07 Sep 2016 Yarrawonga Chronicle, Yarrawonga VIC (General News) by Racheal Willett Senior students will have direct access to a doctor at school to manage their healthcare needs after Yarrawonga College P-12 was chosen as part of an Australian-first Doctors in Secondary Schools Program. The State Government estimates more than 70,000 Victorian students will have regular access to a visiting general practitioner as part of program to be rolled out in 100 schools. Fifteen of those schools are in Northern Victoria, including Yarrawonga College P-12 and nearby schools in Benalla, Rutherglen, Wodonga, Shepparton and Numurkah. Yarrawonga College P-12 Senior Campus Principal Jo McCarthy said she was thrilled the school had been selected to take part in the program. Ms McCarthy nominated the school for the program The program presented an opportunity to provide our students with access to a doctor at school to address any health care issues they might have perhaps earlier and more easily than they would be able to at present, Ms McCarthy said. There are a range of issues students might need to speak to a doctor about, whether its general health and well-being, asthma management, diet-related illness, drug and alcohol use, mental health or sexual health. In our area it can sometimes be hard to get a doctors appointment and students might have to wait or take time out of school. Being selected for this program means our students can access a doctor, in a private setting, with ease and when they need to and it also means students can seek advice from a doctor in a private setting without needing to have their parents with them if they want to. Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said participating schools will partner with local doctors who will visit the schools for up to one day a week, with students able to get the advice, treatment and referrals to specialists they need. Having a doctor at their school will give students reliable healthcare, reduce the pressure on working parents and GPs and help the students identify and address their health concerns early, Ms Symes said. Happy, healthy and resilient students learn better, stay in school longer and achieve more. Students in many of our country towns will have free access to a doctor within the school grounds, this will provide better health outcomes for physical complaints but also address the prevelance of mental health issues of our youth in country areas. The Victorian Government provided $43.8 million for Doctors in Secondary Schools in the 2016/2017 budget, including $25.8 million for staff and operational costs and $18 million to build consultation rooms on school grounds. The program will be rolled out progressively from term one 2017. Ms McCarthy said it would take some time to assess the implementation of the program at Yarrawonga College P-12 depending on whether facilities would need to be constructed or could be included within the existing buildings. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.