School Toolkit
Live to the Max Day 2025
Help raise awareness about food allergies with your School Toolkit, including:
Key information & messages
Posters & cards - order or print
Presentation packs - ready to use & template available for assemblies or talks
Social media content
Newsletter content
How to be a Live to the Max Ambassador
Key information About Live to the Max Day
Live to the Max is on a mission to raise awareness about food allergies and equip young people with the tools they need to support their mates.
How to join us for Live to the Max Day in August 2025:
Select a day in August to host a Live to the Max Day to raise awareness of food allergies among students
Register your school online to gain access to free resources
Plan an activity with resources provided, or encourage a student to take the lead as a Live to the Max Ambassador
Suggested activities: Make it a plain clothes day and wear a touch of pink – Max’s favourite colour; give an awareness talk at assembly; hold a classroom discussion.
Key information About Max
Max lived his life to the fullest. He didn’t let his nut allergy stop him from enjoying every day.
His family and friends were always there for him and knew what to do if Max needed help, supporting him to live fully.
One Friday afternoon, Max unknowingly ate walnuts. He followed his Anaphylaxis Action Plan, administered his EpiPen and his family called for an ambulance.
Despite the EpiPen, Max’s symptoms became worse. Tragically, Max died at age 15.
Max’s legacy lives on through Live to the Max, an initiative started by his parents, Tamara and Ben McKenzie.
Key messages Food allergies & anaphylaxis
One in 20 young Australians has a food allergy.
Food allergy is the most common known trigger for anaphylaxis among adolescents.
Anaphylaxis is a sudden and serious allergic reaction that can be life-threatening.
In Australia, nine foods cause 95% of food-induced allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. The most common allergens are: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, cow's milk, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and sesame seeds – and it is not always obvious when they are in food.
There’s a good chance a mate or someone you love has a food allergy. Talking to them about their allergies could help save a life.
You can help your mates by keeping the foods that make them sick away from them and by knowing what to do in case of an allergic reaction.
By knowing what they’re allergic to and what their action plan is, you can support your mates to live to the max by avoiding foods they’re allergic to and helping them when they need it most.
Every second counts when it comes to an anaphylaxis emergency.
Key messages Live to the Max Response Plan
Anaphylaxis resulting from food can be deadly, but caring for your mates when they have a reaction is really easy – you just need a simple plan.
Reduce Help your mates by keeping the foods that make them sick away from them.
Recall Everyone with a diagnosed food allergy in Australia should have an individual ASCIA Action Plan. Recall their ASCIA Action Plan.
If you can’t find it, don’t worry. Jump to the next step – Respond.
Respond
Tell people nearby what’s happening so they can help
Find an EpiPen or AnaPen, just in case. If you don’t have one, don’t waste time trying to find one – call 000
Keep the person off their feet, do not allow them to stand or walk
Watch for symptoms that need adrenaline, including:
Difficulty Breathing
Cough (yes, just coughing)
Swelling of the throat
Dizziness
Wheezing
Asthma-like symptoms
If any of these signs appear, stop! Use the EpiPen or AnaPen and call 000. Follow the instructions of the operator – they will help you from here.
Resources Poster & cards
Posters
Print posters. Promote Live to the Max Day at your school with posters you can download and print in multiple sizes.
Resources Presentation packs
Plan a talk at your school assembly to raise awareness about food allergies and Live to the Max Day. Or use the presentation pack for a lunch and learn or classroom chat. Use a ready-made presentation or create your own with a Power Point presentation template.
Resources Social media content
Help raise awareness about food allergies with your community. Choose a social tile and share the corresponding message as is or tailor to suit your style. There are multiple options so you can post more than once throughout August to support Live to the Max Day.
Click on the image, then right click and ‘save image as’ to use.
One in 20 young Aussies has a food allergy.
There’s a good chance a mate or someone you love has one. Talking to them about their food allergies could help save a life.
By knowing what they’re allergic to and what their action plan is, you can support your mates to Live to the Max by avoiding foods they’re allergic to and helping them when they need it most.
Visit: livetothemax.com.au
#LiveToTheMax #FoodAllergyAwareness
Anaphylaxis resulting from food can be deadly, but caring for your mates when they have a reaction is easy – you just need a simple plan.
Visit: livetothemax.com.au
#LiveToTheMax #FoodAllergyAwareness #ReduceRecallRespond
The best way to support your mates with food allergies is by helping them to avoid eating foods where the dangerous food might be hiding.
The most common allergens are: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, cow's milk, wheat, soy, fish, shellfish, and sesame seeds – and it is not always obvious when they are in food.
Visit: livetothemax.com.au
#LiveToTheMax #FoodAllergyAwareness #ReduceRecallRespond
If someone you know has ingested the food that they are allergic to, don’t panic. Everyone with a diagnosed food allergy in Australia should have an individual ASCIA Action Plan.
If you can locate it, follow the steps laid out. If you can’t find it, don’t worry. Jump to the next step – Respond.
Visit: livetothemax.com.au
#LiveToTheMax #FoodAllergyAwareness #ReduceRecallRespond
The Response Plan is easy to follow ✅
Tell people nearby what’s happening so they can help
Find an EpiPen or AnaPen, just in case. If you don’t have one, don’t waste time trying to find one – call 000
Keep the person off their feet, do not allow them to stand or walk
Watch for symptoms that need adrenaline, including: difficulty breathing, cough (yes, just coughing), swelling of the throat, dizziness, wheezing or asthma-like symptoms
If any of these signs appear, stop! Use the EpiPen or Anapen and call 000.
Visit: livetothemax.com.au for more info
#LiveToTheMax #FoodAllergyAwareness #ReduceRecallRespond
Max lived life to the fullest – he never let his nut allergy hold him back. Surrounded by friends and family who supported him, Max knew how to manage his allergy and followed his Anaphylaxis Action Plan.
But one Friday, Max unknowingly ate walnuts. He used his EpiPen and his family called an ambulance, but tragically, Max passed away. He was just 15.
💗 Max’s legacy lives on through Live to the Max, an initiative started by his parents, Tamara and Ben McKenzie.
Live to the Max Day is held in Victorian schools every August to raise awareness about food allergies and to support young people to help their mates.
Visit: livetothemax.com.au
#LiveToTheMax #FoodAllergyAwareness
We’re proud to host Live to the Max Day – a day to raise awareness about food allergies.
One in 20 young Aussies has a food allergy. There’s a good chance a mate or someone you love has one. Talking to them about their food allergies could help save a life.
Visit: livetothemax.com.au
#LiveToTheMax #FoodAllergyAwareness
Resources Newsletter content
-
On [insert chosen date] August, [insert school name] is proud to host Live to the Max Day – a food allergies awareness day.
One in 20 young Aussies has a food allergy. There’s a good chance a mate or someone you love has one. Talking to them about their food allergies could help save a life.
By knowing what they’re allergic to and what their action plan is, you can support your mates to Live to the Max by avoiding foods they’re allergic to and helping them when they need it most.
[Insert school activity details]
Join us to raise awareness and support those around you. Visit: livetothemax.com.au for more information.
-
On [insert chosen date] August, we celebrate Live to the Max Day – a food allergies awareness day.
To help raise awareness and provide you with more information about how to support your mates, we will:
[Insert school activity details]
-
On [insert chosen date] August, we celebrate Live to the Max Day – a food allergies awareness day and enjoy a plain clothes day with a touch of pink – Max’s favourite colour.
To help raise awareness and provide you with more information about how to support your mates, we will:
[Insert school activity details]
Be a Live to the Max Ambassador
Help spread food allergy awareness and knowledge at your school and be a Live to the Max Ambassador. To be a Live to the Max Ambassador, please:
Champion the planning of Live to the Max Day, working with your school to select a day in August to raise awareness of food allergies and share Max’s story.
Make sure your school is registered at livetothemax.com.au
Plan a school assembly talk or other activities for Live to the Max Day
Share provided resources, newsletter and social content with relevant staff members at your school for the information to be distributed
Share your own experience or provided content on socials to raise awareness
Follow us and tag us in your posts so we can support and share
Report back. Send us an email and tell us about your involvement to be recognised for your role as a Live to the Max Ambassador. Please send your email to livettmax@gmail.com