School Nurse

What does the School Nurse do?

The School Nurse works as part of the welfare team and supports the improved health and wellbeing of students.  Healthy students means better learning outcomes. The nurse conducts health promotion and health education activities in the school.  

The School Nurse will work with the school community and teachers to:

• Encourage healthier schools,
• Enhance the health of students,
• Build student’s capacity to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing
• Develop greater connections for students at school, home and in the wider community
• Provide education sessions that may include sexual health, body image, safe partying
• Support transition for students from Primary to Secondary School and within Secondary School year levels
• Facilitate peer mediation

Your suggestions about health issues you think are important to cover in health promotion or health education sessions are welcome.

The nurse can also help individual students with information, guidance and support about a range of issues.  These include:

• Relationships with family and friends
• Loss and grief
• School life
• Harassment & bullying
• Health concerns & coping with illness
• Healthy skin
• Women’s and Men’s Health
• Safe Sex
• Smoking, alcohol & drug use
• Safe partying
• Body art
• Feeling anxious, stressed or low
• Healthy weight
• Diet & nutrition

Often it is helpful to talk to your parents or other family members about problems you may be having. If you want to, the School Nurse can also help with this.

Getting the Right Help…

It is important to get the right information, from the right person at the right time. Being informed helps you to make the right choice for you.

As well as providing you with information and support, the School Nurse can also help you find and get in touch with other health services you might need. These other services might include:

• Local doctor
• Medical Specialists
• Community Health Centres
• Alcohol and drug counsellor
• Psychologist or counsellor
• Guidance Officer
• Family Planning Services

What the School Nurse doesn’t do?

As a general rule the School Nurse does not provide:

• Treatments such as medication
• Physical examinations
• Ongoing counselling about psychological, relationship or educational problems
• First aid (the school looks after this)

Confidentiality

The School Nurse works in the school but is employed by the State Government through the Department of Human Services.
The Nurse is required (by law) to keep your information private and confidential unless you agree otherwise.

However, there are some instances (if, for example, the nurse thinks you are at risk of being hurt or hurting someone else) where the School Nurse may have to let other people know about your situation. If you are unsure talk to the School Nurse first to find out if what you talk about is confidential.

You can make a time to see the Nurse in class time, before or after school or in your break. Alternatively you can drop in to the Nurses office.  The School Nurse will be available on Mondays and Tuesdays.


Cherie O’Donoghue
School Nurse