PAEDIATRICIANS will be sent out to government schools in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula over the next three years to help care for children from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
The Peninsula Health “Paediatricians in Schools Outreach Program” will see paediatricians sent to 40 public schools, including Mahogany Rise Primary School, Aldercourt Primary School, Kananook Primary School and Monterey College. Menzies has donated $300,000 towards the project.
Mahogany Rise assistant principal Jack Mazurek said the initiative is helping children who may be otherwise missing out on medical care. “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,” Mazurek said.
Peninsula Health paediatrician Dr Vanessa Gabriel said “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 difficulty for many communities. Placing the clinic at the school alleviates the challenge of getting to hospital or a public outpatient clinic,” Gabriel said. “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.”
In excess of 8000 children have received help through the program so far. Among them is seven-year-old Jackson, who sees the paediatrician for ADHD and autism. Jackson’s mother Kerrie said she has “noticed a significant change in her children since attending these clinics.” “Before starting school, they had never seen a paediatrician before,” she said. “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.”
First published in the Frankston Times – 10 December 2024