A pilot scheme to put full-time nurses into schools has been extended to Tumut after a massive donation from Snowy Hydro.
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The new full-time position is part of NSW Government’s Wellbeing and Health In-Reach Nurse Co-ordinators pilot program aimed at improving education, health and social outcomes for young people in regional NSW.
Snowy Hydro has put in $520,000, which will fund the position at Tumut High School and a similar one at Cooma for two years.
The concept of the Wellbeing Health In-Reach nurses was born out of an idea from a group of principals in Young, who started a ‘wellbeing hub.
The nurse position in Young is fully funded by NSW Health.
Brendon Scifleet, who took up the Young position a few weeks ago, said the response from schools so far had been positive.
Mr Scifleet said he was already identifying needs that varied between primary school and high school-aged students.
NSW MLC Bronnie Taylor, one of the driving forces behind the pilot, said the program was designed to co-ordinate physical and mental health care support for students.
Ms Taylor, a former nurse who lives at Nimmitabel, said programs similar to this one operated successfully in Tasmania and parts of Victoria and Western Australia, and she’d like to see it rolled out across NSW.
“We’ve got some pretty big issues in our schools, and schools can’t always cater to these issues. Teachers can’t do everything,” she said.
The Tumut position will be based at the Tumut High School, but will also cover primary schools in Talbingo, Tumbarumba, Khancoban and Adaminaby.
“We know that health and social issues can make it difficult for children and young people to attend school and engage with the curriculum,” Ms Taylor said.
“It is crucial that we continue to invest in the mental health and wellbeing of regional students and ensure we protect the most vulnerable students in our classrooms.
“Families are busy, and travelling to appointments to see health workers can mean time off school for students and time away from work for parents.
“This plan will see essential health services as well as preventive and early intervention services made more accessible on school grounds,” she said.
