School Sport Unit

All permission notes for sport and physical activity must include the below statements and acknowledgement:

• School personal injury and insurance statement: I can confirm that I understand that, in the event of injury, no personal injury insurance cover is provided by the NSW Department of Education for students in relation to school sporting activities, physical education lessons or any other school activity.
• School concussion acknowledgement: If my child is diagnosed with concussion at any time, I must inform the school and provide a medical clearance to support their return to sport and physical activity. If my child experiences a suspected concussion during school, they will be removed from the activity and medical follow-up recommended.

All permission notes for sport and physical activity must provide parents/carers with clear details of the event or activity being undertaken, this includes:

• Date/s of activity
• Location/s of activity
• Transport arrangements
• Departure and arrival locations
• Departure and arrival times
• Cost
• Supervision
• Canteen availability
• Uniform requirements, for example sports uniform
• Items required for the activity, for example swimsuit, towel, shin pads, mouth guard etc.
• Wet weather arrangements
• Organisers contact details  

For schools using external providers to deliver sport and physical activity:

• When non-staff members are involved in school sports or activities, the school retains responsibility for supervising and caring for students. These conditions apply regardless of whether the activity takes place on school premises.
• Permission notes must inform parents (or other stakeholders) when an external provider or non-staff member will lead an activity.

• School Swimming carnival (DOCX 328KB)
• School Cross country carnival (DOCX 253KB)
• School Athletics carnival (DOCX 247KB)

A number of sample permission notes have been developed for use by schools.

• School Swimming carnival (DOCX 328KB)
• School Cross country carnival (DOCX 253KB)
• School Athletics carnival (DOCX 247KB)
• School gala day (DOCX 247KB)
• School gala day with sport-specific extract for tackle sports (DOCX 248KB)
• Interschool sport at the same venue each week (Referred to as 'Friday PSSA' by some schools) (DOCX 247KB)
• Interschool sport at different venues each week (Referred to as 'Friday PSSA' by some schools) (DOCX 249KB)

There are a number of mandatory extracts regarding specific activities that must be used when conducting all forms of contact / tackle football or aquatic activities. 

• Contact / tackle football permission – Rugby, Rugby League, Australian Football (DOCX 19 KB) (updated May 2024)
• Structured swimming activity permission (DOCX 20 KB) (updated May 2024)
• Unstructured swimming activity permission (DOCX 18 KB) (updated May 2024)
• Snow sport excursion permission (DOCX 35 KB) (updated April 2024)

The use of external providers in the delivery of sport and physical activity programs as one off activities or a series of activities require comprehensive information to be provided to parents/carers in permission notes.

Information for parent/carers

External provider specific permission requires:

• Details of the provider
• Statement of compliance regarding Working With Children Check (WWCC) clearances and sporting qualifications of delivery personnel employed through the provider
• Cost of the program 
  • Include any school subsidies, or notification that the program is fully funded by the school 
  • Clarification of the status of refunds or reimbursements for any student absences.
  • Alternate sport and physical activity being delivered by teachers from the school at no cost to families
• Details of the supervising teacher from the school
• Details of time and location. (E.g. Monday at school) 
• Plans for wet weather

In addition to the requirements above, the standard Permission must haves are to be included:

Personal injury statement

In the event of injury, no personal injury insurance cover is provided by the NSW Department of Education for students in relation to school sporting activities, physical education lessons or any other school activity. The Department’s public liability cover is fault-based and limited to breaches by the Department of its duty of care to students that may result in claims for compensation.

The NSW Supplementary Sporting Injury Benefits Scheme, funded by the NSW Government, provides limited cover for serious injury resulting in the permanent loss of a prescribed faculty or the loss of use of certain prescribed parts of the body. The Supplementary Scheme does not cover medical costs or dental costs. Further information can be obtained from https://www.icare.nsw.gov.au/injured-or-ill-people/sporting-injuries/payments/#gref.

Concussion acknowledgement

I acknowledge that if my child has sustained a concussion in the lead-up to the event, I must provide medical clearance to the school or the supervising teacher prior to competition commencing.

I understand that if my child sustains a concussion or suspected concussion during a NSW Department of Education sporting event, they will be removed from competition until medical clearance is provided to the supervising teacher.

Information required in parent/carer sign off section 

The following information must be included in External provider permission notes for parents to acknowledge by signing:

• Any students who do not have permission will be offered a school delivered sport.
• I have read the information provided and I hereby consent to my child participating in the activities.
• I acknowledge that this event/activity is required to be held in accordance with any current NSW Health and NSW Department of Education’s policies and procedures.
• I acknowledge that my child will be under the supervision of NSW Department of Education teaching staff for the duration of the actvitiy.
• I acknowledge that I understand the ‘concussion acknowledgement’ and ‘personal injury statement’.
• I affirm that, to the best of my knowledge, my child has no medical condition or injury that places them at risk in participating in this sport activity.

Examples for Sport or physical activity delivered by an external provider

• Completed example of permission for sport or physical activity delivered by an external provider (DOCX 229KB)
• Sample template of permission for sport or physical activity delivered by an external provider (DOCX 228KB)