GPs in Schools: helping young people access quality health care in Victoria

The Victorian Government Doctors in Secondary School’s initiative was announced on September 1st as a pilot program to improve the health, resilience and educational outcomes of young people attending 100 disadvantaged secondary schools. GPs will be funded to provide health care and advice to students up to one day per week in purpose built clinical rooms. GPs will be provided with world class training in youth friendly care within school settings and ongoing peer support.

The initiative has been informed by an evidence review conducted by our Department of General Practice, and through ongoing consultation with the RACGP, AMA, parent, student, and school leadership representatives and with Primary Health Networks. A/Professor Lena Sanci, researching and teaching in area of youth friendly primary care for nearly two decades, has also provided advice and spoke in support of the program in the following link.

The formal process of recruiting GPs for this initiative has not yet begun, however the Department of Education are happy to receive expressions of interest from GPs on the following email, and can be in touch when more details are finalised: Doctors in Schools doctors.in.schools@edumail.vic.gov.au.

More information about the program and the schools selected can be found on the following link:
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/pages/doctors-secondary-schools.aspx