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Doctors in Secondary Schools

Students, staff and doctors pose for a photo at a participating school in the Doctors in Secondary School program

The Doctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS) program provides primary health care services to 100 Victorian government secondary schools.

A GP and a practice nurse are funded to attend each school, every week during term times. The GP is present for four hours, and the nurse for up to the full school day.  Both work in a purpose-built facility.

DiSS teams work closely with existing wellbeing support staff and the wider community.

PHNs support eligible practices with funding, inductions, and training in adolescent health and wellbeing. Resources and ongoing support are also in place.

DiSS GPs bulk bill consultations through Medicare and are remunerated for any time spent that cannot be billed. There are no out-of-pocket expenses for students.

The program is funded by the Victorian Department of Education. North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network is the lead PHN.

Visit the Victorian Government website for more information.

Participating schools

  • Bayswater Secondary College
  • Boronia K-12 College
  • Charles La Trobe P-12 College
  • Croydon Community School
  • Healesville High School
  • Lalor North Secondary College
  • Melba Secondary College
  • Scoresby Secondary College
  • Upper Yarra Secondary College
  • Wallan Secondary College
  • Whittlesea Secondary College
  • Yarra Hills Secondary College
  • Bairnsdale Secondary College
  • Drouin Secondary College
  • Kurnai College
  • Maffra Secondary College
  • Neerim Distric Secondary College
  • Sale Secondary College
  • Swifts Creek P-12 School
  • Traralgon College
  • Warragul Regional College
  • Alexandra Secondary College
  • Benalla P-12 College
  • Crusoe 7-10 Secondary College
  • Eaglehawk Secondary College
  • Greater Shepparton Secondary College
  • Irymple Secondary College
  • Kerang Technical High School
  • Kyneton Secondary College
  • Merbein P-10 College
  • Numurkah Secondary College
  • Ouyen Secondary College
  • Red Cliffs Secondary College
  • Robinvale College
  • Rutherglen High School
  • Seymour College
  • Swan Hill College
  • Wedderburn College
  • Weeroona College Bendigo
  • Wodonga Middle Years College
  • Wodonga Senior Secondary College
  • Yarrawonga College P-12
  • Bacchus Marsh College
  • Bayside P-12 College
  • Braybrook College
  • Copperfield College
  • Craigieburn Secondary College
  • Footscray High School
  • Glenroy Secondary College
  • Hume Central Secondary College
  • Keilor Downs College
  • Kurunjang Secondary College
  • Laverton P-12 College
  • Manor Lakes P-12 College
  • Melton Secondary College
  • Mount Alexander College
  • Mount Ridley P-12 College
  • Reservoir High School
  • Roxburgh College
  • St Albans Secondary College
  • Sunbury College
  • The Grange P-12 College
  • Victoria University Secondary College
  • Carrum Downs Secondary College
  • Cranbourne East Secondary College
  • Cranbourne Secondary College
  • Dandenong High School
  • Fountain Gate Secondary College
  • Gleneagles Secondary College
  • Hallam Senior Secondary College
  • Hampton Park Secondary College
  • Keysborough Secondary College
  • Lyndale Secondary College
  • McClelland Secondary College
  • Monterey Secondary College
  • Mornington Secondary College
  • Narre Warren South P-12 College
  • Noble Park Secondary College
  • Oakwood School
  • Pakenham Secondary College
  • Patterson River Secondary College
  • Rosebud Secondary College
  • Ararat Secondary College
  • Beaufort Secondary College
  • Brauer Secondary College
  • Camperdown College
  • Casterton Secondary College
  • Colac Secondary College
  • Geelong High School
  • Heywood District Secondary College
  • Horsham College
  • Lavers Hill K-12 College
  • Maryborough Education Centre
  • Mount Clear College
  • Mt Rowan Secondary College
  • Newcomb Secondary College
  • North Geelong Secondary College
  • Phoenix P-12 Community College
  • Portland Secondary College
  • St Arnaud Secondary College

Apply to join DiSS

Are you a GP or a practice nurse looking to change up your daily routine and work with Victorian school kids?

DiSS is an important part of the statewide health system, and an asset for schools, staff, students, parents, and their community. It is also a unique opportunity for participating GPs and nurses, allowing them to become part of the school community, watching kids grow and thrive.

  • “The benefit of DiSS will be felt by many young people for years to come and it is exciting to play a part in this.” Dr Mark Timlin, DiSS GP
  • “Being in our portable onsite at the school makes me feel like I am a part of their school community and it takes me out of my usual clinic environment which is a very nice change.” Jessica Chung, DiSS Practice Nurse
  • “I have learned lots going back to school one day a week but in particular just how incredibly resilient young people are,” Hannah Millard, DiSS Practice Nurse
  • “Taking on the role has reinforced my belief of a holistic approach in providing care to the adolescent community.” Sharon Okeleke, DiSS Practice Nurse
  • “It is a rewarding program, and quite different to what I had expected. The variety of presentations has been quite engaging.  You never know what will come in through the door.” Dr Dallas Smith, DiSS GP.

General practices

Practices accredited against the RACGP Standards for General Practice (5th edition) under the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme, and those registered for accreditation, are encouraged to apply. Practices are required to provide bulk billed services to students and to maintain students’ medical records with a medical software program.

General practitioners

The program requires vocationally registered GPs, with an AHPRA registration and license to practice in Australia. Experience in child and adolescent health, mental health and drug and alcohol services is desirable.

Practice nurses

The program is also seeking registered and enrolled nurses (Division 1 and 2), with an AHPRA registration and no restrictions on scope of practice in Australia.

All GPs and practice nurses working in the DiSS program are provided with training in adolescent health delivered by the University of Melbourne, in partnership with the Royal Children’s Hospital, headspace, Sexual Health Victoria, Foundation House, and the Youth Support and Advocacy Service. The DiSS program also offers further RACGP-accredited training and professional development opportunities to provide youth-friendly primary health services in Victorian secondary schools.

Program contacts

Statewide Project Coordinator
Carlia Bennardo
diss@nwmphn.org.au
(03) 9347 1188

For local contacts and information, visit the DiSS pages on your PHN’s website:

Resource for PHNs