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Canberra Today 15°/17° | Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

ACT Budget / Improvements to youth health checks

A NEW “Year Seven Health Check” for Canberra students will be part of the ACT government’s “10-Year Health Plan” to improve the overall health and wellbeing of young people. 

Meegan Fitzharris.
Minister for Health and Wellbeing Meegan Fitzharris says the new health checks will serve two purposes, firstly as an individual screening tool to identify students at high risk and secondly, as a tool to report on the health risk factors for ACT youth.

“These new health checks will be an opportunity for early health interventions for students who may benefit from additional support at a point in their lives when learning healthy habits for their future is essential,” Ms Fitzharris says.

“They will also be provide a better understanding of the physical and mental health of young Canberrans.”

This year’s Budget will provide $2.7 million over four years to implement the new Year Seven Health Checks in ACT schools, beginning in 2018-19.

An initial review of school based screening will be carried out in the next financial year, and will inform the implementation of the health checks.

“These health checks will provide another avenue of early intervention to students who are showing early signs of mental and physical health issues,” Ms Fitzharris says.

“This will complement the work of our School Youth Nurses, School Psychologists and community services provided in schools, to support a more integrated approach to the wellbeing needs of our students.”

ACT Health will work closely with the education sector on how the health checks will be rolled out to Canberra high schools to complement existing health services provided to this cohort of students through programs, such as the “High School Immunisation Program”.

 

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