For students

This is great!

If you’ve arrived here, this means you are interested in learning more about epilepsy. Maybe your friend has epilepsy. Maybe you have epilepsy and want to know more about how your school can become Epilepsy Smart? Or perhaps you want to do a project or presentation about epilepsy at school or in your community.

An Epilepsy Smart School is a school where anyone with epilepsy feels confident and safe and can be their best – in their school work, in sports and with their friends.

You can see from the info on this website that there are a few things your school needs to do to become Epilepsy Smart.

If at any time you have a question about your epilepsy please contact:

National Epilepsy Support Service
Phone: 1300 761 487
Email: support@epilepsysmart.org.au

Ensure you or your friend have a management plan

You may need to have an Epilepsy Management Plan that your school uses to make sure you are safe at school. You complete this plan with your mum or dad, and with the help of your doctor. If you need emergency medication when you have a seizure, it’s important that your teachers know how to administer it.

Your learning environment

You want to be able to learn just the same way as everyone else at school. You may need extra help from teachers to reduce the effects that sometimes occur from seizures. Schools are responsible for making reasonable adjustments in the classroom related to your Epilepsy Management Plan.

This may include:

Developing a Student Individual Learning Plan
Set-up of a support group for you
Adjustment of assessment tasks like giving you more time to complete your work or making reasonable adjustments to what is expected in group work
Examination adjustments such as increased reading time, breaks or identified trigger considerations
Engagement of specialist services such as neuropsychologists, psychologists, occupational therapists or speech pathologists.

You should be consulted if learning or social issues arise – after all, this is about you and having a great time at school!

Inclusion and disclosure

An Epilepsy Smart School understands that all students, not just those with epilepsy, face risks in the classroom, in the yard and when you start work placements. There is no reason you cannot do everything other students do.

An inclusive school is one that recognises every student’s right to participate in all aspects of their education. It is also a school that is free from discrimination against disability. Today, all schools in Australia are expected to make reasonable provisions to include and support every student in their learning journey.

Choosing to tell a school that you have epilepsy is a personal choice. You are not legally required to inform your school of your diagnosis. However, sharing this information with your school can help the school provide the support you need.

Inclusive schools

Our information sheet Inclusive schools, your rights and responsibilities in education has more information about what an inclusive school is, disclosure and balancing the risks.

Download resources

Disclosing your epilepsy to an employer

If you’re about to start a work placement, our Disclosing your epilepsy to an employer information sheet is a great resource to help you decide whether to tell your employer about your epilepsy or not.