Monday, 28th August

Secondary school students in Bairnsdale will have access to the healthcare they need thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today visited Bairnsdale Secondary College to inspect the new on-site clinic and talk to staff and students about the Doctors in Secondary Schools program.

In October last year the first 20 schools providing on-site GP services were announced. Another 40 schools, including Bairnsdale Secondary College, are commencing from term three 2017 and the final 40 schools from term one 2018.

The $43.8 million program will put adolescent health-trained GPs at 100 Victorian secondary schools to provide medical advice and healthcare, with no out-of-pocket costs to students.

The Australian-first program will help tackle barriers preventing young Victorians from accessing healthcare, including concerns about confidentiality, cost and not knowing where to go.

Of the 100 participating schools, 51 will be in rural and regional areas where accessing healthcare, including for mental health issues, can be particularly challenging.

The Labor Government has established partnerships with Victoria’s six Primary Health Networks to lead the recruitment of medical centres, GPs and practice nurses to work in the program..

The Government is investing $5 billion to build the Education State and improve our students’ academic achievement as well as their overall health and wellbeing.

Ambitious targets have been set over the next 10 years to increase the proportion of students who report high resilience by 20 per cent and reduce the proportion who leave education early by 50 per cent.

For more information on the Doctors in Secondary Schools program, including a list of local schools participating: www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/Pages/doctors-secondary-schools.aspx

Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing

“We know young Victorians have some of the lowest GP attendance rates around, instead of students using Google as their doctor, we are putting GPs in 100 Victorian Government secondary schools.

“Students in Bairnsdale will soon have access to regular and reliable primary care right on site. It will reduce the pressure on their parents and help them get on top of health issues early.”