By Wendy Williamson
Smart new consulting rooms opened at Upper Yarra Secondary College on Monday 19 June, as the Yarra Junction school became one of the first in the state to participate in the Doctors in Secondary Schools program.
“It’s awesome!” declared school vice-captain Clare. “It creates a safe place for students to go for consultations in complete privacy.”
The college has partnered with Healesville’s Get Well Clinic to offer the program. One day a week a doctor and a nurse from the clinic visit the school for consultations. They provide medical advice and health – including mental health – support to students at no charge.
The students can make appointments through the school’s well-being co-ordinator, or simply drop in to what is a comfortable and welcoming space.
The new program is a step up from a similar health service the local clinic has been offering in partnership with the school for the last 11 years. Clinic doctor Jenny has been involved almost all that time and has developed a good sense of the particular health needs of adolescents.
With the Doctors in Schools program the school gets a brand-new, cheerfully decorated building comprising an office, consulting room, toilets and waiting area, complete with bean bag and bench seating.
The $43.8 million State Government Doctors in Secondary Schools program is being rolled out progressively around the state, starting with 20 secondary schools, including Upper Yarra SC, in the first half of this year. The program will commence in a further 40 schools from term three, and the final 40 schools from term one, 2018.
Half of the schools participating in the program are located in regional Victoria, where families often face barriers to accessing health care due to cost, transport or inconvenient appointment times.
“As many as 85 per cent of our students come to school by bus,” said Upper Yarra SC principal Scott Tully. “It can be difficult for their families to access medical services. This program gives them access and is a wonderful opportunity for our kids.”
Ambassador for Doctors in Secondary Schools, Mary-Anne Thomas MP visited Upper Yarra SC on 16 June and expressed her delight at seeing the school participating in the program.
“Securing an on-site GP for Upper Yarra Secondary College through our Doctors in Secondary Schools program will help young people in the area identify and address their health concerns early, while reducing pressure on working families,” she said.
Representatives of the local primary health network also visited the school. Admiring the new facility, they said they would consider the possibility of supporting the school with other services.
“We have a good space here. Once the program is up and running we will investigate ways in which we can make use of it for other services down the track,” Mr Tully said.
