Street Side Medics Calls for Canberra Clinic Volunteers
- Written by: Times Media
Street Side Medics – a not-for-profit, GP-led mobile medical service dedicated to people experiencing homelessness – is calling on Canberra-based healthcare professionals to join its volunteer team ahead of the launch of its first ACT clinic.
Planned to officially commence operations in June or July 2026, the weekly clinic will provide free primary healthcare to locals experiencing homelessness and social disadvantage.
Street Side Medics is especially seeking local GPs but is also in need of other medical practitioners and van drivers to support the service through volunteer shifts.
The Street Side Medics clinic will operate every Thursday from 5pm–7pm at the Griffin Centre at 20 Genge Street in Canberra.
Volunteers are not expected to commit to a weekly roster, but to just one two-hour shift per month.
“The Street Side Medics model is entirely volunteer driven,” explains Street Side Medics Operations Manager, Leanne Akiki.
“We rely on the support of local healthcare professionals and community members to deliver our clinics, which operate from the same location each week. This consistency not only increases our reach but importantly, helps build trust and continuity of care with our patients.
“Those potentially able to help are encouraged to please contact us via volunteer@streetsidemedics.
The Street Side Medics Canberra clinic will operate in close partnership with St Vincent de Paul Society’s Vinnies Roadhouse, which also operates from the Griffin Centre and provides a safe and welcoming space for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, as well as those experiencing social isolation.
Through the partnership, vulnerable members of the community will be able to access free medical care via Street Side Medics’ fully customised mobile clinic (effectively a medical clinic on wheels) made possible through the support of generous partners including LSH Auto, alongside hot meals and the various other support services offered by Vinnies Roadhouse.
“Our expansion into Canberra is part of a long-term strategy to ensure as many Australians as possible can access primary healthcare. We’re grateful for the support of government and organisations including the John James Foundation, which is helping make this expansion into the ACT possible,” says Ms Akiki.
Founded by 2022 Young Australian of the Year Daniel Nour, Street Side Medics launched in 2020 and currently operates multiple clinics across New South Wales and Victoria. The charity focuses on areas with high concentrations of people experiencing homelessness.
According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data[i], 1,783 people were experiencing homelessness in the ACT in 2021, equating to a rate of 39 people per 10,000 residents. While the rate of people sleeping rough declined slightly from 1.4 per 10,000 in 2016 to 1.3 per 10,000 in 2021 (well below the national rate of 3 per 10,000), homelessness in the nation’s capital remains persistent and complex.
Furthermore, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data shows approximately 4,200 people accessed specialist homelessness services in the ACT in 2024–25, reflecting increasing demand across the region. At the same time, access to affordable healthcare remains a significant challenge, with the ACT continuing to record some of the lowest bulk billing rates in the country, well below the national average.
“People experiencing homelessness often face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, including cost, transport limitations, lack of awareness of services, and past negative experiences that can lead to mistrust.
“To help address these barriers, Street Side Medics provides bulk-billed care for Medicare card holders. For those without Medicare, or where payment is not possible, we operate a no-turn-away policy and ensure all patients are seen free of charge,” Ms Akiki adds.
General practice services provided by Street Side Medics include (but are not limited to): general health check-ups, chronic disease screening, acute infectious screening (including HIV, Hep C, Hep B, STI’s) immunisations, pathology services, diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions, screening tests and Medicare care plans, nutritional advice, minor surgical procedures and referrals to appropriate medical specialists.
Canberrans interested in learning more about how to support Street Side Medics are encouraged to visit streetsidemedics.com.au or email volunteer@streetsidemedics.
