SBYHNs focus on preventative health for young people and provide:  

• a confidential health service
• health information to students, teachers and the school community.
• intervention and referrals to other services as required.

SBYHNs are not employed to administer medications, deliver health procedures or provide routine first aid. Queensland state schools offer these services via other staff members.  

How the SBYHN can support your teenager:

Individual health consultations with your teenager may include

• early detection of actual or potential health problems
• providing information, options or referrals regarding relevant health services to provide them with further assessment, treatment or support and
• providing brief interventions and/or referrals as appropriate 

Some of the main issues for which young people access SBYHN are

• mental health, including social and emotional wellbeing
• relationships
• sleep hygiene
• eating issues
• sexual and reproductive health
• drugs and addiction (including vaping, smoking and alcohol)
• growth and development 

Consent & Confidentiality

Young people can make an appointment to discuss any questions they have about their health. These appointments are confidential, and the nurse will not share any information without the students consent – unless there is a risk to their health in not sharing this information with others.

Where possible and with the young person’s consent, the school may establish a team approach with school support staff to address the health needs of the young person.

Generally the law recognises that young people (usually over the age of 12 years) have the right to self-determine access to a health service. The SBYHN will assess if your teenager has a sufficient level of maturity and understanding regarding the issues and the health services proposed.

Where they assess that your teenager does not have sufficient levels of maturity and understanding, the SBYHN will seek consent from you, as the student’s parent/carer.