2 March 2016

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training

More school nurses join the ranks

The recruitment is officially underway for an additional five school nurses to work across 20 more schools, taking the total to 15 nurses helping young Tasmanians across the state.

This year, with the budget back on track we will be reinvesting the dividends of that hard work into the core services of Government, including education.

Already our $5.8 million School Nurse Program is making a difference with 10 Registered Nurses creating an environment that promotes lifelong health and wellbeing in 41 schools.

Our Primary School Nurses and Secondary School Nurses have made an excellent start since July 2015 by providing specialised health services to students enrolled in targeted schools across Tasmania.

The job advertisements are the next major step in our long-term Plan which will see 20 Registered Nurses in our schools by July 2017. The latest recruits will provide greater coverage, including:

• Two new Secondary School Nurses in the north supporting: Devonport High School, Latrobe High School, Reece High School, Ulverstone High School, Deloraine High School, Exeter High School and Kings Meadows High School
• One new Primary School Nurse in the north supporting: Beaconsfield Primary School, Exeter Primary School, Perth Primary School, South Georgetown Primary School and St Leonards Primary School
• One new Secondary School Nurse in the south supporting: Clarence High School, Cosgrove High School and Huonville High School
• One new Primary School Nurse in the south supporting: Austins Ferry Primary School, Bowen Road Primary School, Fairview Primary School, Glenorchy Primary School and Goodwood Primary School.

School nurses help students in a number of areas, from mental health and wellbeing, to body image and healthy relationships, as well as the delivery of local, state and national promotion initiatives.

This is just one of the many measures we have taken to improve education in Tasmania, and give children the best possible environment in which they can learn and grow.

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