❓ The WA parliamentary question seeks clarification on the allocation of school health nurses across primary and high schools, including staffing ratios and allocation criteria. The answer provides details on nurse distribution, lack of a fixed ratio, and the factors influencing resource allocation.
AnsweredQoN 6277Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the response to my question on notice No. 5874, specifically regarding the 158.87 full time equivalent (FTE) school health nurses employed by the department, and I ask —
(1) Of the 158.87 FTE nurses, how many are physically based in —
(a) primary schools; and
(b) high schools?
(2) Of the 158.87 FTE nurses, how many are specifically allocated to —
(a) primary schools; and
(b) high schools?
(3) Is there a minimum ratio of school health nurses per student?
(4) If yes to (3), what is the ratio?
(5) If no to (3), what specific criteria are used to determine how many FTE are allocated to schools?
(1) Of the 158.87 FTE nurses, how many are physically based in —
(a) primary schools; and
(b) high schools?
(2) Of the 158.87 FTE nurses, how many are specifically allocated to —
(a) primary schools; and
(b) high schools?
(3) Is there a minimum ratio of school health nurses per student?
(4) If yes to (3), what is the ratio?
(5) If no to (3), what specific criteria are used to determine how many FTE are allocated to schools?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
8 November 2012
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Health
Response time
22 days
(1)(a) Community Health Nurses (CHNs) are not physically based in primary schools. CHNs work across multiple school sites and communities from a central base.
(b) Most high schools have a health facility where the CHN is located. There are approximately 64 full time equivalent (FTE) CHNs working across 102 public secondary schools and colleges on either a full or part time basis.
(2)(a) Approximately 95 FTE CHNs are specifically allocated to government and non-government primary schools and to government district high schools. District high schools may have children from kindergarten to year 10.
(b) Approximately 64 FTE CHNs are specifically allocated to high schools which include government secondary schools and colleges.
(3) No. However, at the regional level Community Health Managers allocate available CHN resources to enable schools to receive at least a minimum service to implement school health policies.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) In the metropolitan area, the Child and Adolescent Health Service's (CAHS) Child and Adolescent Community Health has worked with the Department of Education to determine a staffing formula. The criteria weights students who have higher health needs, a smaller weighting is also applied for the school's socioeconomic status. The WA Country Health Service allocates staff considering student numbers, health need, travel requirements and existence of other services.
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(b) Most high schools have a health facility where the CHN is located. There are approximately 64 full time equivalent (FTE) CHNs working across 102 public secondary schools and colleges on either a full or part time basis.
(2)(a) Approximately 95 FTE CHNs are specifically allocated to government and non-government primary schools and to government district high schools. District high schools may have children from kindergarten to year 10.
(b) Approximately 64 FTE CHNs are specifically allocated to high schools which include government secondary schools and colleges.
(3) No. However, at the regional level Community Health Managers allocate available CHN resources to enable schools to receive at least a minimum service to implement school health policies.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) In the metropolitan area, the Child and Adolescent Health Service's (CAHS) Child and Adolescent Community Health has worked with the Department of Education to determine a staffing formula. The criteria weights students who have higher health needs, a smaller weighting is also applied for the school's socioeconomic status. The WA Country Health Service allocates staff considering student numbers, health need, travel requirements and existence of other services.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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