Courses · Emergency Response
Anaphylaxis Management and Adrenaline Autoinjectors
Recognise anaphylaxis, give adrenaline without hesitating, and know why lying the person flat matters as much as the injection itself.
Important — this module does not certify you
IMPORTANT — This is a non-accredited theory course. It is NOT the accredited course 22578VIC Course in First Aid Management of Anaphylaxis, and this Certificate of Completion is NOT a Statement of Attainment. The accredited course requires in-person practical assessment, including demonstrated use of a trainer adrenaline autoinjector. If your employer, a school or a childcare setting specifies the accredited course, you must complete that instead. Content here is aligned to ASCIA (Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy) guidance. Whatever certification you hold, practise with a trainer autoinjector — ask your pharmacist or the participant's allergy service for one.
About this module
Anaphylaxis can kill in minutes, and the deaths that occur are overwhelmingly caused by adrenaline given too late or not at all. This short, focused module covers how allergy becomes anaphylaxis, the triggers that matter in disability support, telling a mild reaction from a severe one, ASCIA Action Plans, step-by-step use of both EpiPen and Anapen devices, correct positioning, what to do when asthma and anaphylaxis occur together, biphasic reactions, prevention and label reading, and how to document and report it afterwards.
Who it is for
All support workers, SIL and group home staff, community access workers, day program staff, cooks and anyone who supports a participant with a known allergy — or who may be present when an unknown one first appears.
What you will be able to do
- Distinguish a mild or moderate allergic reaction from anaphylaxis
- Give adrenaline promptly using either an EpiPen or an Anapen device
- Position a person correctly and explain why standing them up can kill them
- Respond when asthma and anaphylaxis present together
- Reduce risk through avoidance, label reading and preventing cross-contamination
- Document and report an anaphylaxis event under NDIS obligations
Aligned to
- ASCIA Guidelines — Acute Management of Anaphylaxis
- ANZCOR (Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation) Guidelines
- NDIS Practice Standards — Provision of Supports
- NDIS (Incident Management and Reportable Incidents) Rules 2018
Lesson plan
What the module covers
| # | Lesson | What it covers | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | From allergy to anaphylaxis — recognising it fast | What is happening in the body, and the signs that change everything. | 12m |
| 02 | Giving adrenaline and managing the emergency | The sequence, both device types, and the positioning that saves lives. | 14m |
| 03 | Prevention, storage and reporting | Stopping it happening, keeping devices usable, and what the NDIS requires afterwards. | 12m |
| ✓ | Final assessment | 12 scenario-based questions · pass mark 85% · unlimited attempts | ~15m |
Also in Emergency Response
First Aid
Bleeding, burns, fractures, anaphylaxis, asthma, seizures, stroke, diabetes and envenomation — first aid theory built around the emergencies that actually happen in support work.
CPR
DRSABCD, compressions, rescue breaths and defibrillation — the theory behind resuscitation, aligned to current ANZCOR guidelines.