The Diabetes in Schools program provides nationally consistent information, training and resources for parents/carers, families, principals, school staff, and health professionals.
Its aim? To ensure students with type 1 diabetes receive the support they need to thrive at school and manage their condition.
By encouraging collaboration between families, schools, and health professionals, the program helps students effectively manage their diabetes while fully engaging in their education.
With three levels of training available for school staff and easily accessible online educational resources, the program makes it simple for everyone involved to work together to create a supportive school environment.
If you are having issues with doing the online training, please visit our Troubleshooting tips for online training page.
What’s on this page |
General FAQs about the program
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What sets the Diabetes in Schools program apart?
It’s the first nationally coordinated program offering multi-level training to support students with type 1 diabetes—including face-to-face training for insulin administration. Developed with input from principals, teachers, parents, and health professionals, it addresses real-world school needs.
Launched in 2020, the program provides practical tools, resources, and support for schools, and is backed by strong national advocacy. It’s endorsed by leading organisations such as ADEA, Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), ANZSPED, and ADS.
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Is this program mandatory?
The program is “opt in” and free to families and schools who are eligible. The program has been developed following extensive stakeholder consultation over many months with principals, teachers, school staff, school nurses, diabetes clinicians, and families.
Schools may feel they are already meeting the needs of the student with type 1 diabetes according to the diabetes management plan through other education they have engaged with. Parents/carers should talk to their school principal if they feel that the level of care being provided at school is not adequate.
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Why was the program developed?
Consultation revealed schools wanted clarity around “best practice” type 1 diabetes management in a school context through access to a nationally consistent, credible information and training program, including access to face-to-face training provided by qualified health professionals in the school environment.
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How can schools get involved?
- Collaborate with the principal: Parents/carers should work with their child’s principal to plan how the school will support their child’s type 1 diabetes management based on their diabetes management plan.
- Free upskilling: School staff can access free information and support through online video-based modules (Levels 1 and 2) and face-to-face training (Level 3) to help students with type 1 diabetes thrive at school. Find out more here.
- Identify designated staff: The principal will identify staff (2–8) who can participate in the Diabetes in Schools training program to support the student’s needs.
- Schedule a meeting: A meeting between the school and the parents/carers should be arranged to discuss the student’s diabetes management and specific needs.
To share information about the Diabetes in Schools program with a school, complete the Tell a School form.
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How to access Level 3: Individualised Skills Training
Level 3 training is delivered face-to-face by health professionals (where appropriate the student’s healthcare team), and is available in some states.
To participate in Level 3 Individualised Skills Training:
- Register your school: Schools must register with the Diabetes in Schools program, and it is the school principal’s responsibility. Register here.
- Verify responsibility: Principals can verify themselves and then assign responsibility to an authorised school staff member through their dashboard or by contacting their Diabetes in Schools state coordinator.
- Request training: Once registered, the school principal or an authorised school staff member will need to request Level 3 training via the Diabetes in School Training dashboard.
Helpful Links:
- Tell your school about the program: Submit the form
- Register for training: Create an account here
- Troubleshooting tips for online training: Read more here
Parent/carer FAQs
Find answers to common questions about how the Diabetes in Schools program supports your child’s diabetes management and safety at school.
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Why isn’t my child’s school receiving Level 3 training, and when will it be available in our area?
Level 3 training is currently delivered in partnership with a growing number of hospitals and health services across Australia. However, not all hospitals or health services are involved yet, often due to funding or resource constraints. We’re actively working with health professionals and hospitals nationwide to expand access.
Your child may already be well supported at school, or there may not be new staff needing this level of training. If the school isn’t yet aware of the program, you can tell us here, and we’ll contact them directly.
In the meantime, speak with your child’s school and diabetes health professional(s) about alternative arrangements. Many schools are happy to arrange or fund tailored training through your child’s diabetes health professional(s) team to ensure they are safe and well supported at school.
Also, your child’s school can still access other levels of training and practical resources on the Diabetes in School website.
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What’s the alternative to Level 3 training for my child’s school?
You can ask your child’s health professional(s) if they can provide school-based training and liaise with your child’s school principal to decide alternative arrangements.
Alternatively, a local credentialled diabetes educator (CDE) may be able to help. Visit the Australian Diabetes Educators Association website to find a CDE near you.
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Why does my child need to be registered with the NDSS for Level 3 training?
Level 3 training is part of the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS), funded by the Australian Government. The NDSS helps people with diabetes access support, services, and subsidised products.
Not registered? Visit ndss.com.au to learn more. Level 1 and 2 online training is open to all school staff, regardless of the child’s NDSS registration.
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I would like to attend the Level 3 training at my child's school. Why can I only attend the last 15–30 minutes?
Level 3 training is designed specifically for school staff, who have a legal duty of care and must receive education from qualified health professionals. While parents play an important role in sharing information about their child’s needs, the main training is for staff only. Parents are welcome to join the final 15–30 minutes with a clinical team member to discuss their child’s diabetes management plan and ask questions.
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I used the “Tell a School” form, why isn’t the school engaging with the program?
The state coordinator receives your request and aims to contact the school within 48 hours to tell them about the program and provide them information on the training. The school may not have had a chance to address the information yet.
If you’d like us to follow up, please use our Training Enquiries form to inform us.
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Why can only the school principal request Level 3 training?
The principal holds overall responsibility for the school’s duty of care, including ensuring students with medical needs like type 1 diabetes are safely supported. Since staff are not required to perform tasks like insulin administration or blood glucose checks, it’s the principal’s role to manage this process and ensure appropriate support is in place. However, a principal may authorise a staff member to submit the Level 3 training request on their behalf.
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My child has urgent diabetes needs, but the school won’t participate, what can I do?
School principals must ensure students with type 1 diabetes are safe and supported. While staff aren’t required to give insulin, schools must have a health support process in place. Talk to the principal or contact your state diabetes service or regional education office if needed.
These resources support parents and carers to raise, escalate and resolve concerns with their school.
- Steps to raise concerns for parents: This resource supports parents and caregivers of students with disability to raise, escalate and resolve concerns with their school.
- Explaining the Disability Standards for Education: This resource is for anyone who wants to learn more about the Disability Standards for Education 2005.
- Advocating with and for your child: This workbook is for parents and caregivers of primary students. It will help you and your child to plan and set up reasonable adjustments.
If you are unable to resolve your concerns directly with the school, you can contact your state or territory education authority to seek further support.
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Private schools – contact the Board
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What should I do if my child is excluded from activities because of their diabetes?
This may be discrimination, which occurs when a child is treated unfairly due to their diabetes. Some exemptions apply—such as if participation poses a genuine safety risk or would place an unreasonable burden on organisers.
Start by speaking with the school and try to keep communication open. If the issue isn’t resolved, and the regional director can’t help, you can contact your state’s or territory’s discrimination complaints body:
- Australian Capital Territory: ACT Human Rights Commission
- New South Wales: Anti-Discrimination NSW
- Northern Territory: NT Anti-Discrimination Commission
- Queensland: Queensland Human Rights Commission
- South Australia: Equal Opportunity Commission SA
- Tasmania: Equal Opportunity Tasmania
- Victoria: Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
- Western Australia: Equal Opportunity Commission WA
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My child's school completed Level 3 training but isn’t managing my child’s diabetes properly. What can I do?
We recommend you start by speaking with the principal to identify and raise any barriers or concerns. If you are unable to resolve your concerns with the school, please refer to our Duty of care page to understand your rights and click on these resources for more support.
Useful resources:
- Steps to raise concerns for parents: This resource supports parents and caregivers of students with disability to raise, escalate and resolve concerns with their school.
- Explaining the Disability Standards for Education: This resource is for anyone who wants to learn more about the Disability Standards for Education 2005.
- Advocating with and for your child: This workbook is for parents and caregivers of primary students. It will help you and your child to plan and set up reasonable adjustments.
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Why do school staff need to always have an authorised and up-to-date diabetes management plan?
Relying on an outdated or modified diabetes management plan can compromise your child’s safety. It is important that the plan reflects current medical advice, as school staff rely on it to safely support your child’s diabetes management throughout the school day.
Following an outdated or informal plan (i.e. one with handwritten changes without clinical input) may put your child at risk and may breach the school’s duty of care obligations.
School staff FAQs
Get practical answers to help you understand your role in supporting students with type 1 diabetes through the Diabetes in Schools program.
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Why is it only the school principal that can request Level 3 training?
The principal holds overall responsibility for the school’s duty of care, including ensuring students with medical needs like type 1 diabetes are safely supported. Since staff are not required to perform tasks like insulin administration or blood glucose checks, it’s the principal’s role to manage this process and ensure appropriate support is in place. However, a principal may authorise a staff member to submit the Level 3 training request on their behalf.
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Is it the school's responsibility to supply the child's medical supplies for use during the school day?
No, it is the child’s parents/carers responsibility to ensure the child turns up to school with the required medical supplies to manage their diabetes during the school day. If you suspect the child doesn’t have the correct supplies, please speak with your school principal and ask to meet with the child’s parents/carers and treating team to identify your concerns.
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I’m a Physical Education teacher and Level 1 and 2 didn’t cover enough on sport-specific needs.
Each child with type 1 diabetes responds differently to exercise. Refer to their diabetes management plan and speak with parents to understand how the student typically reacts during physical activity. To learn more, check out the below resources:
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We’re an Out of School Hours (OOSH) or early childhood service, can we access training?
Level 1 and Level 2 online training is available to anyone. Please select general user as your user type when registering for training. If you are employed by a school, you can register for Level 1 and Level 2 as a school staff member and nominate the school who employs you. Register here.
Level 3 training is currently only available to eligible schools due to funding. However, we are working to expand access in the future. If urgent training is needed, speak to the child’s parents or health professional(s). You can also find a local credentialled diabetes educator (CDE) via the Australian Diabetes Educators Association’s Find a CDE tool.
Diabetes Qualified offers a Practical Diabetes for Childcare Educators online educational course for early childcare educators and support staff who are responsible for caring for a child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
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Is the training accredited professional development?
No. However, a certificate of attendance is issued upon completing Level 1, 2, or 3 training. Your certificate remains valid even if you change schools.
The online Level 1 training certification does not expire. However, Level 2 online training should be completed yearly, otherwise your certificate will expire.
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Does the training program result in accreditation?
No. This program does not result in an accreditation. The program is designed to give nationally consistent information and tools to parents, families, principals, school staff and health professionals to assist with the support and management of students with type 1 diabetes. The program does not provide recipients with an accreditation (nor is it designed or intended to do so). The program is to not be otherwise interpreted as more than a valuable opportunity to learn how to better assist with the support and management of students with type 1 diabetes.
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I want to organise Level 3 training for new staff next year but don’t know who yet – what should I do?
Go ahead and submit your request. Add at least two placeholder staff names—they can be updated closer to the training date. Once the staff attending the training are confirmed, send the updated names and emails to your state coordinator via our Contact us page.
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How do I invite other teachers to Level 3 training?
The school principal or authorised school contact can invite the designated school staff that need to do the Level 3 training via their dashboard. These teachers will then receive a link for registration.
Alternatively, please send them the following link to register: https://learning.diabetesinschools.com.au/account/create-account
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We haven’t received the latest diabetes management plan - what now?
Contact the student’s parent or carer to request the updated plan. It is their responsibility to provide it to the school and you are within your rights to request a copy. You can get consent to contact the student’s health professional(s) directly if the parent/carer is not being proactive or engaged (depending on your state).
The diabetes management plan should be reviewed annually by the student’s health professional(s) and shared with the school by the child’s parent/carer. Until the new version is received, follow the most recent plan on file and check in with the family if you need clarification.
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Parents are changing the diabetes management plan or asking staff not to follow it - what should we do?
The diabetes management plan is a legal document for the school. Any changes to the diabetes management plan must be signed off by the student’s diabetes health professional(s) and a new copy provided to the school to follow. Please ask the parent/carer to provide an updated plan from their child’s diabetes health professional(s) with the requested changes.
If you have consent, contact the student’s diabetes health professional(s) to clarify any changes if you cannot resolve the issue with the parent/carer.
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Do I need written consent from the parent/carer before applying for Level 3 training to support their child?
It is best to speak to the student’s family about the Diabetes in Schools program and why your school would like to participate in the training.
The Diabetes in Schools state coordinator will obtain a formal signed consent from the parent/carer once your school principal or authorised school contact submits a Level 3 training request.
At times the state coordinator will work with the school and/or the student’s health professional(s) to obtain the formal consent. Once this has been signed by the parent/carer the request will be sent to the student’s health professional(s) to book in the Level 3 training.
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We would like a diabetes training session for all school staff, can this happen?
Our whole staff training sessions have been replaced with free online training that your staff can complete in their own time and at their own pace. Please ask your staff to go to www.diabetesinschools.com.au, create their own account and complete the Diabetes in Schools Level 1 and 2 online training.
Level 3 face-to-face individualised training is designed for 2 to 8 designated school staff, to ensure the student has adequate care and support at school. This level of training focuses on the individual student’s diabetes management and is for designated staff members who play a direct role in supporting the student’s diabetes management.
These staff members will generally be expected to perform duties such as checking glucose levels, administering (or supervising) insulin delivery, troubleshooting technology, formal communication with parents and setting reasonable adjustments, which is why additional training is required. This level of training focuses on the individual student’s diabetes management and is designed for the staff members who play a direct role in the care of the student.
It is recommended the school principal or authorised staff contact allocate 2 to 8 school staff to participate in Level 3 training (this depends on the size of the school and number of students with type 1 diabetes).
Professional online learning is also available to help you uphold your legal obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and the Disability Standards for Education 2005 (the Standards).
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How often do I need to redo the online training (Level 1 and 2)?
The online Level 1 training certification does not expire. However, Level 2 online training should be completed yearly, otherwise your certificate will expire.
Health professional FAQs
Learn how the Diabetes in Schools program complements your care and supports schools in caring for students with type 1 diabetes.
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Who is the program for?
The program is designed for all school staff involved in the care of a student with type 1 diabetes, including teachers, principals, support staff, and administrators. The website also offers guidance for health professionals working with children and families to coordinate care with schools.
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How do schools access training?
Schools can register for training directly through the Diabetes in Schools website, using this link.
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Is there a cost for training or resources?
No, the training and resources provided through the Diabetes in Schools program are free of charge. The program is fully funded by the Australian Government as part of the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).
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What is the role of the student’s diabetes health professional(s)?
The student’s health professional(s) remains responsible for the clinical management of the student’s diabetes and developing or updating the student’s diabetes management plan.
The Diabetes in School training program supports the school to implement that plan safely and appropriately during school hours, using a diabetes management plan.
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Why isn’t Level 3 training available at all schools or in all areas?
Some hospitals and health services may not currently participate in the delivery of Diabetes in Schools Level 3 training due to funding or resource constraints.
We are endeavouring to expand access to the Level 3 training and are currently in discussions with multiple hospitals and health professionals to include as many schools as possible.
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How can I support a student with diabetes if the parents are disengaged?
Let the school know about the Diabetes in Schools online training. You can also use the Tell a School form to request training.
Level 1 and 2 training is open to all staff—no parental consent is needed. Encourage the school to communicate with the parents about providing the school with a copy of the child’s diabetes management plan and to explain the benefits of the child’s teachers receiving Level 3 training.
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I used the “Tell a School” form, why isn’t the school engaging with the program?
The Diabetes in Schools state coordinator receives your request and aims to contact the school within 48 hours to tell them about the program and provide them information on the training. The school may not have had a chance to address the information yet.
If you’d like us to follow up, please use our Training Enquiries form to inform us.
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What is training is available for early childhood staff?
Staff working in a childcare centre or a before or after school care facility play an important part in supporting children with managing their diabetes. Diabetes Qualified offers a Practical Diabetes for Childcare Educators online educational course.
Last updated: September 2025