The Victorian School Nursing Program - Secondary School Nurse Ovens Murray Area

Are you interested in working with young people? Do you have a passion for health promotion and health education?

An exciting opportunity exists for a highly self-motivated Division 1 Nurse (Registered with AHPRA) to join the Secondary School Nursing Program in the Ovens Murray Area, North Eastern Victoria Region. This is an excellent opportunity to use your well-developed skills and progress your career.

The Secondary School Nursing Program is managed and led by Department of Education and places nurses within the wellbeing teams of selected Secondary Schools to help reduce negative health outcomes and risk-taking behaviours amongst young people. The Secondary School Nurse is a member of the School Nursing team; Health, Wellbeing and Specialist Services team; area and regional teams.

The Secondary School Nurse role supports the school in addressing contemporary health and social issues facing young people with a focus on health promotion and primary prevention including health education, classroom education sessions and small group education and limited primary health care including student assessment, referral and support. The Secondary School Nurse works collaboratively with students, teachers, wellbeing staff, school leadership and school communities to build capacity and improve - health outcomes. 

The incumbent is required to practice in accordance with Department of Education policy and procedure as well as the various Professional Codes, Guidelines and Registration Standards set by Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Authority.

Responsibilities

Secondary School Nurses undertake a variety of roles and responsibilities that may include (but are not limited to):

• Demonstrate competency and experience, and preferably postgraduate qualifications, in adolescent health and development, primary health care, community health, mental health, public health, education and/or health promotion.
• Function as a sole practitioner in a school setting, providing appropriate high quality preventative health care to assist young people in making healthy lifestyle choices through individual health counselling, health education, assessment, support, and referral and health promotion activities.
• Governed by established departmental policy and procedures, develops, implements, and evaluates a planned evidence-based approach to whole of school health promotion activities focussing on identified school priorities. 
• Use initiative and judgement to select and apply established procedures and practices to unusual or complex nursing issues in the school environment.
• Work as part of the school community, particularly the school welfare team, to effectively promote a broad social view of health.
• Communicate with a range of people in the school environment, the family and other service providers, promoting knowledge of and facilitating collaborative links between young people, families, the school community, relevant primary health care services and relevant community-based organisations. 
• Maintain accurate and timely records of clinical activity for assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation purposes as required.
• Cooperate with managers in consultative processes that improve health and safety by using the relevant tools and systems, such as procedures, guidelines and policies.
• Observe safe working practices and protect own and others’ health and safety.

To be successful in the role you will need to work in a multidisciplinary team, establish and maintain good working relationships with teachers in the school setting, network effectively with health and allied health professionals and youth services in the community.

The Secondary School Nurse is employed by the Department of Education and managed by the Regional School Nursing Program Manager.

This is a full-time (1.0FTE), fixed term position available until 14/04/2031. This vacancy is to replace an employee on parental absence and is for a period of seven years or until the employee absent on leave returns to duty at the school. 

A current Working with Children Check and a current registration as a Division 1 Registered Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority are required for this position.

Candidates are advised that they need to address the Key Selection Criteria in the advertised position.

The Department of Education is committed to diversity. The Department places considerable effort and resources into responding to the needs of staff with a disability. People from disadvantaged groups are encouraged to apply for this position. If you require assistance, with the recruitment process, have accessibility or adjustment requirements, please communicate with the contact person listed on this job advertisement or contact the People Division via email: schools.recruitment@education.vic.gov.au

Information about the Department of Education’s operations and employment conditions can be obtained from the following websites: www.education.vic.gov.au and http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx.