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Doctors in Secondary Schools
Doctors in Secondary Schools provides school-based health services for 100 Victorian secondary schools considered most in need. It complements existing student wellbeing programs aimed at preventative health and improving health literacy.
The program is funded by the Victorian Department of Education (DET) and implemented by Victoria’s six Primary Health Networks (PHNs). North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) is the lead PHN.
Program aims
Doctors in Secondary Schools aims to provide equitable, accessible and professional primary health care services to young Victorians in secondary schools.
The program complements existing student wellbeing programs aimed at improving health literacy and encouraging preventive health. Its explicit objectives are to:
- make primary health care more accessible to students
- provide assistance to young people to identify and address any health problems early
- reduce the pressure on working parents and community-based GPs.
The Victorian Government has confirmed that the Doctors in Secondary Schools program will continue in an ongoing capacity, including $43.4 million worth of funding through to 2025.
Who is involved?
As part of the program, 100 Victorian government secondary schools will have access to a GP trained in adolescent health, for up to one day per week. This service will be located onsite, as an in-reach service, providing medical advice and treatment to students enrolled in the participating school.
The program calls for a medical practice to nominate a general practitioner or eligible registrar to provide services in a ‘satellite clinic’ within the school for a period of four hours weekly. A practice nurse is also supported to spend a full day at the school.
The map below shows schools in our region participating in the program.
Eligibility
Medical centres
Medical centres must be accredited against the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Standards for General Practice. Practices that are accredited or registered for accreditation and committed to working with the school on an ongoing basis are encouraged to apply.
Practices are required to provide bulk-billing services for students, have a medical software program and have – or are willing to have – a clinical audit tool installed to record and report data.
All clinicians will be required to undertake a Working with Children Check and mandatory training, in-line with program requirements.
General practitioners
The program requires GPs with:
- a medical degree and licence to practice in Australia
- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration with no restriction on scope of practice
- experience working in a multidisciplinary team.
All clinicians will be required to undertake a Working with Children Check and mandatory training, in-line with program requirements.
Practice nurses
The program requires practice nurses with:
- AHPRA registration
- no restrictions on scope of practice in Australia.
All clinicians will be required to undertake a Working with Children Check and mandatory training, in-line with program requirements.
Get involved
We are establishing a pool of general practices interested in applying to participate in the Doctors in Secondary Schools program, as vacancies arise. Our goal is to ensure that the 21 participating schools in our region can consistently offer the service.
If you are a GP, nurse or general practice interested in the Doctors in Secondary Schools program, complete this online expression of interest form.
We will contact those who have submitted an expression of interest before releasing vacancies to an open market. Don’t miss your opportunity to be involved in this rewarding program – ensure you receive all notifications related to future vacancies by completing the online form now.
To discuss your interest in the program or ask questions about the EOI process, please contact Tamra Kelley by phone, (03) 9347 1188, or email: diss@nwmphn.org.au
DET resources
For more information and to access consent and confidentiality resources, please visit the Department of Education and Training website.
