Street Side Medics expands clinics to Canberra’s homeless population
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Australia has one of the strongest healthcare systems in the world, but not everyone can access it. 2022 Young Australian of the Year Dr Daniel Naur aims to bridge the gap.
Since 2020, Street Side Medics has been delivering bulk-billed healthcare directly to people experiencing homelessness from mobile medical units across New South Wales and Victoria. Partnering with Vinnies Roadhouse, the clinics have expanded to the ACT to provide a safe and welcoming space along with hot meals and other services.
Founded by Dr Daniel Naur, Street Side Medics was born after a by-chance encounter in his final year of medical school.
Whilst studying in London, Daniel came across a man having a seizure outside a train station. After assisting him, he later found out that the man was part of a homeless community who didn’t have access to the medical treatment they needed.
Unable to forget what he saw, his passion for identifying gaps in healthcare and improving access for vulnerable communities turned into a wider mission to make healthcare access equal to every Australian, no matter their circumstance.
“People experiencing homelessness can face significant challenges getting to a GP, navigating appointments, and building trust with the healthcare system. Street Side Medics removes some of the practical hurdles by bringing free, GP-led care in an environment that is welcoming and non-judgemental,” says Daniel.
Through operating Street Side Medics, Daniel saw that people experiencing homelessness are often dealing with significant health, social, and financial challenges at the same time.
He hopes to challenge the assumption that homelessness is simply the result of poor choices, and that people experiencing homelessness are less deserving of healthcare.
“Homelessness is complex, and people can find themselves without stable housing for many reasons. Everyone deserves access to healthcare and to be treated with dignity, regardless of their housing situation,” he explains.
Street Side Medics goes beyond providing healthcare; through the clinics, people experiencing homelessness receive much-needed human connection from people who care about their wellbeing.
Street Side Medics operates every Thursday from 5 pm until 7 pm outside Vinnies Roadhouse at the Griffin Centre. By running the clinic at the same place and time every week, the volunteers can provide consistency, strengthen trust, and build relationships with the community.
“We’re seeing people re-engage with healthcare, access ongoing treatments and referrals, and build trust with doctors and the broader health system,” says Daniel
“For some, simply having a doctor who listens without judgement can be incredibly significant.”
General practice services provided by Street Side Medics include (but are not limited to): general health check-ups, chronic disease screening, acute infectious screening (including HIV, Hep C, Hep B, STI’s), immunisations, pathology services, diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, screening tests and Medicare care plans, nutritional advice, minor surgical procedures and referrals to appropriate medical specialists.
Whilst Street Side Medics has made a significant difference in homeless communities, the demand continues to outweigh resources as the cost of living and homeless population rise.
“So many people need support, and we’re constantly balancing the need to do more with the resources available to us,” says Daniel.
“I’d actually love to see Street Side Medics become unnecessary because the mainstream healthcare system has evolved to properly meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness. Until then, we’ll continue bringing care to vulnerable people where they are and working alongside existing services to provide continuity of care.”
Daniel won the 2022 Young Australian of the Year award for his contributions to vulnerable communities, and has not slowed down since; in the last year, Street Side Medics has delivered over 600 clinics and provided more than 7,000 medical consultations to vulnerable Australians.
Whilst Daniel continues his work at Royal North Shore Hospital as a doctor, Street Side Medics is run by a team of wonderful GPs, nurses, allied health professionals, volunteers, and other workers.
The support of the public is fundamental for Street Side Medics to operate clinics. People are encouraged to volunteer, whether they have healthcare experience or not. Check streetsidemedics.com.au/volunteer for volunteer listings in your local area.
“I want Street Side Medics to help change the way we think about healthcare for people experiencing homelessness right across Australia,” says Daniel
“Every contribution makes a difference, and we’re grateful to everyone who gets behind our work”
Looking to donate? Visit streetsidemedics.com.au
Feature image: Street Side Medics CEO Nic Brown, ACT Service Coordinator Mark Ginswick, and Founder Dr Daniel Nour
