The School Based Youth Health Nurse Service

Hello! My name is Michelle, and I am the new School Based Youth Health Nurse. I am employed by Children’s Health QLD and am at the school Mondays and Fridays and the fourth Wednesday of the month.  I do not do attend to first aide or the sickroom as there are very capable first-aid trained staff in the school that attend to that, and very well might I add.

I work along with the other amazing support staff in the school, your young person can talk to me confidentially about any health issue impacting on their life.

The School Based Youth Health Nurse role is to give health information and support to young people so they will make healthy choices in their life. Health in the holistic sense of emotional, mental, social and physical.

I also work with the school community on issues that may affect the health and wellbeing of young people and the school community as a whole. I do this with evidence-based programs and information for curriculum, teaching and learning activities; providing health information and referral; supporting the development of an healthy environment and school culture that the school is working on all the time.

In individual consultations the nurse and other student support staff can provide health and wellbeing information about:

  • Feeling unhappy, stressed or very worried
  • Healthy relationships at home and at school
  • Personal and family problems

However I can also assist with:

  • Healthy body image
  • Healthy eating and physical activity
  • Growth and development
  • Sexual health and pregnancy
  • Smoking, alcohol and other drugs with regards to themselves or other people around them.

 

In most cases, it is best for young people to talk to their parents/carers about health and wellbeing issues. The nurse can support young people to do this.

Young people have a right to confidentiality when accessing health services, just an adult can when they go to the doctor. As a health service provider the nurse respects this but sometimes there are issues in which the nurse must refer to other services for the young person’s safety. When a student comes to see me I explain what circumstances these are.

You can contact me via the office where you can leave a message for me and I can get back to you when I am next at the school.

Supporting young carers

Do you know a young person looking after a family member or friend? In Queensland, there are currently more than 60,000 young people helping a family member or a friend with things like cooking, cleaning, paying bills, taking medication or visiting the doctor.

For some young people, the definition of normal entails going to school or going out with friends. For others, however, normal involves caring for a family member or friend with a disability. These are young carers.

There is a dedicated team from Young Carers that can support and make your life better for these young people. Carers Queensland can help with:

  • Free, confidential telephone counselling
  • Small-group and face-to-face counselling
  • Information about available services and accessing help
  • Meeting and connecting with other young people at regular themed event
  • Talking to the school about support.

We know that juggling life and caring responsibilities can be a balancing act, and so Young Carers are there to help relieve any financial pressure experienced along the way.

The Young Carer Bursary Program offers a $3000 scholarship to young carers aged 12-25 to assist with the costs of education. In 2017, over 340 young people received financial support.

Applications open in late July to early August each year and are accepted for up to six weeks from the opening date.

If you would like more information about this program, please email: ycbursaries@carersaustralia.com.au.

Please visit this website for more information: https://carersqld.com.au/support-services/young-carers/

Good Health to you and your family,

Michelle Clekovic

School Based Youth Health Nurse

Good health to you and your family,

Michelle Clekovic

School Based Youth Health Nurse