September saw the first ever HELP Alliance conference in Sydney.  This organisation, representing Health, Education, Learners and Practitioners was launched with due ceremony at Coogee Beach after a two day conference attended by an international audience.  Delegates came from as far afield as Ireland and London and included representatives from most Australian states as well as the three New Zealand Health Schools.  NHS was represented by several staff and Board members.

Teachers from the Northern Health School presented research information related to returning students to school and the nature of our student body.  The board were able to meet with others in governance roles and to get a feel for the way our service fits into a global picture.  It was a great opportunity to share good practice with like-minded professionals and parents and to share the New Zealand way.

For me it highlighted the world leading nature of the New Zealand system and our ability to provide a wrap around service from hospital, through convalescence and back to school.  It was saddening to hear from Australian parents whose children had missed out on education opportunities while they were ill, that we would have been able to support here.  The theme for me was that in this instance it is New Zealand that is the lucky country.  We have the most flexible and cohesive system and students with illness get a better deal here than in most parts of the world.