Salvos to provide free health clinic for Adelaide's homeless
Salvos to provide free health clinic for Adelaide's homeless
22 May 2017
Lynda Cunningham, SOS Health Foundation Manager, Jason Smith, SOS Health Foundation Founder/Chairman, Major Susan Wallace and Dr Katia Ferrar, University of SA - partnering in health care for Adelaide's most vulnerable.
The Salvation Army has partnered with the University of South Australia (UniSA) and SOS Health to provide a free physiotherapy and podiatry clinic at Adelaide Congress Hall.
Pioneered by Dr Katia Ferrar of UniSA , the Open Door Health Clinic will enable people experiencing homelessness to have access to health care services.
“It was important for me to find partners who had experience working with people experiencing homelessness,” said Dr Ferrar.
“The Salvation Army is a respected and trusted provider of services in the community. The wealth of knowledge, networks and existing referral pathways is invaluable when starting a clinic.”
SOS Health Foundation is the third partner in the venture, offering their knowledge about allied health services in remote and at risk communities.
“The work [The Salvation Army] do within the community means that we are able to identify the need for this service and the benefit it offers the communities we work with,” says Yusuf Hayat, Team Leader at The Salvation Army SA.
Designed as a portable clinic with no permanent fixtures, it takes less than half an hour to set up. When it is fully operational, it will have five consulting rooms, with all services provided by final-year students studying physiotherapy and podiatry at UniSA.
They will be supervised by qualified clinicians, and during student breaks SOS Health will provide qualified staff to run the clinic. Volunteer qualified allied health practitioners will also be invited to offer their services during student breaks.
Yusuf says the partnership adds to the free services The Salvation Army already provides for clients to cater for their mental health and vision needs.
“For people on low incomes, many of these services are unaffordable and people either put up with pain that can be avoided or better managed,” says Yusuf. “For our clients the partnership can prove to be the difference in making services available by removing costs.”
Funded by the AMP Tomorrow Maker Grant, which was awarded to Dr Ferrar in 2016, the clinic opened earlier this month with a special address from each partner, including The Salvation Army’s Major Susan Wallace, Assistant Divisional Programme Secretary for the South Australia Division. The three-way partnership ensures the clinic will be open throughout the year.
This is not the first time The Salvation Army has partnered with external organisations to provide free health care to the community.
At The Salvation Army’s Pindari Services in Brisbane, a partnership with the SOS Health Foundation has opened the doors for two physiotherapists to come to the centre each week to treat residents free of charge.
“This creates a safe place for residents to have treatment, many of whom haven’t had exposure to physio before,” said Salvationist Sue Bailey, Pindari’s Chaplain. “Most of those who have the physio here have said that they will now be comfortable attending further sessions in the community, once they leave Pindari.
“This is important for our residents whom we are helping to learn to create and engage in community once they leave here. The physiotherapists bring all their equipment and mainly treat injuries. We’re also looking into some exercise classes for the women that include basic stretching and ways to look after yourself. It’s a wonderful partnership.”
The SOS Health Foundation connects Allied Health professionals (physiotherapists and podiatrists) with hands-on opportunities to make a difference to the health and wellbeing of Australia’s poor. For more information see Soshealth.org.au
The Open Door Health Clinic runs out of Adelaide Congress Hall on Pirie Street, Adelaide. Physiotherapy services are currently offered, and podiatry services will be available in several weeks.
Appointments are available (but not necessary) from 1pm-4.30pm on Wednesday afternoons. Call 1800 316 790 for more information.
Comments
Amazing !! Well done - Salvos you are amazing ! This is a great idea , Susan Wallace 💐