Salvos partner with doctors to bring hope to the NSW Hunter region
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
BY LAUREN MARTIN
Street Side Medics, a service dedicated to providing excellent healthcare to people experiencing homelessness, has launched its first service in the NSW Hunter region, working alongside the Newcastle Corps.
In March, Street Side Medics began operating on Fridays from the carpark at Newcastle Corps during the lunchtime hot-meal service, which The Salvation Army provides to around 80 people experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, loneliness, isolation, financial stress and other needs.
Also on-site on Fridays is Orange Sky Australia, which provides free laundry facilities.
Street Side Medics Clinic Coordinator Anna Finter said ever since meeting Corps Officer Major Leanne Bennett and the team last year, The Salvation Army has been incredible to work alongside.
“They have a wonderful reputation in the community … and we are really happy to be partnering with them, and it’s just a wonderful way for us to kick off and integrate into the community in Newcastle.”
Street Side Medics always chooses a site where it can park its mobile medical van alongside a community meal and where there is also preferably another partner organisation offering a service at the same time. Those criteria made Newcastle Salvation Army’s busy Friday ministry day a perfect location.
“They put on a massive service and also create a great community vibe,” said Anna.
The Salvos’ Holy Grounds mobile coffee van and the Orange Sky Australia mobile laundry van were on duty throughout the day.
The official launch of the new service took place in early April with community partners, Street Side Medics volunteers, supporters, local elected members and community members who attend Newcastle Corps.
The Salvos’ Holy Grounds Coffee Van offered free coffee to those gathered, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
“It really highlighted the strength of the model and the way the service is designed to succeed,” said Anna. “Through community, collaboration and local support.”
According to Leanne, the collaboration with Street Side Medics is just one of a number of significant changes that have occurred over the past year, showing how God is moving to bring holistic ministry to the city’s most marginalised community members.
“We believe we can’t effectively tell people about Jesus if we don’t know them, and so [collaboration with other services] is a perfect way to build relationships with the community by offering so many things which they can access as a ‘one-stop-shop’.”
And, in the midst of it all, she said, the love of Jesus is being seen and felt, and the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit is being heard:
“We are sharing the love of Jesus, transforming one life at a time.”
