Parent Information Sheet

Free Medical Services for UYSC Students

Free medical and nursing care is available every Monday of school term at Upper Yarra Secondary College from 10.30am until 1.30pm. Yarra Valley Community Health Service is administering the clinic, with Women’s Health Nurse Karin Stanzel. The UYSC Adolescent Health Nurse, Richard Flanagan, is coordinating the clinic at the school. Other services such as a nutritionist, physiotherapist and podiatrist from Yarra Valley Community Health and a drug and alcohol counsellor from Eastern Drug and Alcohol Service are also available via referral from a doctor or a nurse.

Why a Community Health Young Peoples Clinic at UYSC?

Community Health Services around the country are providing young peoples clinics, recognising that young people have particular health needs and they often have difficulty affording and accessing services. This clinic is no different in the services it is providing, but it is unique in its solution to the problem of access, which is a particular issue in our community. UYSC is very fortunate to have a School Community House, which is where we have located this service. Access during school hours, including recess and lunch, means that students do not have the transport issues that hinder their ability to access services that are freely available to many students in metropolitan settings.

Range of Services

The nurses are able to provide health counselling, assessment and nursing services. The doctor can provide a wide range of GP services including: prescribing medication, performing pathology tests, requesting diagnostic procedures, treatment of basic injuries, asthma and sexual health (including contraception, Pap smears, pregnancy testing and counselling). These are all services that can greatly improve health outcomes for young people in our community, and we hope that by providing access to these services our young people can get the benefit of them. Community Health promotes responsible behaviours, considered decision-making and talking with parents about important health issues.

How do students make an appointment?

Students can most easily access Richard Flanagan (the Adolescent Health Nurse) at recess on Monday at the Community House. If they need to miss class time to see a doctor or a nurse they will get a “Request for Leave from Class” note from Richard to take to their class teacher and it must be signed for them to access the service during class time. Students don’t need a Medicare card to see a nurse, but it is preferred if they are seeing a doctor, but not essential.

Confidentiality

Students’ health information belongs to them. It is protected by privacy law (the Health Records Act), and can only be passed on with their consent. Only when there is significant risk of harm to the student or to others does the law require disclosure of their information to anyone beyond the health service. However students will always be encouraged to share information with their parents when this is believed to be appropriate and in their best interests.

Parental Consent

For health information, health counselling and education services consent from parents is not required, but parental involvement is generally encouraged. To receive medical treatment without parental consent a student either must be at least 16 or be judged by the doctor to be a “mature minor” in that they are considered able to understand the implications of the treatment they are to receive, but again parental involvement is actively encouraged.

Restricting Student Access

If a parent or guardian does not wish their student to have access to the Community Health Outreach services at UYSC then they must write a letter clearly stating this and mail it (to ensure its arrival) to the Principal, c/o UYSC, Little Yarra Road, Yarra Junction, 3797. The school does not control the services being offered by Community Health but it does provide the access and this can be restricted if you request it in this manner.

Queries: please feel free to ring Richard Flanagan on

0402 031 539.