Doctors in Secondary Schools Program

The Victorian Government is making sure young people are getting the health support, advice and treatment they need so they can reach their full potential.

Doctors in Schools Program in Gippsland

Doctors in Secondary Schools Program

Each of the nine secondary schools participating in the Doctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS) program is serviced by a general practitioner, practice nurse and general practice management to support the program delivery and access to students.

This initiative has provided modern, fit-for-purpose consulting room in schools. All secondary school students who are enrolled in a participating school across Gippsland have access to a GP and practice nurse. The schools are listed below.

GPs and practice nurses attend the DiSS onsite at the secondary school on either a weekly or fortnightly basis. Telehealth has also been introduced as an option for consultation.

The objectives of the program are to:

  • Make primary health care more accessible to students
  • Provide support to young people through the early identification of health problems
  • Reduce the pressure on working families.

Program principles include:

  • Equity of service
  • No cost of access to a student, parent or caregiver
  • Youth friendly
  • Staff trained in adolescent health
  • Student confidentiality
  • Cultural safety

Gippsland PHN funds the following general practices to deliver DiSS services in local secondary schools:

  • Bairnsdale Secondary College – Gippsland Lakes Complete Health
  • Drouin Secondary College – Hamp Lane Medical Centre
  • Kurnai College – Latrobe Community Health Service
  • Maffra Secondary College – Maffra Medical Centre
  • Neerim District Secondary College – Neerim South Medical Centre
  • Sale Secondary College – Inglis Medical Centre
  • Swifts Creek P-12 School – Gippsland Lakes Complete Health
  • Traralgon Secondary College – Latrobe Community Health Service
  • Warragul Regional College – Opportunity available: submit expression of interest here

To find out more download the DiSS Operational Guidelines.

GPs sought for Warragul Regional College

Gippsland PHN is seeking suitably qualified health professionals who want to experience something truly rewarding, for just one day a week!

Victoria has 100 government secondary schools, including eight in Gippsland, that benefit from the DiSS program and we’re seeking health professionals to deliver this service at Warragul Regional College in 2025. Submit an expression of interest here.

Students can access safe, quality health services from a GP (four hours) and nurse at the college once a week at no cost to students. The GPs and nurses are trained in adolescent health and wellbeing. Supported by Gippsland PHN, they work with school staff and wellbeing teams to deliver the program in a purpose-built facility.

If your general practice is community and youth-centred and would like more information on how to become involved in the delivery of general practice services into the Doctors in Secondary Schools Program, please email diss@gphn.org.au

You can also find out what it is like to work in a school by watching this video https://youtu.be/ca60CkULNis

The DiSS project is supported by the Victorian Government https://bit.ly/3RnloNN

Additional Resource

You can also call HeadtoHealth on 1800 595 212 or visit www.headtohealth.gov.au

Key contacts

LifeLine

13 11 14

BeyondBlue Support Service

1300 224 365

Suicide Call Back Service

1300 659 467

MensLine

1300 789 987

Kids Helpline

1800 551 800

Qlife

1800 184 527

doctors in secondary schools program