. School Staff Accompanying the Student

If a student needs to travel to the hospital in an ambulance before their parent or guardian can arrive at school, two school staff members will accompany the student to the hospital in the ambulance.   The staff members will normally include:

One office staff member who will support communication, registration, administrative procedures, and other hospital-related arrangements. 

One additional staff member, whose primary responsibility is to remain with, supervise, and reassure the student.

The school nurse will normally remain on campus to continue providing medical support to the wider school community unless circumstances require otherwise. 

 
4. Medical Payments

Hospital and medical expenses are the responsibility of the parent or guardian. School staff members cannot pay medical bills on behalf of parents.  A school staff member who is accompanying the child at the hospital can help the parent to facilitate payment via a QR code sent to them if the parent is not able to be at the hospital when payment is required. School staff members are not permitted to use their own money to pay student medical bills. In extreme, extenuating circumstances, only when urgent and necessary care may be withheld if payment is not received and the parents cannot be contacted, will the school arrange payment from the Finance office. In such cases, the fees are to be reimbursed to the school as soon as possible by the parents.

There is a process in place for a percent of the bill to be repaid by the insurance company that is engaged by the school, depending on what has occurred. The school’s Administrative Office can help parents to make an insurance claim after the incident. 

 
5. Parent Arrival and Handover 
 
Once the parent or guardian arrives at the hospital, school staff will ensure that all relevant information has been clearly communicated to both the family and the medical team. 
 
Once responsibility has been fully handed over to the parent or guardian, school staff may return to school. However, staff should use professional judgement and consider the needs of the student and family before leaving.  

6. Follow-Up and Documentation 
 
Following the incident, a full written report will be completed and shared with parents.