Gippsland PHN has commissioned a new mobile outreach health care service, Health on Wheels, to improve access to health care for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness in the Wellington and East Gippsland local government areas.
Homelessness in Gippsland continues to increase and is becoming more visible. In 2022–23, 7,278 people accessed homelessness services across the region, with rates in parts of Gippsland significantly higher than the national average. Rates of homelessness per 1,000 people are estimated to be at 28.3 in East Gippsland, 28.8 in Wellington and 25.4 in Latrobe, compared with 10.3 nationally.
People experiencing homelessness often face complex and interconnected health challenges, including chronic illness, mental health conditions and substance use, while also encountering significant barriers to accessing timely, trauma-informed and coordinated health care.
Delivered by Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, the pilot operates five days a week with a dedicated registered nurse and homelessness outreach worker travelling across Yarram, Sale, Bairnsdale, Lakes Entrance and Orbost.
The service has been designed to bring health care directly to people in locations they already access, helping reduce barriers and support earlier intervention.
Conventional models of care can be difficult to access for people experiencing homelessness, often resulting in delayed treatment, frequent emergency department presentations and unaddressed health conditions. Evidence shows that assertive outreach models, which proactively engage people in their own environments, are effective in improving access to health care and supporting better health outcomes.
Regular visits are also made to established community hubs, including the Salvation Army resource centre in Bairnsdale, enabling people to access multiple supports in one place.
The service is staffed by a registered nurse and a homelessness support worker, enabling the team to address both health needs and social or housing barriers at the same time.
The outreach model enables the team to build trust and provide consistent, person-centred care over time, supporting people to navigate the health system and connect with ongoing services.
Services provided through Health on Wheels include:
- Health screening and pathology collection
- Wound care and chronic disease management
- Care coordination, advocacy, referrals and follow-up
- Needle and syringe program
- Support to access digital health platforms, including online GPs, Virtual ED and specialist telehealth services
Health on Wheels complements other Homelessness Access Program services commissioned by Gippsland PHN, including the Breed Street Clinic, Quantum Support Services, Neighbourhood and Community House telehealth initiatives, and upcoming homelessness training that will be offered to general practices later in the year. Together, these services aim to reduce barriers to care, improve access to early intervention, and support more equitable health outcomes for all community members across Gippsland.
Download the Health on Wheels program flyer.
To learn more about Health on Wheels, head to gphn.org.au/what-we-do/programs/homelessness-access-program/
