If in doubt, sit them out… then what next? A practical guide to concussion for teachers and coaches

Session Description

Concussion is one of the most common injuries among school-aged children, yet recognition and recovery still rest heavily on the adults around the student, including teachers and coaches. Most children recover well, but return to sport often gets more attention than return to learn, even though concussion can disrupt concentration, memory, and tolerance for screens and noise in the classroom. This session connects to the 'Safety, Inclusion and Assessment' focus area, and will give Health, PE and wellbeing teachers and sports coaches a practical grounding in current best practice. We will unpack the Australian Concussion Guidelines for Youth and Community Sport and the Concussion and Brain Health Position Statement (2024), translating clinical recommendations — graded return to sport, the "concussion officer" role, and "if in doubt, sit them out" — into what they actually mean day to day in a school. We will also look at how the Department of Education policies currently address concussion and how to align teaching practices accordingly. We will also cover some innovative approaches to school-based concussion education and supports developed internationally, to generate discussions on what aspects may be feasible and effective to improve the understanding of concussion in Australian school settings. Participants will leave able to recognise concussion, respond appropriately, and support a graded return to learning and sport using clear, evidence-based steps and free resources they can use straight away.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Bust common myths around concussion and concussion recovery
Recognise the common signs and symptoms of concussion in school-aged children
Describe the key steps of the Australian Concussion Guidelines (2024), including graded return to sport and the concussion officer role.
Identify how current Department of Education policy addresses return to learn, and the practical classroom supports a student may need.
Apply lessons from international school-based programs and access free, evidence-based resources to support recognition and recovery in their own setting.

Curriculum Level

Other

Keywords

Health Literacy, Safety

Presentation Type

Classroom Workshop
B
15