Glenroy Specialist School
Working Together To Achieve
Aromatherapy Policy
Latest Review: June 2012
Rationale:
Glenroy Specialist School provides a variety of sensory experiences (visual, auditory, tactile,
olfactory and taste) to promote student learning. Aromatherapy is primarily an olfactory
activity and provides the means for students to experience and focus on their sense of smell.
Definitions:
Aromatherapy: The aromas of pure essential oils used to stimulate and influence thoughts
and moods through the sense of smell.
Vaporiser (electric only): Equipment that provides a heat source to vaporise the essential
oils and release their aroma.
Sorbolene: A low irritant, non fragrant moisturising lotion used for massage.
Foot spa: Equipment that provides a reservoir for bare feet to rest in water while vibrating
and maintaining a warm temperature.
Massage: Sorbolene applied to the hands or feet of a student by a staff member
Purpose:
“Aromatherapy” at Glenroy Specialist School is to be used to provide sensory experiences
for students and to promote a sense of wellbeing, by the safe use of specific essential oils
and vaporisers.
Aims:
 Students will experience a variety of different aromas provided by the essential oils.
 Students will be carefully introduced to the pure essential oils and the blended oils in
‘spritzer’ (spray) bottles, so that where possible, positive or negative reactions by
students can be determined.
 Aromatherapy will be used to enhance programs e.g. vaporising Lavender oil as a
cue to upcoming massage activities.
 Aromatherapy will not be used as a therapeutic treatment.
Implementation:
 Only electric vaporisers are to be used. The manufacturer’s instructions must be
followed.
 The essential oils to be used will be of the highest quality and labelled
appropriately. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) will be provided for each
essential oil.
 Essential oils will not be used directly on the skin at any time. The only essential oils
to be used are
Lavender Angustifolia
Orange
Grapefruit
Geranium
Peppermint
Cedarwood
Lemon
Eucalyptus
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Each Sub School will be provided with a lockable container. Inside each container
there will be an electric vaporiser, a set of appropriate essential oils, ‘spritzer’ (spray)
bottles filled with blended oils diluted in filtered water, Sorbolene for massage, an
inventory of contents, instructions and a questionnaire/checklist to be filled out after
use.
Aromatherapy products will be stored in a locked container in each of the
Section storerooms) and the Snoezlen storeroom, when not in use.
The Personal Development Coordinator will purchase essential oils and all other
supplies/equipment required for Aromatherapy.
The class teacher is responsible for ensuring that the vaporiser and the essential oils
are out of the reach of students at all times.
The class teacher is responsible for wiping and drying the footspa with paper towel
before use by another student.
The teacher is responsible for returning the container with its contents intact to the
storeroom and ensuring that the container is locked.
A **letter is to be sent home to parents/carers informing them of the safe selected
essential oils and guidelines/safeguards put in place for their use.
The following dilutions will be adhered to:
Vaporiser
4 drops in the water section
OR
Blended oils in ‘spritzer’ (spray) bottles
In each Aromatherapy container there will be glass ‘spritzer’ bottles labelled
with a name e.g. ‘Calming 1’, a list of ingredients and use by dates.
These bottles will be filled according to the following procedure
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Fill a 100ml amber glass spray bottle with filtered water (taps found in
Parent’s Lounge and the Canteen)
Add 15 drops of essential oils *SEE TABLE BELOW
Recipes following are the only mixtures to be used
Shake bottle well before use
DO NOT SPRAY DIRECTLY ONTO SKIN
CALMING 1
ENERGISING 1
UPLIFTING 1
6 drops Grapefruit
5 drops Lavender
4 drops Geranium
5 drops Orange
3 drops Peppermint
7 drops Lavender
6 drops Orange
5 drops Lavender
4 drops Geranium
CALMING 2
6 drops Orange
5 drops Lavender
4 drops Cedarwood
ENERGISING 2
5 drops Grapefruit
3 drops Peppermint
7 drops Cedarwood
UPLIFTING 2
6 drops Lavender
5 drops Cedarwood
4 drops Geranium
DEODORISER/AIR
FRESHENER
5 drops Grapefruit
3 drops Peppermint
7 drops Lavender
Footspa – warm water only. NO PRODUCTS, ESSENTIAL OILS, CHEMICALS OR
BUBBLE MIXTURE WILL BE ADDED TO THE FOOTSPA
Staff Training and emergency Response:
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At the beginning of each year or when required the Personal Development
Coordinator will organise a brief instruction for staff members on how to safely
conduct Aromatherapy at Glenroy Specialist School according to the guidelines and
procedures of this policy.
Emergencies - See Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
Evaluation:
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Review: Triennially.
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Ratification by School Council: (18/6/2012)