Doctors will regularly visit 100 Victorian government secondary schools as part of a $43.7 million program to help ensure young people get the healthcare they need.
Minister for Education James Merlino today invited two secondary schools – Heywood District Secondary College and Portland Secondary College – across the South West Coast electorate to apply to participate in the Doctors in Secondary Schools program, which will commence from the start of 2017.
Through the program, participating schools will partner with local doctors, who will visit the schools one day a week.
Schools participating in the program will also receive funding for a fit-for-purpose examination room.
By bringing together schools, local GPs and other health professionals the Doctors in Secondary Schools program invests in the healthy development of our next generation — the key to Victoria’s future prosperity.
Through the Expression of Interest (EoI) program, schools invited to participate will need to demonstrate a need for the service and an ability to build local partnerships with the community in order to be included in the program.
The EOI process concludes on 3rd June, and successful schools are expected to be notified in August.
The Doctors in Secondary Schools program will make a valuable contribution to achieving the Education State targets of ‘happy, healthy and resilient kids’ by improving ease of access to health services for young people.
Quotes attributable to Gayle Tierney MP, Member for Western Victoria:
“For all sorts of reasons it can be hard for some kids to access the healthcare they need. That’s why we’re making sure students get the healthcare they need.
“This program will not only mean students at 100 Victorian government schools have easy access to a doctor, but that those doctors have a modern examination room to work in.
“We want Victorian kids to be healthy and happy and we know that when they are, they do better in school.”