The new School Wellbeing Nurses are on duty across Regional NSW following a successful pilot program which received overwhelmingly positive feedback from parents, students, schools, and health workers.
The School Wellbeing Nurses support students and their families on a wide range of health and wellbeing issues, with mental health concerns and social and behavioural support the most common issues.
The nurses become important members of the school community and together with school-based wellbeing teams, help identify and support students and families.
NSW Nationals Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor said the new registered nurses are easy to access, welcoming, non-stigmatising, confidential and helpful in understanding the health system.
“Our children and young people can feel like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders as they try to make sense of an unpredictable, changing world and their place in it,” Mrs Taylor said.
“School nurses are another important part of the web of support we’re putting in place to make sure we can deliver the right healthcare, at the right place and at the right time.”
NSW Nationals Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the nurses form part of a wraparound mental health and wellbeing service available to NSW school students.
“It’s so important that students in NSW have access to a range of health, mental health and wellbeing services to ensure they feel supported throughout their time at school,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Wellbeing nurses form part of this service and will play a crucial role in ensuring students and their families are connected with external health, mental health and wellbeing services available in their local community.”
