Wellbeing and Health In-reach Nurse Coordinator Program - Operational Guidelines
The Wellbeing and Health In-reach Nurse Coordinator Program is a partnership between NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education. The program establishes a wellbeing nurse to work with selected NSW public primary and high schools to identify health and social concerns for vulnerable school students and their families and facilitate their access to health care. The aim of the program is to contribute to improved education, health, and wellbeing outcomes of children, young people and families.
Wellbeing nurses are employed by NSW Health local health districts and by Albury Wodonga Health. They are located in a base school and provide outreach services to approximately three or four other selected schools, depending on the number of students at a school and the geographic location of the schools. The placement of the wellbeing nurses is determined by student, family and community need, and is based on evidence and local knowledge. Factors considered include social disadvantage, child and family vulnerability, health and mental health risk factors, educational outcomes, bushfire and drought affected communities and remote communities.
Wellbeing nurses work closely with the school’s learning and support and wellbeing teams. They also work closely with local health and social services to support students and their families on a wide range of health and wellbeing issues. Issues may include mental health, social and behavioural support, physical health, and peer or family relationships.
The first WHIN Coordinator program sites were established in 2018 in Young, Tumut and Cooma and extended to a further three sites in Deniliquin, Murwillumbah and Lithgow.
The program sites in Young, Tumut and Cooma participated in an independent formative evaluation that was completed in December 2020.The evaluation found the wellbeing nurses were contributing to improved health and education outcomes for students. The wellbeing nurses were integrated into school wellbeing systems, and students and families were supported and connected to health and wellbeing services. Recommendations for improving implementation of the program included:
Following this pilot, the NSW Government committed a further $46.8 million in the 2020/21 budget to provide 100 additional wellbeing nurse positions to work in schools in regional and metropolitan NSW over four years. The findings and recommendations from the formative evaluation of the three sites were used to guide the establishment of the additional sites. When fully implemented the program will be operational in over 400 schools across NSW.
The operational guidelines outline:
The operational guidelines are for:
This operational guidance underpins strong relationships and collaborative practices between the wellbeing nurse, school-based staff and staff that support students and their families.