School health services

Our school health services promote health, development and wellbeing, helping children and young people reach their full potential.  Students learn better when they are healthy, safe and happy.

Community health nurses provide the services in schools in partnership with school staff.

Working with parents, students, and school staff, community health nurses are able to provide:

• Information and support to students (and their families) to help them make informed decisions about their health, wellbeing and development
• School immunisation programs
• A first point of contact for health care for students
• Referral to other health professionals if required
• Working with teachers to support health education sessions
• Student health and wellbeing programs
• Health assessments for vision, hearing and development, if required
• Helping school staff and parents develop health care plans for students with special needs (such as chronic disease, physical disability or other complex health conditions)
• Parenting advice

In the primary school

Community health nurses visit primary schools on a regular basis.  When your child starts school you will be asked to complete and return a health assessment form.  With your consent, the community health nurse will check your child’s vision, hearing, growth and general development.

You will receive a summary of the health assessment. The community nurse will contact you if they need more information or to follow up on part of the assessment. They will also provide support by referring to other services if required, such as: speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, dietetics or the enuresis (bedwetting) program. 

The community health nurse can conduct an assessment at any time throughout primary school if you or your child’s teachers have any concerns.

In the secondary school

Community health nurses are skilled in working with young people on health issues that matter to them.  Young people can visit the school health centre to discuss their health and wellbeing, or find out health information.

Services are free and confidential. In some circumstances, information may need to be shared to provide care and ensure the safety and wellbeing of a young person.

School health services are an easy way for secondary students to access health care and health information for issues such as:

• Healthy eating and nutrition
• Healthy weight and body image
• Coping with illness
• Feeling anxious, stressed or unhappy
  Mental health and wellbeing
• Loss and grief
• Relationships
• Sexual health
• Smoking, alcohol and drug use
• Other adolescent health concerns.

School health nurses can help young people to access medical and other health services if needed.

Young people are always encouraged and supported to talk to their parents or guardian about significant health issues.

School-based immunisation program

A nationally-funded school-based immunisation program offers protection against several vaccine-preventable diseases. 

Where our services are located

Public and private primary schools, district high schools and secondary schools and colleges across all regions in WA.

How to access our services

If you have a concern about your child’s health, you can make contact with the community health nurse through your child’s teacher or the school office.

In secondary schools a community health nurse is usually based at the school one or more days a week, depending on the size of the school. High school students may make their own appointment or just drop in during advertised health centre opening times (for example, at lunch time, before or after school).

Parents are encouraged to contact the community health nurse to discuss any concerns about their child’s health, development or wellbeing.