Diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, anaphylaxis – when a student has complex medical needs, knowing what to do matters. A team of paediatric nurses is helping teachers feel confident and prepared in any situation.
In rural and regional Australia, access to paediatric emergency training can be a matter of life or death, especially for schools supporting students with complex medical needs.
To meet this growing need, Paediatric Assessment and Education Service (PAEDS) is delivering specialised training tailored to the realities of school and classroom life.
Founded by critical care nurses Ms Grace Larson and Ms Sarah Duncanson, the Victorian-based organisation is bridging the training gap for educators, healthcare providers, and caregivers across the state – and beyond.
“Our motivation has always been to keep kids out of the ICU,” says Ms Larson, who worked in the intensive care unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne alongside her business partner for several decades.
“We saw firsthand what happens when things go wrong. Now we’re focused on empowering the people who care for kids every day, especially in areas that don’t have easy access to hospitals or specialist services.”
Initially designed to train rural healthcare providers in paediatric care, PAEDS pivoted during the COVID pandemic as the team recognised an urgent need among schools and community carers. Educators, particularly in mainstream and specialist schools, were increasingly supporting students with conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, and feeding tubes (PEGs), without sufficient medical training.
“It’s not just about first aid,” Ms Larson says. “We help teachers and support staff feel confident responding to seizure activity, managing PEG feeds, or supporting a student with diabetes. That confidence can make a critical difference in a high-stress moment.”
PAEDS training model is as flexible as it is practical. It uses a blended delivery format that combines online modules with face-to-face workshops, reducing disruption to school timetables. The online content typically takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete, leaving in-person sessions free to focus on practical skills and individualised care plans.
“We work closely with each school. If a child starting in Prep has recently been diagnosed with diabetes, we’ll provide specific training for that situation. If it’s a specialist school supporting multiple complex cases, we can deliver broader upskilling for the whole team,” Ms Larson says.
And the need is growing. PAEDS now works across Victoria and southern NSW and offers virtual training nationwide. While they also support kindergartens, disability services, and high schools, their work with primary schools is especially impactful, and often leads to lasting partnerships.
“Schools will reach out because they have one urgent need, and then they realise we can support their entire training program. We often become their go-to provider. It’s simpler and more consistent for them,” Ms Larson says.
Feedback from schools has been overwhelmingly positive, with many requesting repeat visits and recommending PAEDS to colleagues. In some cases, the training has already helped prevent medical emergencies. One particularly memorable story involved a high school student who used the skills they’d learned in a PAEDS session to save a younger peer from choking.
“We’re not just training teachers – we’re building a community of people who know how to respond when it counts,” she says. “That ripple effect is incredibly powerful.”
In October, PAEDS will host its first interdisciplinary conference at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne. Designed to bring together educators, nurses, allied health professionals, disability workers and families, the event aims to strengthen connections across care teams and explore best practices for supporting children with medical needs in community settings.
“There’s really nothing else like it,” Ms Larson says. “It’s a chance for all of us, regardless of our job title, to get on the same page and talk about how we can work better together.”
Register for PAEDS ‘Beyond the Bedside’ conference at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne on 18 October at www.paedseducation.com.au
