By ALESHA CAPONE
A UNIQUE travelling medical team, which provides medical aid to homeless people, has started operating in St Albans.
The StreetHealth van is a mobile after-hours primary health facility for disadvantaged people – and also the first service of its kind in Victoria.
The service is a charitable extension of the Macedon Ranges and North Western (MRNWM) Melbourne Medicare Local.
The van presently operates at Whitten Oval in Footscray, Sunshine Train Station, Half Moon Caravan Park in Brooklyn, Hobsons Bay Caravan Park in Williamstown North and Honey Hush Caravan Park in Laverton.
Last week, the van extended its service to opposite St Albans Railway Station on Thursdays from 7pm to 10pm.
StreetHealth van GP Dr William Wong is a former Australian Army doctor who has served in New Guinea and Iraq.
Now working as a civilian doctor at Victorian defence barracks, including in Laverton, Dr Wong spends his nights assisting people sleeping rough on the streets.
“I feel our service is in some way making a difference, which helps motivate me,” Dr Wong said.
His regular StreetHealth clients include homeless people using the caravan parks as temporary homes, recently-released prisoners, people from interstate escaping domestic violence, job seekers and international students.
“Every week I quite a few sad stories as to how people have come to be in their current situations and, I suppose, as a professional you have to not become personally involved,” he said.
“People come with lacerations from fights right outside our van to people who have been assaulted six months earlier, and put up with their symptoms because they can’t access mainstream health care.
“Once at a caravan park, a parent bought in two young children – I think his daughter was about six – for a bit of a check-up.”
Dr Wong said his ability to speak Cantonese – plus the fact he is also a qualified dentist – has helped enormously in his street outreach work.
