Courses · Complex Care
Epilepsy — Understanding the Condition and Supporting the Person
What epilepsy actually is, how it is diagnosed and treated, and how to support someone to live well with it rather than simply be managed through it.
About this certificate
This is a non-accredited professional development module and the Certificate of Completion is not a Statement of Attainment. It covers understanding epilepsy and supporting the person; it does not authorise you to administer emergency seizure medication. Administering emergency medication is a High Intensity Daily Personal Activity requiring participant-specific training and sign-off by an appropriately qualified health practitioner — see our Seizure Management module. Nothing here is medical advice; treatment decisions belong to the participant and their treating team.
About this module
This module goes beyond seizure first aid to the condition itself: what epilepsy is, how it is diagnosed, the common anti-seizure medications and their side effects, why adherence matters so much, epilepsy in intellectual disability and its frequent misdiagnosis as behaviour, the impact on daily life — driving, work, swimming, relationships, mood — and the dignity-of-risk conversations that go with it. Practical, person-centred, and grounded in Australian practice.
Who it is for
Support workers, coordinators and team leaders supporting a participant with epilepsy, and anyone who wants to understand the condition behind the seizure first aid.
What you will be able to do
- Explain what epilepsy is, how it is diagnosed and how it is treated
- Describe common anti-seizure medications and the side effects to watch for
- Recognise how epilepsy is missed or misread in people with intellectual disability
- Support medication adherence and accurate seizure records
- Support a person to live well with epilepsy, including dignity of risk
Aligned to
- NDIS Practice Standards — Provision of Supports
- NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors — Epilepsy and Seizure Management
- Epilepsy Action Australia and Epilepsy Foundation guidance
- United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Lesson plan
What the module covers
| # | Lesson | What it covers | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | What epilepsy is and how it is diagnosed | Diagnosis, syndromes, and what the neurologist is actually trying to work out. | 14m |
| 02 | Treatment, medication and what to watch for | Anti-seizure medications, adherence, side effects, and the other treatment options. | 15m |
| 03 | Living well with epilepsy | Daily life, risk, rights and the conversations that respect them. | 14m |
| ✓ | Final assessment | 12 scenario-based questions · pass mark 80% · unlimited attempts | ~15m |
Also in Complex Care
Seizure Management
Respond to a seizure safely, know exactly when it becomes an emergency, and understand the administration of midazolam under a participant-specific plan.
Oral Medication
Give oral medication safely: the rights of administration, dose forms that must never be crushed, swallowing difficulties, refusal, and what to do when something goes wrong.
Eye Medication
Instil eye drops and ointment correctly, avoid contaminating the bottle or the eye, and recognise the eye problems that need same-day attention.