commonalities in terms of the complexity of the systems, practice issues and health issues being addressed that may allow the navigation model to be transferred. In the context of a developing school based public health/ health promotion agenda refinement of these components of the navigator concept could function as a theoretical underpinning for school nursing. The navigator concept allows for the nurse to adopt a leadership role for the positive construction of the school health journey. The unique sphere of knowledge held by the school nurse of clinical health knowledge combined with an understanding of the multi-environments of the child, home, school and community becomes the defining core of the role. The school nurse as the only public health professional with this combination of knowledge and expertise would be able to adopt a defined, leadership role in terms of health promotion. Adapting the components outlined by Till (2003), examples of a navigation role might encompass: 1. Coordination of care: This would involve specific prevention-focused interventions (such as obesity prevention programs) in the environment of the school. Case management and referral of some health protection work would be included, as for example, children with diabetes. Coordination would also involve the school nurse examining past interventions and designing new and creative interventions tailored to a specific location.
2. Information: The coordination and support for the delivery of key health promotion messages, including the prevention key health risk behaviours. Although the prevention of health risk behaviours requires more than simple information giving, the provision of age appropriate and relevant information is one aspect of effective health