07 Sep 2016 Seymour Telegraph, Seymour VIC (General News) by Patrick Evans Seymour College students will soon have access to an on-site general practitioner (GP) as part of the Doctors in Schools Program. The initiative from the Victorian Government will see a local doctor spend one day per week on campus, with students requiring no appointment to access the free service for any physical, wellbeing or mental health issues. Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes made the announcement at Seymour College on Monday. Having a doctor at their school will give students reliable healthcare, reduce the pressure on working parents and GPs, and help the students identify and address their health concerns early, Ms Symes said. Happy, healthy and resilient students learn better, stay in school longer and achieve more. About 100 schools will participate in the scheme, with roughly half of those coming from country regions in a bid to combat the healthcare barriers traditionally faced by residents of rural communities. Health Minister Jill Hennessey is confident the endeavour will offer a range of benefits. We know families in regional Victoria often find it the most difficult to access healthcare so by having doctors in schools we can help make sure young Victorians can access a GP no matter where they live, she said. The Doctors in Schools Program is expected to launch next year, with recruitment, construction of consultation rooms and the formation of relationships with local medical providers already under way. Caption Text: Whats up doc? Upper House Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes (far right) visited Seymour College last Monday to announce the upcoming Doctors in Schools Program. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.