Taking healthcare to the homeless
Sonia Goodwin and Dr Nova Evans ... bringing frontline health services to the back streets.
Sunny Street is an organisation that bridges the gap between homeless and vulnerable people and the healthcare system.
Founded by Dr Nova Evans and Nursing Director Sonia Goodwin the Sunshine Coast service provides primary healthcare for homeless and vulnerable people and helps them navigate health services.
“Both Dr Evans and myself had been working in the public health system and it struck us that many people coming through the ER struggled to obtain the care they desperately needed due to complex social and mental health issues,” Sonia explained. “We wanted to create an environment where the barriers to access were removed for those who are most vulnerable.”
In 2018, Dr Evans and Sonia founded Sunny Street and their initial consultations happened out of the boot of a car.
“It has been an incredibly eye opening experience,” Sonia said. “There is so much stereotyping and stigma attached to homelessness. You cannot judge another person unless you have walked in their shoes. Everyone has a profound story to tell and this experience has demonstrated the importance of taking care of each other.
“When people are in physical or emotional pain they have more difficulty accessing the appropriate health care services. There are barriers such as cost, transport, health literacy and anxiety, that most of us don’t give a second thought to. Around 90 percent of the people we see have no next of kin, which is incredibly sad and gives some insight into their isolation.”
Sunny Street provides frontline services such as general health assessments and risk management, chronic disease management and support, wound care, STD infection treatment, immunisations, cervical screening, health education and promotion and social prescriptions.
“We consult with people in community centres, and public spaces that are accessible and don’t evoke some of the anxiety that clinical settings can,” said Sonia.
Every Wednesday between 4.30 and 8.30pm they offer a nationwide telehealth service.
If you would like to get involved as a volunteer, to donate items or fundraise, go to their website info@sunnystreet.org