The Federal Government has released the latest edition of the popular ‘Staying Healthy’ resource which aims to guide kindergartens, early education centres, schools, and other care services to help limit the spread of infectious disease.
Previously known as Staying Healthy in Childcare and now known as Staying Healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services (Staying Healthy), the sixth edition of the popular resource aims to provide simple ways for early childhood educators, teachers and other care workers to help limit the spread of infectious diseases. It uses the most up to date evidence to assist staff, children, visitors and families to practise good hygiene and health and safety practices.
The advice in the sixth edition of Staying healthy is drawn from established guidelines that are regularly updated using the principles of evidence-based medicine (including the Australian guidelines for the prevention and control of infection in healthcare).
The scope of Staying healthy is to provide advice on infectious diseases in children up to school age, and for children attending care services outside school hours, from a public health perspective. It is intended to help reduce the spread of infections that can affect children, educators and other staff, families and friends, and service visitors. This is particularly important if family members, children or other people in the wider contact circle have underlying health conditions.
You can view the updated Staying Healthy here.
We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback after reflecting on this updated document. Over the coming months we will continue to review and update our policies and procedures, where our children, educators and families input is welcomed.
