MORE local students will have access to important wellbeing support at school as a result of the NSW Government committing $60 million over four years to continue the successful Wellbeing and Health In-reach Nurse (WHIN) Coordinator program.
Participating schools include Bankstown Girls High School, Bankstown Public School, Bankstown West Public School, Condell Park Public School, Punchbowl Boys High School, Birrong Boys High School, Belmore Boys High School, Belmore North Public School, Belmore South Public School, Canterbury Girls High School, Wiley Park Girls High School, Lakemba Public School, Wiley Park Public School, Riverwood Public School and Hannans Road Public School.
Health Minister Ryan Park said the wellbeing nurses played a vital role in schools, helping students and their families to access mental health support and high quality, compassionate healthcare.
“We know wellbeing nurses are effective in assisting students and their families to access care for health and wellbeing needs they otherwise would not receive, so I’m proud thousands of children and young people across NSW will continue to benefit from this important service.”
Since the program started in 2018, more than 10,000 students have been supported by wellbeing nurses.
The WHIN Coordinator program is a joint initiative of NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education, and establishes wellbeing nurses in public primary and secondary schools to coordinate appropriate early intervention, assessments and referral to health and social services.
The State Government has also committed to recruiting an extra 250 school counsellors.
More wellbeing nurses to boost mental health
