The Doctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS) program provides youth-friendly primary healthcare services to 100 Victorian government secondary schools. A General Practitioner (GP) and Practice Nurse (PN) offer student consultations in modern, fit-for-purpose consulting rooms in schools, up to one day per week during the school term. DiSS complements existing student wellbeing programs aimed at improving health literacy and focusing on preventive health.
Watch the DiSS video on Vimeo(opens in a new window).
Program overview
DiSS commenced in 2017, delivering equitable, accessible and professional primary healthcare to those secondary school students most in need. DiSS aims to:
- make primary healthcare more accessible to students
- assist young people to identify and address any health problems early
- reduce the pressure on working parents.
DiSS GPs provide students with the same services as those provided by GPs in the community, including management of physical and mental health in a youth friendly environment. All DiSS GPs receive specialised clinical training in adolescent health.
With appropriate consent, DiSS GPs can make referrals to other health services and can deliver consultations via telehealth where it is safe and clinically appropriate to do so. A state-wide telehealth service is also available if a school has a temporary GP vacancy.
DiSS received funding through the 2016-17, 2018-19 and 2021-22 State Budgets to establish the program, and for the construction of GP consultation facilities at the participating schools.
The 2021-22 State Budget also committed annual (ongoing) funding to sustain the program across the 100 participating schools and includes funding to appoint a Leading Teacher (or Assistant Principal) as a School Program Lead (SPL) to coordinate and promote DiSS at the school level.
Participating schools, students and their parents/carers do not incur any out-of-pocket expenses for consultations with the GP or PN.
Victoria’s Primary Health Networks (PHNs), located in 6 regions across the state, are responsible for implementing the DiSS program and work with local medical centres, GPs, PNs and SPLs to deliver the program in schools.
To find your local PHN, please refer to the PHN Map locator: Primary Health Network map locator(opens in a new window).
Participating schools
Participating schools were selected through an expression of interest process based on secondary schools with a high Student Family Occupation and Education index which provides an accurate measure of disadvantage, with consideration also given to schools in areas with limited access to a GP. 100 schools from regional and metropolitan areas were selected to participate in the program.
To find a DiSS school and their PHN location, refer to the drop-down list below.
More information
Medical centres, GPs and PNs can contact their local PHN for further information or visit https://vtphna.org.au/applydiss/(opens in a new window) to express interest in joining the DiSS program.
Participating schools can find the DiSS Operational Guide (staff log-in required) and relevant policies in the Policy and Advisory Library(opens in a new window).
The program’s Consent and Confidentiality Policy is aligned with Victorian legislation and was developed in consultation with the Australian Medical Association, the Australian Education Union, Parents Victoria and the Victorian Association of Secondary School Principals. DiSS consent and confidentiality factsheets are available here:
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