More NSW children are set to have access to wellbeing support at school after the NSW Government committed $60 million over four years to continue the Wellbeing and Health In-reach Nurse (WHIN) Coordinator program.
Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car said that since the program started in 2018, more than 10,000 students have been supported by wellbeing nurses.
“I am delighted to see this successful program will continue, providing students in around 400 public schools with ongoing access to support through a wellbeing nurse,” she said.
“This program facilitates connections for our students and families to access high quality wellbeing support with local health care services.”
Around 100 wellbeing nurses are spread across metro, rural and regional areas of NSW working in about 400 public schools, potentially giving 150,000 students access to the service.
The WHIN Coordinator program is a joint initiative of NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education, and establishes wellbeing nurses in public primary and secondary schools to coordinate appropriate early intervention, assessments and referral to health and social services.
“Wellbeing nurses are providing important care and support by connecting students and their families to health and community services,” said NSW Premier, Chris Minns.
“This has a positive flow on effect by delivering improved health outcomes and better education engagement for students across NSW, and I am pleased to announce this service will continue for another 4 years under the NSW Labor Government.”
