Gin Gin is fortunate to have the services of a school-based youth health nurse, Monique Anderson. Monique says:
"I am a qualified, registered nurse with the QLD nursing council board. I pursued my career by obtaining a Bachelor in Nursing and a Graduate Diploma in Counselling - Applied Psychology.
I have worked for various departments in acute hospital settings since 1980. I have worked for the past 4 and a half years as a clinical nurse and counsellor with the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service (ATODS) at Bundaberg Health District Service. During this time I dealt  with and rehabilitated clients who misused/abused alcohol and drugs. I have been working with substance abuse clients, and this exposure has motivated me to want to help today's youth to be more assertive and confident in choosing a healthy lifestyle.
The role of the SBYHN is to work with and support the school as part of the community by resourcing and assisting in the planning of health related curriculum. By working with the school community to identify their health needs, I can assist in creating a healthy school environment that uses a whole-school health-promoting approach to health prevention. This means working with the school curriculum, organisation, ethos, environment, partnerships and services. The role is aimed at early intervention and work on a brief intervention model, so that people's needs are identified through consultation and they are referred appropriately to support services inside and outside the school. This service is available at no cost to you.
The SBYHN is required to maintain the confidentiality of information provided under 63(1) of the HSA, 1991 by the student/person. However, when there is a serious threat to life, health or safety (risk of harm) of the student/a person (self) or to/by others, it is identified as the need to disclose of that specific information to other appropriate services or agencies in order to protect the student/person's safety.
Monique can be contacted at the school on 4157 2165.