STREET Side Medics, a mobile medical service for the homeless, is set to expand into Victoria next month, marking its first venture outside New South Wales.
Founded by Dr Daniel Nour (pictured), the 2022 Young Australian of the Year, the not-for-profit organisation has delivered free primary healthcare to thousands of vulnerable Australians since its inception four years ago.
The service operates through fully equipped, customised Mercedes-Benz vans that visit areas with high homelessness rates weekly.
At a launch event in Melbourne on 04 Sep, attendees will have a chance to take a firsthand look at the mobile clinics and hear from Dr Nour.
Street Side Medics will officially kick off its Victorian services on 05 Sep, coinciding with the United Nations' International Day of Charity.
The first clinic will be held outside The Salvation Army's premises on Bourke Street, Melbourne, alongside their Twilight Cafe, which serves 500 free meals daily.
At the last Australian Census, 30,660 Victorians were experiencing some form of homelessness, with inner-city Melbourne a hot spot for a high number of people sleeping rough and living in improvised dwellings.
Adding to the worsening situation are plummeting bulk-billing rates, with inner Melbourne having the state's fewest bulk-billing clinics.
Dr Nour said the recent appointment of Clare O'Neil as Minister for Homelessness presents "an opportunity to reinvigorate Australia's approach tackling homelessness, which is now in a crisis state".
He is also calling for the establishment of a homelessness commissioner and specialised coordinators within all major tertiary hospitals.
The charity is planning further initiatives in research, education, and employment to better support the homeless community. JG
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