Homelessness Action Now – National Homelessness Week

Homelessness Action Now – National Homelessness Week

This week, 4-10 August, is National Homelessness Week, an opportunity to advocate for change, to raise awareness of the impact of homelessness and the solutions needed to end homelessness.

The theme for the week is “Homelessness Action Now” – highlighting the need to build community support and government commitment to end homelessness.

Action now – the Homelessness Health Support Team Program

For Marathon Health, “action now” comes in the form of the Homelessness Health Support Team (HHST) Program.

Funded by the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, the HHST Program was introduced in response to the complex and often unmet physical health needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The initiative is a significant step forward in addressing the health inequities faced by vulnerable people. By providing intervention in the form of health supports and service navigation, this program is helping to fill a gap in support systems to connect vulnerable people with the help they need.

Meet the team behind the program

In recognition of National Homelessness Week, we caught up with Caitlin, HHST Care Worker based in Wagga Wagga.

Caitlin’s role allows her to live her passion for promoting equal access to health care and meeting individuals where they’re at. As a Care Worker, Caitlin walks alongside individuals to provide the support people need to break down barriers to accessing healthcare that will allow them to reach their health and wellbeing goals.

A typical day depends on participant needs

Caitlin tells us there’s no such thing as a typical day – but one thing remains constant – participant’s needs are the priority.

Caitlin’s day usually starts with a team check in. After that, the team, including Caitin, heads off to check in with current or to meet new participants to discuss and identify their goals, including getting started on personalised care plans. But that’s just the first piece of the puzzle – from there, the team provides the support needed to help participants navigate the healthcare system, access services, and build their health literacy.

“Our days include a combination of outreach across Wagga Wagga, Junee, Leeton, Griffth, Young and Holbrook, alongside providing in-person and phone-based participant support. We need to be flexible and understanding – all our interactions are shaped by the participant’s needs on that day.”

Impact from action

Since program establishment in December 2024, we have provided supports to 41 clients across the Murrumbidgee, with 32% identifying as First Nations.

The program delivers integrated, wrap-around supports that prioritise the individual’s physical health and wellbeing, with a focus on care coordination and service navigation to connect people to services they need, including local supports and Government funding or assistance schemes.

This service is supported by funding from firsthealth Limited and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network through the Australian Government’s PHN program.