The $20,000 grant will be used to improve the Teen Clinic program which was introduced by the practice last year.  

The Teen Clinic is a free service that provides teenagers with the opportunity to talk to a registered nurse in a non-judgmental environment about a wide range of medical and non-medical issues.

A recent report by the Bega Valley Shire Council stated the main issue service providers saw as affecting young people in the area was mental health.

“The report Service Needs of the Young People Aged 12-18 in the Bega Valley Shire also found that the best local services for young people were perceived to be those that are welcoming and inclusive, free and provide a safe and confidential environment,” BVMP practice manager Jodie Meaker said.

“This is what the Teen Clinic is all about”

Teens that attend the clinic are assessed by a nurse and then referred on to a GP or other local service providers as required. A social worker and a psychologist are also available at the practice.

There are appointments reserved with the doctors at BVMP for the teenagers who may be unable to make an appointment with their own GP or chose not to see their family doctor about a particular issue.

The Teen Clinic is open every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 2pm–5pm. No appointment is necessary.

BVMP submitted their grant application to the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association which has been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health to work with service providers to develop original models of clinical care delivered by nurses in primary health care settings.