The one-day course was conducted by registered nurse and trainer Sharon Drescher at the Ceduna TAFE SA campus, although it was not a TAFE course.

Ms Drescher said medications training was not part of the Certificate III in Aged Care many carers did, so until now medications had to be delivered by nurses.

“That’s a really positive thing that’s happened there to get people in this training,” she said. “Otherwise it’s just registered nurses and enrolled nurses who can do this.”

The trained carers can now give patients medication using Webster packs, Epipens, eye drops and ear drops, but cannot give medicine that has not been prescribed.

“We go through all the legalities,” Ms Drescher said.

“They’re only allowed to give the medication from the pack but if they wanted to give Panadol they have to call a nurse.”

This is the first time the course has been done in many years and is a sign of greater collaboration between the Ceduna District Health Service and Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service.