STUDENTS at six secondary colleges around Frankston and on the Mornington Peninsula are among 70,000 being given access to doctors and health care while at school.

Carrum Downs, McClelland, Monterey, Mornington, Patterson River and Rosebud secondary colleges are among 100 schools in the first Doctors in Secondary Schools Program.

Doctors will be at the colleges for up to one day a week, with students able to get referrals to specialists for help before it affects their studies.

Half of the 100 schools in the program are in regional Victoria and 25 in growth areas and the urban fringe, such as the peninsula.

Work is under way on recruitment and training, building consultation rooms at schools and establishing partnerships with local healthcare providers so the program can start from term one next year.

The state government provided $43.8 million for the program in this year’s budget, including $25.8 million for staff and running costs and $18 million for school consultation rooms.

Education minister James Merlino said having doctors in schools would give students reliable healthcare, reduce the pressure on working parents and GPs and help young people identify and address their health concerns early.

First published in the Mornington News – 6 September 2016