Community Health Nurses working with primary schools

Who are the community health nurses? 

School health services are delivered by community health nurses (nurses) in public primary schools across Western Australia. Nurses, who deliver school health services, are employed by WA Country Health Service or Child and Adolescent Health Service (in metropolitan Perth).

Most families will have had contact with these health services from birth (through child health services).  Nurses provide support for families until their child turns 18 years of age. Nurses work with children, families and within each school they visit.

Working with children at school

The School Entry Health Assessment (SEHA) will be offered to all children who are of school entry age.  For the majority, this will be in kindergarten, however it could be done after school enrolment has occurred and prior to commencement of kindy. For those children who did not attend kindy, the SEHA will be offered in pre-primary. 

The SEHA aims to detect problems with hearing, vision, oral health, growth, development, and any other health and wellbeing issues which are of concern for parents or teachers. SEHA’s are conducted throughout the school year. Nurses will prioritise assessments after reviewing any concerns noted on the parent consent form and discussion with class teachers.

If a parent or teacher has a concern regarding development, health or wellbeing for a child that will not be receiving a SEHA they can contact the nurse. Relevant age-appropriate assessments such as hearing, vision and growth can be undertaken with parental consent.

Nurses also conduct Children in Care assessments for children in the care of Department of Communities. These assessments are prioritised once a request has been received by the nurse from the Department of Communities.

Working with families

Nurses recognise that schools manage most health needs for their students. Nurses can assist, if required, in supporting families and school staff with health care planning and management for children with complex and/or chronic conditions.

Nurses are aware of and, have connections with, extended services in the community and can be a contact point and advocate for families to provide them with health information and access to parenting program information as needed.

Nurses also provide whole of school information for individuals and families about health issues through the classroom, school newsletter and school website.

Working with the school

Nurses can provide advice and support to the school around immunisation surveillance and health promotion activities in the school. 

At the request of a teacher, and if time allows, a nurse may contribute specialist knowledge in curriculum areas. The teacher is responsible for session planning and overall content and will always be present in the classroom when the nurse is involved.

Nurses can support schools to develop systems for first aid and emergency health care. This may include helping school staff prepare to care for children with anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes and epilepsy. 

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