College Chaplain and School Nurse
College Chaplain
Kurnai has a full time School Nurse and Chaplain. Our Chaplain Coral Walker works closely with Kurnai and Fusion to develop programs within the school to support our students. Coral liaises between families, students and the schools in order to offer support to our College community.
As part of the Chaplain's role, Coral has worked with Fusion staff to develop a number of programs. Three of these programs have had a significant impact on students at Kurnai College. The Lunchtime Activities Program involves Fusion staff working closely with the Student Representative Council (SRC) to develop activity days where students undertake fun activities around the school. These range from BBQ’s to developing costumes from recycled materials.
The second program is the Breakfast Program offered to all students at Kurnai College. The Chaplain, along with Fusion, provide breakfast (toast, cereal, pancakes, bacon and eggs and beverages) as well as company and conversation to a number of our students.
Thirdly is the Mentoring program. This initiative trains members of the community to help with the mentoring of selected students.
School Nurse
The Secondary School Nursing Program aims to reduce risk to young people and promote better health in the wider community. The Program employs 100 nurses in 199 Government Secondary Schools across Victoria.
The objectives of the program are to:
Play a key role in reducing negative health outcomes and risk taking behaviours among young people, including drug and alcohol abuse, tobacco smoking, eating disorders, obesity, depression, suicide and injuries
Focus on prevention of ill health and problem behaviours by ensuring coordination between the school and community based health and support services
Support the school community in addressing contemporary health and social issues facing young people and their families
Provide appropriate primary health care through professional clinical nursing, including assessment, care, referral and support to secondary schools.
relationships deal with any difficulties in their transition from primary to secondary school.
The role of the nurse is to build on initiatives that have already been developed in schools and provide appropriate preventative health care, which addresses the sensitive and complex nature of health issues for young people, their families and school community.
The role specifically encompasses:
Individual health counselling,
Health promotion and planning,
School community development activities,
Small group work focussing on health related discussion and information, and a
Resource and referral service to assist young people in making healthy life style choices.
Apart from individual support to students, some of the health promotion programs currently being run at Kurnai include
The Quit smoking programme
Sexual Health and Development Programmes in accordance with education learning standards, Drug and Alcohol Education in unison with Community Agencies
Small Support groups for building resilience, managing behaviour and self esteem
Healthy Relationships programme
Mind Matters and Beyond Blue programme for mental wellness.
More information can be obtained from visiting the following web address, http://www.education.vic.gov.au/healthwellbeing//health/schoolnursing/secschool/programs.htm
