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Safety and risk management

Schools need to be aware of their safety responsibilities under the relevant legislation and take appropriate steps to implement safety systems in their schools. They should also be familiar with the guidelines set out in the school registration manual that is relevant to their school.

Schools should develop their teaching and learning programs with consideration of relevant safe work practices. This includes Work Health and Safety requirements , and the safe handling, use, storage and disposal of tools, equipment, materials and chemicals. For syllabuses that include content relating to digital technologies, teaching and learning also needs to reflect the legal, ethical and cyber-security considerations of digital solutions.

Where relevant, schools must be aware of their responsibilities in relation to:

• activities that may require notification, certification, permission, permits and licences
• students that may have allergies that can result in anaphylaxis (a severe and sometimes sudden allergic reaction which is potentially life-threatening and always requires an emergency response)
• school and education sector policies regarding the safe conduct of activities and movements when developing teaching and learning programs.

For some syllabuses, like Agricultural Technology and Biology, schools must be aware of the guidelines and legislation surrounding animal welfare in schools when developing teaching and learning programs.

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Training Plan for apprenticeships or traineeships

A Training Plan outlines training and assessment for apprentices and trainees. As an employer, you’re responsible for guiding them as they complete the plan. You also record evidence of demonstrated skills. 

What’s a Training Plan? 

Every apprentice or trainee in NSW gets an individualised Training Plan.  

A Training Plan is your learner’s road map to success.  

It describes their formal and workplace training and assessment.  

Learners must perform workplace duties that map to their study units. It also describes the time frame for learning. 

Apprentices and trainees must complete the Training Plan to  

• receive their qualification  
• get their Certificate of Proficiency 
• complete their apprenticeship and traineeship.  

All Training Plans will need to be submitted to Training Services NSW . This is a division of Department of Education responsible for apprenticeships and traineeships.

How and when to get a Training Plan 

Your Registered Training Organisation (RTO) will develop a Training Plan in consultation with you and your learner. An RTO delivers the formal training (study) and assessments to complement your workplace training. To get an RTO on board see How to employ an apprentice or trainee  

When to get one 

Make sure you start developing a Training Plan as early as possible: 

Your Apprenticeship Network Provider (ANP) will prepare a draft Training Plan Proposal (TPP) . They'll send it to your RTO to confirm training details.

Once the RTO confirms the Training Plan Proposal (TPP) your ANP will lodge it with the Training Contract to Training Services NSW

For school-based apprenticeships, the full Training Plan needs to be lodged when applying for the apprenticeship or traineeship.  

• For most other apprenticeships and traineeships, the full Training Plan must be developed within 12 weeks of getting the apprenticeship or traineeship approved.

To find out more about getting an apprenticeship or traineeship approved, see Training Contract and registration  

Developing the Training Plan 

To develop the plan, the RTO will discuss with you:  

The learner’s needs, abilities and circumstances.  

Units of competency in the Plan. Each unit sets out practical tasks and structured milestones. 

The delivery sequence. Each unit increases your learner’s skills, like building blocks. 

Any extra learning needs (such as literacy and numeracy)  

If your learner can apply for recognition of prior learning.  

You can negotiate how the training and assessment will be delivered. Also, when, where, and by whom.

But the Training Plan must be developed using the Training Plan proforma by Training Services NSW - according to the Department's Vocational Training Guide for Training Plan .  

See Details of the Training Plan (below) to find out what each plan includes.

The RTO will give you and your apprentice or trainee a copy of the signed Training Plan. 

Put a Training Plan into practice 

The Training Plan is a living document. It needs input from everyone involved in the apprenticeship or traineeship.  

As an employer you need to:  

Create workplace opportunities for your learner to master skills from the Training Plan. · 

Make sure a reliable and qualified workplace supervisor can coach the learner 

Ensure the plan is regularly updated and reflects the current status of training. 

Discuss progress with your RTO at least every six months. If there’s performance issues, do this more often. 

Essential documents 

Training Plan  The pdf version provides automatic totalling of training hours and other advanced features. You can also download in Word by following the same link.

Employer Endorsement Addendum

Training Plan Proposal

RTO Notification Process 

Guide to Completing the Training Plan

Details of a Training Plan 

A Training Plan will include: 

• the title of the formal qualification for your apprentice/trainee 
• the commencement date of formal training 
• the Units of Competency, including any elective units, that will make up the qualification 
• the competency record books or work evidence records which you will need to sign off 
• arrangements for providing RTO training support to yourself if required  
• the mode of delivery of formal training by the RTO (e.g. classroom based, block release, online learning etc) 
• how and when assessments will happen 
• training materials to be provided by the RTO to your apprentice or trainee 
• specific assistance to be provided by the RTO to the apprentice/trainee to meet any special learning needs eg literacy, numeracy, mentoring. 

Watch Training Plan video

THE TRAINING PLAN

Related information: .

Supervising your apprentice or trainee – a guide for workplace supervisors

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COVID-19 in NSW: lockdown update, extra support for child care services

This content was published on Wednesday 18 August 2021 . There may be more recent updates available .

Child care services in Commonwealth-declared COVID-19 hotspots of longer than seven days, including those in New South Wales, can access additional Australian Government support.

Gap fees and absences for extended lockdowns

Child care services in the NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs) below can now waive gap fees for families who keep their children at home.

Families at these services can also access additional allowable absences.

This follows the extension of Commonwealth hotspot declarations for longer than seven days in:

• Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Shellharbour and Wollongong
• Bathurst Regional Council, and the shires of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett and Warren
• Dubbo Regional Council
• Tamworth Regional Council, Byron Shire, Richmond Valley, Ballina Shire and Lismore
• Armidale Regional Council
• The City of Cessnock, City of Lake Macquarie, Dungog Shire, Maitland, Muswellbrook Shire, Newcastle, Port Stephens Council and Singleton Council.

Check this table for a list of regions that can waive gap fees and access additional allowable absences, and when these measures commence.

Rest of NSW

At this stage, there is no change to fee charging or absences for services located elsewhere in New South Wales.

If Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is being claimed by services, families are liable to pay the gap fee. Families have access to 42 absence days per financial year that can be used for any reason.

We are monitoring the situation and will work closely with the NSW Government and peak organisations from the sector as the situation evolves.

Other support available 

Gap fee waiving.

Services directed to close by a local authority because of COVID-19 can waive gap fees until 31 December 2021. 

Support for services

The COVID-19 Disaster Payment provides financial support for workers who have lost hours as a result of a state public health order.

Providers and services in NSW may be eligible for a range of COVID-19 support funding. For information on whole-of-Australian Government support for businesses affected by COVID-19, visit business.gov.au .

Some services may be eligible for a Community Child Care Fund Special Circumstances Grant . Applicants must request funding after an event has occurred and they have accessed other COVID support. 

Support for families

The  Additional Child Care Subsidy (temporary financial hardship)  is available to support families experiencing temporary financial hardship.

Families looking for alternative child care options during an emergency can visit Starting Blocks or Child Care Finder . 

If you have to close

You must tell us if you are temporarily closing your service for any reason and for any period. To do this, use the Provider Entry Point (PEP) or your third-party software.

These notifications are additional to those you must give your state or territory regulatory authority. 

• Update your vacancy details in the Child Care Finder . Do this via the PEP or your third-party software.
• Update your contact details, particularly email addresses, in the Child Care Subsidy System so you don’t miss important information. Do this via the PEP or your third-party software.
• Ask families to maintain their enrolments. This will ensure children receive continuity of care and early learning.
• Keep an eye on the NSW Government COVID-19 response website for local updates.

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Opportunity class 2025 application period

04 Apr 2024

Parents and carers who have a child in Year 4 can now apply for a place in an opportunity class starting in Year 5, 2025. Opportunity classes are located in many public primary schools across NSW. 

Students living in rural and remote areas can also apply for a place at Aurora College, which provides for students at approximately 600 host schools to be placed in online opportunity classes. 

Opportunity classes are one of the ways that the NSW Department of Education provides support for high potential and intellectually gifted students.

High potential and gifted students are supported across all NSW public schools through the High Potential and Gifted Education policy.

Paper-based test

The opportunity class test for entry to Year 5 in 2025 is a paper-based test.

Are opportunity classes the right fit for my child?

If your child learns quickly, asks complex questions, has a good memory or is intensely focused in their area of interest, then opportunity classes might be a good fit.

Where are they are located? 

Opportunity classes are located throughout NSW.

View the following lists to see where opportunity classes are:

• Places available in primary schools with opportunity classes.
• For rural and remote students, the list of authorised host schools for online opportunity classes with Aurora College.

Go to the map of opportunity classes to find a school nearby. 

Fair and equitable access

The Equity Placement Model helps make access fairer for more high potential students in our community.

Under the Model, up to 20% of opportunity class places are held for high potential or gifted students from the following under-represented groups:

• students from low socio-educational advantage backgrounds 
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students
• students from rural or remote locations
• students with disability.

These students may be offered a place if their test performance is within 10% of the minimum general applicant first-round offer for the school. Learn more at Equity Placement Model.

How to apply?

Register your details online and complete the application at Opportunity classes (Year 5 – 6) . Applications close on 20 May 2024.

Once the application has been submitted your child will be invited to sit the Opportunity Class Placement Test on Thursday, 1 August 2024. Opportunity class places are offered based on students’ test performance (academic merit).

For more information go to Opportunity classes (Year 5 – 6) .

General enquiries

address Albert Street North Parramatta NSW 2151

telephone 02 9630 1768

email [email protected]

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We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our students live and are educated, the Burramattagal people of the Darug Nation. Burramattagal men, women and children lived on this land long before us, respected it, listened to it and cared for it. Now it is up to us to continue to care for and share this land together. We wish to acknowledge and show respect for their elders, past, present and emerging, for their continuing culture, their connection to the land and water and the contributions they make to the life of our community, both now and in the past.

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Healthy Living with Diabetes

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How can I plan what to eat or drink when I have diabetes?

How can physical activity help manage my diabetes, what can i do to reach or maintain a healthy weight, should i quit smoking, how can i take care of my mental health, clinical trials for healthy living with diabetes.

Healthy living is a way to manage diabetes . To have a healthy lifestyle, take steps now to plan healthy meals and snacks, do physical activities, get enough sleep, and quit smoking or using tobacco products.

Healthy living may help keep your body’s blood pressure , cholesterol , and blood glucose level, also called blood sugar level, in the range your primary health care professional recommends. Your primary health care professional may be a doctor, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner. Healthy living may also help prevent or delay health problems  from diabetes that can affect your heart, kidneys, eyes, brain, and other parts of your body.

Making lifestyle changes can be hard, but starting with small changes and building from there may benefit your health. You may want to get help from family, loved ones, friends, and other trusted people in your community. You can also get information from your health care professionals.

What you choose to eat, how much you eat, and when you eat are parts of a meal plan. Having healthy foods and drinks can help keep your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in the ranges your health care professional recommends. If you have overweight or obesity, a healthy meal plan—along with regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and other healthy behaviors—may help you reach and maintain a healthy weight. In some cases, health care professionals may also recommend diabetes medicines that may help you lose weight, or weight-loss surgery, also called metabolic and bariatric surgery.

Choose healthy foods and drinks

There is no right or wrong way to choose healthy foods and drinks that may help manage your diabetes. Healthy meal plans for people who have diabetes may include

• dairy or plant-based dairy products
• nonstarchy vegetables
• protein foods
• whole grains

Try to choose foods that include nutrients such as vitamins, calcium , fiber , and healthy fats . Also try to choose drinks with little or no added sugar , such as tap or bottled water, low-fat or non-fat milk, and unsweetened tea, coffee, or sparkling water.

Try to plan meals and snacks that have fewer

• foods high in saturated fat
• foods high in sodium, a mineral found in salt
• sugary foods , such as cookies and cakes, and sweet drinks, such as soda, juice, flavored coffee, and sports drinks

Your body turns carbohydrates , or carbs, from food into glucose, which can raise your blood glucose level. Some fruits, beans, and starchy vegetables—such as potatoes and corn—have more carbs than other foods. Keep carbs in mind when planning your meals.

You should also limit how much alcohol you drink. If you take insulin  or certain diabetes medicines , drinking alcohol can make your blood glucose level drop too low, which is called hypoglycemia . If you do drink alcohol, be sure to eat food when you drink and remember to check your blood glucose level after drinking. Talk with your health care team about your alcohol-drinking habits.

Find the best times to eat or drink

Talk with your health care professional or health care team about when you should eat or drink. The best time to have meals and snacks may depend on

• what medicines you take for diabetes
• what your level of physical activity or your work schedule is
• whether you have other health conditions or diseases

Ask your health care team if you should eat before, during, or after physical activity. Some diabetes medicines, such as sulfonylureas  or insulin, may make your blood glucose level drop too low during exercise or if you skip or delay a meal.

Plan how much to eat or drink

You may worry that having diabetes means giving up foods and drinks you enjoy. The good news is you can still have your favorite foods and drinks, but you might need to have them in smaller portions  or enjoy them less often.

For people who have diabetes, carb counting and the plate method are two common ways to plan how much to eat or drink. Talk with your health care professional or health care team to find a method that works for you.

Carb counting

Carbohydrate counting , or carb counting, means planning and keeping track of the amount of carbs you eat and drink in each meal or snack. Not all people with diabetes need to count carbs. However, if you take insulin, counting carbs can help you know how much insulin to take.

Plate method

The plate method helps you control portion sizes  without counting and measuring. This method divides a 9-inch plate into the following three sections to help you choose the types and amounts of foods to eat for each meal.

• Nonstarchy vegetables—such as leafy greens, peppers, carrots, or green beans—should make up half of your plate.
• Carb foods that are high in fiber—such as brown rice, whole grains, beans, or fruits—should make up one-quarter of your plate.
• Protein foods—such as lean meats, fish, dairy, or tofu or other soy products—should make up one quarter of your plate.

If you are not taking insulin, you may not need to count carbs when using the plate method.

Work with your health care team to create a meal plan that works for you. You may want to have a diabetes educator  or a registered dietitian  on your team. A registered dietitian can provide medical nutrition therapy , which includes counseling to help you create and follow a meal plan. Your health care team may be able to recommend other resources, such as a healthy lifestyle coach, to help you with making changes. Ask your health care team or your insurance company if your benefits include medical nutrition therapy or other diabetes care resources.

Talk with your health care professional before taking dietary supplements

There is no clear proof that specific foods, herbs, spices, or dietary supplements —such as vitamins or minerals—can help manage diabetes. Your health care professional may ask you to take vitamins or minerals if you can’t get enough from foods. Talk with your health care professional before you take any supplements, because some may cause side effects or affect how well your diabetes medicines work.

Research shows that regular physical activity helps people manage their diabetes and stay healthy. Benefits of physical activity may include

• lower blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels
• better heart health
• healthier weight
• better mood and sleep
• better balance and memory

Talk with your health care professional before starting a new physical activity or changing how much physical activity you do. They may suggest types of activities based on your ability, schedule, meal plan, interests, and diabetes medicines. Your health care professional may also tell you the best times of day to be active or what to do if your blood glucose level goes out of the range recommended for you.

Do different types of physical activity

People with diabetes can be active, even if they take insulin or use technology such as insulin pumps .

Try to do different kinds of activities . While being more active may have more health benefits, any physical activity is better than none. Start slowly with activities you enjoy. You may be able to change your level of effort and try other activities over time. Having a friend or family member join you may help you stick to your routine.

The physical activities you do may need to be different if you are age 65 or older , are pregnant , or have a disability or health condition . Physical activities may also need to be different for children and teens . Ask your health care professional or health care team about activities that are safe for you.

Aerobic activities

Aerobic activities make you breathe harder and make your heart beat faster. You can try walking, dancing, wheelchair rolling, or swimming. Most adults should try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. Aim to do 30 minutes a day on most days of the week. You don’t have to do all 30 minutes at one time. You can break up physical activity into small amounts during your day and still get the benefit. 1

Strength training or resistance training

Strength training or resistance training may make your muscles and bones stronger. You can try lifting weights or doing other exercises such as wall pushups or arm raises. Try to do this kind of training two times a week. 1

Balance and stretching activities

Balance and stretching activities may help you move better and have stronger muscles and bones. You may want to try standing on one leg or stretching your legs when sitting on the floor. Try to do these kinds of activities two or three times a week. 1

Some activities that need balance may be unsafe for people with nerve damage or vision problems caused by diabetes. Ask your health care professional or health care team about activities that are safe for you.

Stay safe during physical activity

Staying safe during physical activity is important. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Drink liquids

Drinking liquids helps prevent dehydration , or the loss of too much water in your body. Drinking water is a way to stay hydrated. Sports drinks often have a lot of sugar and calories , and you don’t need them for most moderate physical activities.

Avoid low blood glucose

Check your blood glucose level before, during, and right after physical activity. Physical activity often lowers the level of glucose in your blood. Low blood glucose levels may last for hours or days after physical activity. You are most likely to have low blood glucose if you take insulin or some other diabetes medicines, such as sulfonylureas.

Ask your health care professional if you should take less insulin or eat carbs before, during, or after physical activity. Low blood glucose can be a serious medical emergency that must be treated right away. Take steps to protect yourself. You can learn how to treat low blood glucose , let other people know what to do if you need help, and use a medical alert bracelet.

Avoid high blood glucose and ketoacidosis

Taking less insulin before physical activity may help prevent low blood glucose, but it may also make you more likely to have high blood glucose. If your body does not have enough insulin, it can’t use glucose as a source of energy and will use fat instead. When your body uses fat for energy, your body makes chemicals called ketones .

High levels of ketones in your blood can lead to a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) . DKA is a medical emergency that should be treated right away. DKA is most common in people with type 1 diabetes . Occasionally, DKA may affect people with type 2 diabetes  who have lost their ability to produce insulin. Ask your health care professional how much insulin you should take before physical activity, whether you need to test your urine for ketones, and what level of ketones is dangerous for you.

Take care of your feet

People with diabetes may have problems with their feet because high blood glucose levels can damage blood vessels and nerves. To help prevent foot problems, wear comfortable and supportive shoes and take care of your feet  before, during, and after physical activity.

If you have diabetes, managing your weight  may bring you several health benefits. Ask your health care professional or health care team if you are at a healthy weight  or if you should try to lose weight.

If you are an adult with overweight or obesity, work with your health care team to create a weight-loss plan. Losing 5% to 7% of your current weight may help you prevent or improve some health problems  and manage your blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels. 2 If you are worried about your child’s weight  and they have diabetes, talk with their health care professional before your child starts a new weight-loss plan.

You may be able to reach and maintain a healthy weight by

• following a healthy meal plan
• consuming fewer calories
• being physically active
• getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night 3

If you have type 2 diabetes, your health care professional may recommend diabetes medicines that may help you lose weight.

Online tools such as the Body Weight Planner  may help you create eating and physical activity plans. You may want to talk with your health care professional about other options for managing your weight, including joining a weight-loss program  that can provide helpful information, support, and behavioral or lifestyle counseling. These options may have a cost, so make sure to check the details of the programs.

Your health care professional may recommend weight-loss surgery  if you aren’t able to reach a healthy weight with meal planning, physical activity, and taking diabetes medicines that help with weight loss.

If you are pregnant , trying to lose weight may not be healthy. However, you should ask your health care professional whether it makes sense to monitor or limit your weight gain during pregnancy.

Both diabetes and smoking —including using tobacco products and e-cigarettes—cause your blood vessels to narrow. Both diabetes and smoking increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke , nerve damage , kidney disease , eye disease , or amputation . Secondhand smoke can also affect the health of your family or others who live with you.

If you smoke or use other tobacco products, stop. Ask for help . You don’t have to do it alone.

Feeling stressed, sad, or angry can be common for people with diabetes. Managing diabetes or learning to cope with new information about your health can be hard. People with chronic illnesses such as diabetes may develop anxiety or other mental health conditions .

Learn healthy ways to lower your stress , and ask for help from your health care team or a mental health professional. While it may be uncomfortable to talk about your feelings, finding a health care professional whom you trust and want to talk with may help you

• lower your feelings of stress, depression, or anxiety
• manage problems sleeping or remembering things
• see how diabetes affects your family, school, work, or financial situation

Ask your health care team for mental health resources for people with diabetes.

Sleeping too much or too little may raise your blood glucose levels. Your sleep habits may also affect your mental health and vice versa. People with diabetes and overweight or obesity can also have other health conditions that affect sleep, such as sleep apnea , which can raise your blood pressure and risk of heart disease.

NIDDK conducts and supports clinical trials in many diseases and conditions, including diabetes. The trials look to find new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease and improve quality of life.

What are clinical trials for healthy living with diabetes?

Clinical trials—and other types of clinical studies —are part of medical research and involve people like you. When you volunteer to take part in a clinical study, you help health care professionals and researchers learn more about disease and improve health care for people in the future.

Researchers are studying many aspects of healthy living for people with diabetes, such as

• how changing when you eat may affect body weight and metabolism
• how less access to healthy foods may affect diabetes management, other health problems, and risk of dying
• whether low-carbohydrate meal plans can help lower blood glucose levels
• which diabetes medicines are more likely to help people lose weight

Find out if clinical trials are right for you .

Watch a video of NIDDK Director Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers explaining the importance of participating in clinical trials.

What clinical trials for healthy living with diabetes are looking for participants?

You can view a filtered list of clinical studies on healthy living with diabetes that are federally funded, open, and recruiting at www.ClinicalTrials.gov . You can expand or narrow the list to include clinical studies from industry, universities, and individuals; however, the National Institutes of Health does not review these studies and cannot ensure they are safe for you. Always talk with your primary health care professional before you participate in a clinical study.

This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

NIDDK would like to thank: Elizabeth M. Venditti, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.