Outreach nurse

Meet Gwenneth, one of Micah Projects' dedicated after-hours outreach nurses who helps care for people experiencing homelessness and hardship in Brisbane.

A day (and night) in the life

Gwenneth’s workday begins at 3pm. She starts by visiting people during daylight hours alongside a fellow registered nurse. As evening falls, she teams up with a support worker to continue outreach in parks and on the streets throughout the night.

“We each take a phone and a 2-way radio, and I take my kit (a big bag with everything a nurse will need in it) and my computer.”

Providing holistic care

While offering wound care, basic medications, and advice, Gwenneth and her team also coordinate with:

• Queensland Health’s Homeless Health Outreach Team
• Local boarding houses
• Rehabilitation centres
• Hospitals
• Volunteer doctors
• Other Micah Projects medical and social support services such as our 24/7 Street to Home homelessness outreach staff, 24/7 Brisbane Domestic Violence Service team, our Inclusive Health Partnerships and more.

Together, they aim to provide holistic care for people in the community.

Gwenneth explains that working together is essential to helping meet multiple needs for people.

“We do all of this with constant talk and advice and sharing of information with the care coordinator who is on the phone in the office,” Gwenneth say, “... I can relay what's going on to them and get a perspective that is collaborative, as the street environment may be a bit hectic.”

“The most important thing we do is connect and care, then we are able to help. This usually takes time and many meetings or communication on many different occasions,” says Gwenneth.

Gwenneth shares her experience

“We provide help to anyone we see during outreach on the streets or those referred to us by the hospitals and other organisations.

Most are homeless but many still get care and community from us when they are housed; they come to the parks to receive food, clothes and healthcare and connection.

Right now we are seeing people more unwell and cold, due to the winter season and cost of living.”

“Most [people we see] suffer from or have suffered from trauma, breakdown of family and relationships, homelessness, addiction issues (mostly to cope), mental health concerns, lack of healthcare, lack of community, as well as isolation, hopelessness, inability to connect, fear and domestic violence.”

Gwenneth finds purpose in this important work, “I am grateful to have meaningful work and really enjoy working in the streets with Micah Projects. I am also thankful that Micah supports us well to enable us to do what we do.” 

What else does Micah Projects do?

Micah Projects has multiple clusters of service to meet the needs of people facing adversity. These clusters look to help with health and social support work, homelessness and housing services, domestic and family violence crisis and recovery support, food relief, social connection and systems change.

️Learn how we work together

See more of our other health services for vulnerable people