Peninsula Health’s Paediatricians in Schools Outreach Program, funded by Menzies: Caring for Kids, aims to improve health outcomes for children and adolescents in over 40 government schools, including four schools in Frankston North: Mahogany Rise Primary School, Aldercourt Primary School, Kananook Primary School and Monterey College.
A generous donation of over $300,000 from Menzies has enabled the appointment of a Peninsula Health paediatrician and paediatric fellow to support these school-based clinics for the next three years.
“Many children from low socioeconomic backgrounds don’t see a general practitioner, let alone a paediatrician,” says Menzies President, Mr Kevin Johnson. “This donation and program are working to change that.”
Peninsula Health paediatrician Dr Vanessa Gabriel explains that the program was established to reduce barriers to healthcare and assist families who have previously struggled to access paediatric services.
“Access to health care is a major difficultly for many communities. Placing the clinic at the school alleviates the challenge of getting to hospital or a public outpatient clinic.”
“The Frankston North community has significant needs, and enhancing access to services is vital. By providing these clinics, we can assess, diagnose, and treat more children, improving their engagement in school and boosting their learning outcomes.”
This impact is evident in Mahogany Rise parent Kerrie’s 7-year-old twins, Lilly and Jackson, who are in grade one. Jackson attends Dr Gabriel’s clinic for ADHD and autism, while Lilly comes in for regular check-ups.
Kerrie has noticed a significant change in her children since attending these clinics.
“Before starting school, they had never seen a paediatrician before” explains Kerrie. “They’ve both improved so much, especially Jackson, since receiving his diagnosis and gaining access to medication.”
“The program is fantastic—it takes place at school during school hours, so you don’t have to travel far, and there’s no waiting. Unlike a doctor’s visit, where you might wait for hours, it’s nothing like that.”
Jack Mazurek, Assistant Principal of Mahogany Rise, attributes the program to giving students the best chance to succeed.
“Without a paediatrician at our school, families could face years of waiting to be seen and risk missing out on vital medical care, appropriate diagnoses, and critical support,” explains Jack.
The establishment of school-based paediatric clinics on the Mornington Peninsula offers invaluable specialist care to children and families from low socioeconomic backgrounds. This initiative ensures access to services in a familiar environment, minimises disruptions to school attendance, and aims to improve health outcomes both now and into the future. To date, the program has reached and helped in excess of 8000 children.
Menzies: Caring for Kids is an organisation dedicated to supporting young people in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula through direct investment in programs that have a positive impact on their lives. This initiative is fully funded by Menzies.