Personal Hygiene

Resources

Templates and forms

• Student Health Support Plan (DOCX) – schools should use this document to detail the family and school staff roles and responsibilities for students requiring assistance with personal hygiene
• Toileting, hygiene and menstrual health management – medical advice form (DOCX) – a document that the student’s medical/health practitioner completes and that informs the student’s Health Support Plan
• Personal hygiene learning plan (DOCX) – schools may choose to use this plan as a suggestion, to maximise opportunities for students to self-manage components of their personal care support, as far as possible, in relation to toileting, and to acknowledge the learning that has occurred when success is achieved

Department resources

• Clean Hands Curriculum resource – for hand hygiene curriculum (and other support materials) for primary schools
• Health and Physical Education resources – for sexuality education curriculum resources for primary schools; refer to: particularly 'Coping with Body Changes' in 'Catching on Early: Sexuality education for Victorian primary schools'
• Free Period Products in all Government Schools Initiative FAQ (DOCX) (staff login required) – to answer the most common questions related to the Free Period Products in all Government Schools Initiative
• Teacher's guide to discussing the Free Period Products in all Government Schools Initiative (DOCX) (staff login required) – to accompany age appropriate student facing PowerPoint presentations introducing the Free Period Products in all Government Schools Initiative:
  • Teachers' conversation guide for lower primary students (F-4) (PPTX) (staff login required)
  • Teachers' conversation guide for upper primary students (5-6) (PPTX) (staff login required)
  • Teachers’ conversation guide for secondary students (7-12) (PPTX) (staff login required)
• Myth busting menstruation resource (DOCX) (staff login required) – busting the most common myths associated with the Free Period Products in all Government Schools initiative
• Letter from schools to parents (DOCX) (staff login required) – introducing the Free Period Products in all Government Schools initiative

Additional information to encourage parents to speak to their child about positive menstrual health

• How to talk to your teen about periods (suitable for 9 to 15 years) – The Australian Parenting Website
• Periods – having a period – Kids Health - Women’s and Children’s Health Network (SA)
• Periods – Jean Hailes
• Yarning about periods – Jean Hailes for Women’s Health
• Menstrual cycle from Jean Hailes for Women's Health on Vimeo – Jean Hailes for Women’s Health
• Girls with autism: preparing for periods – The Australian Parenting Website
• Menstrual cycle – Family Planning Victoria
• Menstruation resources in Auslan – Family Planning Victoria

Other useful websites on personal hygiene

• Be a Soapy Hero! – Better Health Channel video for primary school students and information for parents/carers and teachers
• Healthy swimming – Better Health Channel information on practicing good hygiene before swimming
• Personal hygiene – Better Health Channel’s community page on personal hygiene
• Resources for the community –information for caregivers of children from Hand Hygiene Australia
• The Menstrual Cycle – Better Health Channel
• Puberty – Better Health Channel