The School Based Youth Health Nurse (SBYHN) focuses on prevention, early identification, brief intervention, and harm minimisation to support the health and wellbeing of young people. The nurse is often the first point of contact for students, their families, and the school community seeking information, advice, or support on health matters.
For issues that require treatment or intensive counselling, the nurse plays a vital role in referring clients to appropriate external agencies. It’s important to note that School Based Youth Health Nurses do not provide first aid, treat wounds, or administer medication in their role.
Within Brisbane Bayside State College, the SBYHN offers confidential one-on-one consultations covering a wide range of topics, including:
Health and wellbeing concerns
Relationships (family, peers, romantic or other)
Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use
Sexual health
Stress and emotional wellbeing
Puberty
Healthy eating, exercise, weight, and eating concerns
Linkages and referrals to other services
The nurse also supports the broader school community and staff by:
Delivering health promotion activities
Providing health-related resources
Collaborating with staff on health-related and promotional activities in classrooms and across the school
Connecting the school community with relevant local services
Meet Mandy, our School Based Youth Health Nurse
Mandy is passionate about ensuring every young person has the opportunity to live a long, happy, healthy, and meaningful life. She believes deeply in health equity and understands how health influences a young person’s experience at school. Mandy feels privileged to be part of the BODHI team, which focuses on early interventions that help students strengthen their connection to school and access education—recognising that prevention is the best approach and education is a fundamental human right and a powerful protective factor for wellbeing.
If Mandy were to choose her top three favourite parts of the job, they would be:
Partnering with schools to deliver a whole-school approach supporting students to achieve their best
Providing early interventions that reduce the risk of developing mental illness
Sitting with young people to listen to their stories and perspectives on life
Make an Appointment
Our current School Based Youth Health Nurse, Nadia, is available Wednesday and Thursdays only and is located in the Administration building.
Booking an appointment is simple: