New health services for people sleeping rough 

Health and wellbeing support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness will be boosted in Geelong with the commencement of new trial services in October. 

Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) today launched the Homelessness Access Program for Greater Geelong, to help improve access to primary health care. The trial services will run for 12 months from early October. 

WVPHN Chief Executive Officer Craig Wilding said the services would help address gaps in current primary health care support for vulnerable people living in Geelong. 

“The need for these services is substantial as we work to remove barriers and reduce the stigma that has been preventing people experiencing or at risk of homelessness from seeking support from primary health care services,” said Mr Wilding. 

As part of the Homelessness Access Program, at Neami we will expand our existing Towards Home+ homelessness support service in Geelong to include a community nurse and an outreach worker. Working together with Bolton Clarke, our Homelessness Access Program team will include a Registered Nurse and an Outreach Worker.   

Outreach workers will meet people experiencing homelessness on the streets or sleeping rough, to offer support to connect with the services they need to address their health needs.   

Neami National CEO Tom Dalton said, “Neami has been providing homelessness support services in Geelong for more than five years. We know that people who are experiencing homelessness are also more likely to experience significant physical health challenges. Yet, it can be difficult for people to overcome barriers to accessing the health services they need,” Mr Dalton said.  

“Our team brings expertise in supporting people who are experiencing homelessness, to overcome these challenges and find the support they need to make positive changes to their physical health,” he said. 

The City of Greater Geelong has one of the highest rates by population of homelessness in western Victoria. Public Health Information Development Unit data in 2021 showed more than 1,500 people were sleeping rough in the City of Greater Geelong at that time.  

Furthermore, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Specialist homelessness services annual report 2022–23 data revealed 40 per cent of people accessing Specialist Homelessness services in the Geelong, Bellarine and Surf Coast region were aged 24 years or younger.