Wellbeing nurses are high skilled and experienced nurses. They are employed by NSW Health to work in selected schools as part of the joint NSW Health and Department of Education Wellbeing and Health In-reach Nurse Coordinator program.
Wellbeing nurses work closely with school learning and support and wellbeing teams and local health and community services to support students and their families with a wide range of health and wellbeing concerns. This may include concerns about mental health, social and behavioural support, physical health and peer or family relationships.
Wellbeing nurses help students and their families to:
Wellbeing nurses do not administer medications, provide first aid medical interventions such as tube feeding or diabetes management.
Any student enrolled at a school with a wellbeing nurse and their family members can get support from a wellbeing nurse.
Parents, carers or guardians can contact the school and ask to speak to the wellbeing nurse if they have concerns about their child's health and wellbeing and need information or support.
The school's learning and support team and school staff can also refer students and their family to the wellbeing nurse.
Students aged 14 years and older can approach the wellbeing nurse directly to talk confidentially about their health and wellbeing concerns.
A wellbeing nurse is not at a school every day. Parents, carers, guardians and students may need to make an appointment.
Wellbeing nurses will seek permission from a parent, carer or guardian if their child is referred to them or comes to them with health and wellbeing concerns.
Parents, carers or guardians can give their permission to a wellbeing nurse either verbally or by completing and signing a consent form given to them by the wellbeing nurse or school.
Wellbeing nurses will seek permission from a parent, carer or guardian if their child under 14 years is referred to them or comes to them with health and wellbeing concerns.
High school students aged 14 years and older can speak to a wellbeing nurse confidentially if the wellbeing nurse assesses a student mature enough to fully understand their health problems being discussed, and the support being offered.
If a wellbeing nurse assesses the student as not mature enough to understand their health problems and needs, the wellbeing nurse will seek consent from the student's parent, carer or guardian.
Wellbeing nurses always encourage and offer to support students to talk to their parent, carers or guardian about their health and wellbeing concerns.
Unless there is a safety concern, wellbeing nurses will get permission from the student's parent, carer or guardian, or the young person aged 14 years and older assessed as having the maturity required to provide permission, before passing on the student's information.
If a wellbeing nurse is concerned about the safety, welfare or wellbeing of a student or the student's family, they may need to share the details about the concern with other services. This is required by law. The wellbeing nurse may also need to discuss the concern with the school principal.
Further information visit Wellbeing and Health In-reach Nurse Coordinator program.
Wellbeing and Health In-reach Nurse Coordinator Program - Operational Guidelines