Doctors called on as mobile clinic targets Geelong’s homeless

A VOLUNTEER-RUN medical service for people experiencing homelessness is preparing to roll into Geelong, with a call out for local health professionals ahead of its first clinic next month.

Street Side Medics, a not-for-profit founded by Dr Daniel Nour, will begin operating a weekly mobile clinic from 31 May, bringing free, GP-led care directly to those who often struggle to access the health system.

The service will run from The Outpost community hub on Little Ryrie Street every Sunday night, pairing primary healthcare with the site’s existing food and support services.

Street Side Medics chief executive Nic Brown said the expansion relied entirely on volunteers and was now seeking local GPs, specialists, junior doctors, nurses and allied health workers.

“We need the support of local healthcare professionals and community members to deliver our clinics which run from the same location each week to not only increase our reach but more importantly, to build trust and continuity of care with our patients,” Brown said.

Volunteers are being asked to commit to one two-hour shift a month, rather than a weekly roster.

The Geelong clinic will operate from a fully customised mobile unit stationed outside The Outpost between 7pm and 9pm, adopting a “no questions asked” approach to care.

Brown said the model was designed to remove common barriers faced by people experiencing homelessness, including cost, transport and distrust of traditional healthcare settings.

The service bulk bills through Medicare but operates a no-turn-away policy, ensuring patients without access to Medicare can still receive free treatment.

Street Side Medics provides a broad range of general practice services, including health checks, chronic disease screening, infectious disease testing, immunisations, minor procedures and referrals to specialists.

Its arrival comes amid growing demand for homelessness support locally.

Research from the Give Where You Live Foundation shows between 4,600 and 4,800 people in Greater Geelong sought homelessness assistance in 2023–24.

Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate 1,541 people were experiencing homelessness in the region in 2021 – more than double the number recorded in 2016.

Brown said the Geelong rollout formed part of a broader strategy to reach vulnerable communities nationwide.

“Our expansion into Geelong is part of a long-term strategy to support as many vulnerable Australians as possible to access primary healthcare,” he said.

To volunteer, visit streetsidemedics.com.au or email [email protected]