St Kilda, May 11: Street Side Medics, a not-for-profit, GP-led mobile medical service, has officially opened its second clinic in Victoria, located at Cleve Gardens in St Kilda. The clinic, operating every Wednesday from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, provides free primary healthcare to people experiencing homelessness, following a no-turn-away policy.
Founded by 2022 Young Australian of the Year Dr Daniel Nour, Street Side Medics operates fully equipped mobile medical units that visit areas with high concentrations of homeless populations. The new clinic in St Kilda builds on the success of its first Victorian clinic, launched on Bourke Street late last year, and is supported by renewed federal funding and local partnerships.
Street Side Medics provides a range of general practice services, including but not limited to general health check-ups, chronic disease screening, acute infectious screening (including HIV, Hep C, Hep B, STIs), immunisations, pathology services, diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, screening tests and Medicare care plans, nutritional advice, minor surgical procedures, and referrals to medical specialists.
For those without Medicare or facing barriers to Medicare payments, Street Side Medics maintains a strict no-turn-away policy, attending to all patients free of charge.
The opening event was attended by City of Port Phillip Mayor Cr Louise Crawford, local councillors, and representatives from partner organisations, including Emerald Hill Mission’s Food Van, Orange Sky Laundry, and The Footpath Library. These organisations will work alongside Street Side Medics to provide integrated support to vulnerable community members.
Identifying a significant gap in healthcare access for vulnerable populations, Dr Daniel Nour conceived the idea for Street Side Medics as a 24-year-old medical student living in Central London. The initiative was launched during the Covid-19 pandemic, and Dr Nour continues to be actively involved in all aspects of the charity while working full-time as a cardiology trainee doctor at Royal North Shore Hospital in North Sydney.
Since its establishment in 2020, Street Side Medics has expanded across New South Wales and Victoria, with further national growth plans in development. The mobile clinics operate in partnership with local shelters, food services, and homelessness-focused providers, aiming to alleviate barriers to healthcare access for those experiencing homelessness.
For more information on how to support the initiative or volunteer, visit the Street Side Medics website.
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