Acceptance & Refusal of Authorisations 

POLICY STATEMENT:

Green Umbrella OHSC Inc service will request authorisation from families when required to ensure the safety of the children and staff and may refuse a request unless the appropriate authorisation is provided.  For example, if a child is to attend an extra-curricular activity for which authorisation is required, but has not been given, this will result in the child not being able to participate in the activity.  Authorisation is required in written format, however in some circumstances staff discretion may be used for verbal authorisation.

The service will accept authorisation from the school if a child has been picked up prior to the service, despite enrolment.

The Education and Care Services National Regulations require services to ensure that an authorisation (permission) is obtained from families in certain situations.  The Regulations stipulate an authorisation must be obtained for:

• Administering medication to children (Regulation 93)
• Children leaving the premises of a service with a person who is not a parent/guardian of the child (Regulation 99)
• Children being taken on excursions (Regulation 102)
• Access to personal records (Regulation 181)

Authorisation from families may also be required if:

• A child is leaving the service to attend an extra-curricular activity away from the service, for example, attending a sporting activity, dance, drama, etc. that is run by a provider other than the OSHC service.  
• Children are leaving the service to make their own way home.
• Parents must notify service of any cancellation of this authorisation for a single session or ongoing at their earliest convenience

PROCEDURE:

The Nominated Supervisor, or the person in day-to-day charge of the service will:

• Ensure documentation relating to authorisation (permission) from families contains:

• The name of the child enrolled in the service;
• The date;
• Signature of the child’s parent/guardian or nominated person who is on the enrolment form;
• The approximate time the child will leave the service if the child is leaving the service to attend an extra-curricular activity and the time they will return to the service (if applicable);

• Apply these authorisations to the collection of children, administration of medication, excursions and access to records.
• Keep these authorisations in the child’s enrolment file.
• Ensure the child will not be permitted to leave the service to attend any extra-curricular activity until authorisation is obtained.
• Ensure that children are not permitted to sign themselves out or leave the service without an authorised adult, unless written authorisation has been given.  
• Obtain written authorisation, if a person other than the parents/guardian or other nominated person cannot collect the child.  
• In certain circumstances verbal authorisation, may be accepted at the discretion of the senior staff member on duty. This would be relevant in situations where there has been an emergency situation and no one from the child’s authorised list is able to collect the child. An email, fax or text message is suitable as written authorisation.
• Exercise the right to refuse if written or verbal authorisations do not comply with the requirements outlined above.  
• Waive compliance for authorisation where a child requires emergency medical treatment for conditions such as Anaphylaxis or Asthma. The service can administer medication without authorisation in these cases, provided they contact the family and emergency services as soon as practicable after the medication has been administered.

CONSIDERATIONS:

ENDORSEMENT BY THE SERVICE

Approval date:  July 2024

Date for Review:  July 2027