My name is Wendy and I am the Health Promotion Nurse at Kurunjang Secondary College.  I would like to tell you a little about what it is that I do here at school.

The Department of Human Services employs me. I am not employed by the school. I am one of the 15 nurses in 28 secondary schools in the West of Melbourne.

I work as part of the welfare team to help improve the well being of students. A lot of what I do is related to health promotion. I keep a notice board with information about health issues on it. I run an antibullying support group at school called ABS. ABS meets at lunch time fortnightly.

I run groups at school such as a Grief Loss and Change Group once a year for students who have had major loss or change in their lives. It is called Seasons for Growth. Each term there is a girls' group I run called Girls Choice, about making positive lifestyle choices. This year it will be offered to Year 8 girls, and some Year 9s.

I assist with the classroom teaching of sexuality, growth and change in the junior school. This includes talking about a wide range of things such as body changes, relationships and safe sex.

I work with students on an individual basis and in groups where they might wish to talk about things like relationships, friendship issues/crises, adolescent health concern, body art, feeling anxious or stressed and having a healthy weight.

The role is a busy one. I am confidential to students and don't talk about student issues with others unless there is an issue of harm, suicide, or abuse. In these cases, the issue needs to be reported to the appropriate people. Sometimes I am just someone students can let off steam to. I liaise with year level coordinators, the welfare coordinator, and lots of different staff at school when it is appropriate. Feel free to contact me. I am at schools on Mondays and Tuesdays in the welfare office with Ms Nielsen, nearly opposite the library.