A new health clinic will be trialled in central Ballarat from later this year specifically for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to help break down barriers and improve access to health care and well-being.
Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) has appointed Ballarat Community Health (BCH) to coordinate the clinic in partnership with Uniting VicTas. The clinic will be based at Breezeway, the multidisciplinary hub run by Uniting VicTas in Dana Street.
WVPHN will provide $250,000 on behalf of the Australian Government to pilot the clinic for 12 months.
WVPHN chief executive officer Craig Wilding announced the clinic would open in October as part of a Homelessness Access Program to address gaps in current primary health care support.
“The commissioning of BCH in partnership with Uniting VicTas breaks new ground for primary health care in Ballarat, delivering a nurse-staffed onsite clinic alongside opportunity for telehealth and outreach services,” said Mr Wilding.
The City of Ballarat has one of the highest rates by population of homelessness in western Victoria. Public Health Information Development Unit data in 2021 showed more than 630 people were sleeping rough in the municipality.
The announcement at Breezeway coincides with national Homelessness Week which runs until Sunday. This year’s theme is Homelessness Action Now.
BCH Acting Chief Executive Officer Joanne Gell said Ballarat Community Health recognised the importance of considering all aspects to someone’s health and wellbeing.
“We are fortunate to be able to provide support to those experiencing homelessness through disciplines such as access to podiatry services, mental health support lead by a peer workforce model, and to have access to a nurse to discuss and provide services for various health and wellbeing needs,” Ms Gell said.
Uniting Vic.Tas Senior Manager Homelessness Adam Liversage said for more than 25 years, people experiencing homelessness and social isolation had come to Breezeway where they could sit down for a warm meal, connect with others and link with support services.
“It’s a place where people feel safe, supported and welcome. We’ve seen such a huge rise in demand for our homelessness services in recent years, meaning there are more people sleeping rough in our community, more people who are going without the things most of us take for granted, like looking after our health,” Mr Liversage said.
The new service will also include an assertive outreach program, leveraging off the current Uniting VicTas Street 2 Home Program to support people sleeping rough to access primary care services.
Uniting Vic.Tas Street 2 Home program case co-ordinator Juelz Sanders said “Every day through the outreach work we do with our Street 2 Home program, we see people who are experiencing, or at risk of homelessness, that face a range of barriers and challenges in trying to access even the most basic healthcare. Even when they do manage to access healthcare, they face a stigma, which is often difficult to overcome.”
“Through this program, people will be able to come to Breezeway, sit down for a meal, connect with others, link in with our support services and have somebody take care of their health in a safe, supported and caring environment.
“Providing people with even basic healthcare will make such a difference, not just to their health, but also their wellbeing and just feeling better about themselves,” said Ms Sanders.
Ballarat Community Health and Uniting VicTas were selected to run the Homelessness Access Program in the city following a tender process earlier this year. The scope of the program was developed in response to a co-design process involving current service providers that support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.