School public health nursing
Public health nurses provide free health services to children in primary and intermediate schools.
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
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Service and referral information for your district
Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
You can refer tamariki to health services in the Bay of Plenty using the Community Health 4 Kids referral form.
Community Health for Kids referral form [PDF, 1.1 MB]
Use the CH4K referral form to refer a child to a:
- public health nurse for children aged 0 to 18
- community ear nurse
- vision and hearing technician.
The form can also be used to refer children to:
- the rheumatic fever programme to swab for Group A streptococcal bacterial throat infection
- the Kiri Ora Skin Programme
- the B4 school programme
- the school-based immunisation programme
- the tuberculosis immunisation programme.
Rotorua and Taupo
Rotorua and Taupo
Wellington, Hutt, Kapiti and Wairarapa
Wellington, Hutt, Kapiti and Wairarapa
Our services are free, confidential, and available Monday to Friday.
While our focus is on schools in high needs areas, every school has access to a Public health nurse.
Contact National Public Health Service - Wellington for more information.
Public Health contacts (external link)
Our public health nurses work with tamariki in primary and intermediate schools in Greater Wellington, and Wairarapa early childhood centres, providing a free health service.
This includes assistance with:
- health advice
- skin conditions
- breathing problems
- behavioural and developmental concerns
- wetting and soiling
- vision and hearing concerns
- mental health
- child protection
- absenteeism related to a health concern
- referrals to specialist services.
We work closely with schools as well as visiting whānau in their homes for follow up and helping them access the support they need.
Public health nurses also promote information on healthy choices, promotion of well-being and prevention of illness including:
- smoke-free living
- SunSmart
- mental wellbeing
- oral health
- healthy eating
- physical activity
- healthy relationships.
Complete the referral form if you would like to refer a tamaiti to the school public health nurse.
Greater Wellington public health nurse referral form [PDF, 202 KB]
Immunisations in schools
The Immunisation team is a team of experienced registered nurses providing immunisations in schools.
Year 7 children are offered the Boostrix vaccine which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough), as well as the HPV (Gardasil) vaccine which protects against infection from 9 types of human papillomavirus (HPV) which can lead to a range of cancers later in life.
All Year 8 students coming from overseas or from other region of New Zealand that did not receive their Boostrix or HPV can have those delivered at school or at their GP free of charge.
Immunisation videos
Information about school immunisations — YouTube (external link)
Immunisation Year 8 protection against HPV — Vimeo (external link)
Vision and hearing screening
Vision and hearing screening helps make sure that our tamariki ability to learn is at its best.
Vision and hearing technicians provide:
- screening programmes
- advice around what to do if tamariki need support with their hearing and vision
- hearing and vision screening for pre-school tamariki as part of the B4 School Checks programme
- a mobile ear clinic in Porirua for tamariki up to 18 years old.
Nutrition and physical activity
Our public health advisor focus is to improve child and youth wellbeing through healthy eating and drinking, and quality physical activity through:
- implementing healthy food and water-only policies
- supporting partners in early learning settings, kura and schools to encourage the adoption of policies
- supporting partners to enhance their delivery in health-related initiatives
- making sure an equity lens is across all areas of work.