Doctors in Secondary Schools – School program lead funding (Reference 64)
The Doctors in Secondary Schools Program funds general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses to attend 100 Victorian government secondary schools up to one day a week to provide medical advice and health care for those students most in need.
School program lead funding
Schools are required to appoint a Leading Teacher to hold overall responsibility for program coordination duties.
Schools will be provided with funding equivalent to a 0.2 FTE at a Leading Teacher Level 3.1 pay rate to support program co-ordination responsibilities for the school year.
A schools’ program co-ordination responsibilities can also rest with an Assistant Principal, given that it is more appropriate than appointing a Leading teacher. However, if a school appoints an Assistant Principal to the School Program Lead role, the school will still receive the same amount of funding as a Leading Teacher.
Eligibility
Schools with the following campus types are eligible for DiSS Funding at school level.
- Secondary
- Primary/Secondary combined.
The 2 schools below schools are also eligible for this funding:
- Croydon Community School
- Oakwood School.
Funding is calculated at the Indicative budget cycle, through credit funding.
Calculation
Funding = Leading Teacher Level 3.1 × 0.2 FTE
*Student Resource Package (SRP) Indexation has been applied to the rate annually since commencement, noting payroll tax and superannuation has also been applied to the allocation.
Responsibilities of the school program lead
The DiSS School Program Lead is responsible for providing leadership in the school for the implementation of the program. The program lead plays a crucial role in leading the partnership between the health and education sectors as part of the DiSS program.
Key responsibilities include:
- supporting the GP and practicing nurse to deliver youth-friendly primary health care to the student population
- collaborating with the practice nurse to ensure effective service management, including appointment systems and maintaining students’ confidentiality
- understanding and applying GP, practice nurse and school’s consent and confidentiality requirements and, when needed, supporting the parental consent processes required by the GP and practice nurse
- integrating the GP service into the broader health and wellbeing services of the school
- providing education and leadership around parent/carer/broader school community involvement in the DiSS program
- supporting the program’s strategic planning to ensure a high-quality service that is trusted, fully utilised and youth friendly
- promoting the service to students and the broader school community and ensuring the integration of the clinical team and other members of school staff
- ensuring compliance to relevant privacy legislation and providing a child safe environment in accordance with the Child Safe Standards and mandatory reporting requirements
- building a positive relationship with the local GP practice and facilitating partnerships with community health providers for the benefit of students.
Further information
Reviewed 31 December 2025