6E: Integration of Health and Education: The past, present and future of school-based health care in Australia (Workshop)
Tracks
Track 5
| Tuesday, November 12, 2019 |
| 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM |
| Room 106 |
Details
Chaired by Jon Lituri, Deputy Head Primary - Wellbeing, South Coast Baptist College
Speaker
Mr Jon Lituri
Deputy Head Primary - Wellbeing
South Coast Baptist College
217 Integration of Health and Education: The past, present and future of school-based health care in Australia
Abstract
1. Background
Over the past fifty years the case for integrating health promotion and wrap around health services into a school setting has been mounting. Education is a key predictor in a range of health measures and conversely, health is a key determinant of learning outcomes. There is a symbiotic relationship between education and health that cannot be ignored.
Given the potential benefits of a focus on wellbeing and the deepening mental health crisis in particular, schools are increasingly being prompted and/or mandated to incorporate health initiatives. This has included the proliferation of wrap-around health services and in some cases the establishment of school-based health and wellbeing centres. While these ideas and initiatives have been growing, their full potential is yet to be unlocked. Many schools indeed have only been dabbling with the bigger picture of health promotion and flirting with some of the wrap-around health services available. This has led to a disjointed, adhoc approach across schools resulting in a number of possible models of operation. These have all differed in the proximity of services, funding sources, the types of services offered, the level of collaboration provided, the level of intervention provided and the effectiveness of interventions.
Given the observed variance in models of operation it would seem wise to learn from the past and present situation in order to create a vision for the future of school-based health care in Australia.
2. Aims and Objectives
*Constructively critique the history and current state of school-based health care in Australia.
*Identify evidence-based ‘best’ practice
*Identify potential barriers and solutions for school-based health care, utilising the firsthand experience of presenters and workshop participants
*Outline an aspirational vision for the future of school-based health care
3. Target audience
*All education professionals
*All health professionals with an interest in school-based care
4. Learnings/Take away
*The importance of health services integrating with the school community.
*Interprofessional Collaborative Health Teams in a school setting. A new working paradigm.
*Networking with an extended community of practitioners working in schools.
*Evidence-based best practice in school-based health care. What does a comprehensive integrated approach look like?
5. Format (timing, speakers, discussion, group work, etc)
5mins - Introduction (Lena Sanci)
5mins - The history of school-based health care in Australia (Jon Lituri)
40mins - The current status of school-based health care in Australia. Examples from WA, Vic and QLD. Participants invited to share their involvement and experiences in schools (Jon Lituri, Dana Newcomb, Lena Sanci)
10mins - Best practice? Constructive critique of history and current state of school-based health. (Jon Lituri)
10mins - Barriers and solutions? The theoretical basis for the integration of health services and education is sound, what’s holding us back? (Lena Sanci, Dana Newcomb)
20mins - What next for school-based health care in Australia?
Participants consider practical application of content in their context – group discussion (Jon Lituri, Dana Newcomb, Lena Sanci)
6. Preferred length (60 or 90 minutes)
90minutes but this could be adjusted if necessary
Over the past fifty years the case for integrating health promotion and wrap around health services into a school setting has been mounting. Education is a key predictor in a range of health measures and conversely, health is a key determinant of learning outcomes. There is a symbiotic relationship between education and health that cannot be ignored.
Given the potential benefits of a focus on wellbeing and the deepening mental health crisis in particular, schools are increasingly being prompted and/or mandated to incorporate health initiatives. This has included the proliferation of wrap-around health services and in some cases the establishment of school-based health and wellbeing centres. While these ideas and initiatives have been growing, their full potential is yet to be unlocked. Many schools indeed have only been dabbling with the bigger picture of health promotion and flirting with some of the wrap-around health services available. This has led to a disjointed, adhoc approach across schools resulting in a number of possible models of operation. These have all differed in the proximity of services, funding sources, the types of services offered, the level of collaboration provided, the level of intervention provided and the effectiveness of interventions.
Given the observed variance in models of operation it would seem wise to learn from the past and present situation in order to create a vision for the future of school-based health care in Australia.
2. Aims and Objectives
*Constructively critique the history and current state of school-based health care in Australia.
*Identify evidence-based ‘best’ practice
*Identify potential barriers and solutions for school-based health care, utilising the firsthand experience of presenters and workshop participants
*Outline an aspirational vision for the future of school-based health care
3. Target audience
*All education professionals
*All health professionals with an interest in school-based care
4. Learnings/Take away
*The importance of health services integrating with the school community.
*Interprofessional Collaborative Health Teams in a school setting. A new working paradigm.
*Networking with an extended community of practitioners working in schools.
*Evidence-based best practice in school-based health care. What does a comprehensive integrated approach look like?
5. Format (timing, speakers, discussion, group work, etc)
5mins - Introduction (Lena Sanci)
5mins - The history of school-based health care in Australia (Jon Lituri)
40mins - The current status of school-based health care in Australia. Examples from WA, Vic and QLD. Participants invited to share their involvement and experiences in schools (Jon Lituri, Dana Newcomb, Lena Sanci)
10mins - Best practice? Constructive critique of history and current state of school-based health. (Jon Lituri)
10mins - Barriers and solutions? The theoretical basis for the integration of health services and education is sound, what’s holding us back? (Lena Sanci, Dana Newcomb)
20mins - What next for school-based health care in Australia?
Participants consider practical application of content in their context – group discussion (Jon Lituri, Dana Newcomb, Lena Sanci)
6. Preferred length (60 or 90 minutes)
90minutes but this could be adjusted if necessary
Biography
Jonathan Lituri is committed to seeing students flourish in every way as the Deputy Head Primary (Pastoral Care) at South Coast Baptist College. With over 16 years of teaching and pastoral care experience, Jonathan has led various initiatives to support student wellbeing and academic growth. Recently Jonathan completed the Master of Educational Leadership course at the University of Western Australia, winning the Australian Education Council for Educational Leadership award for the being the highest performing student. In his dissertation, Jonathan examined various models of school based health care, investigating their theoretical basis, history and effectiveness in order to propose principles of development. This has led him to work with like-minded colleagues and professionals in order to establish the concept at South Coast Baptist and establish the School Based Health Alliance here in Australia, an emerging association committed to the integration of health and wellbeing priorities within a school environment. Finally Jonathan has also just commenced a PhD at the University of Western Australia on child wellbeing measurement, demonstrating a desire to see health and education priorities come together for student benefit.
