Residents of Lakes Entrance now have access to Health on Wheels, a mobile health service supporting people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness across East Gippsland
and Wellington.
Commissioned by Gippsland PHN and delivered by Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, the service visits communities five days a week, including Lakes Entrance. Staffed by a registered nurse and homelessness outreach worker, it brings health care directly to people who might otherwise struggle to access clinics or general practitioners.
Gippsland PHN chief executive officer Amanda Proposch said homelessness in the region is becoming more visible, with rates
in East Gippsland significantly higher than the national average.
“This pilot is designed to break down barriers to care and provide community-based support for those who need it most,” she said.
The mobile clinic operates from a fully equipped, highly visible van, providing services such as health screening, chronic disease management, wound care, pathology collection, and referrals to digital health platforms including telehealth. It also includes a needle and syringe program and care coordination to help people access broader health and social services.
Gippsland Lakes Complete Health CEO Anne-Maree Kaser said early weeks
of the pilot have shown strong demand.
“Our team is meeting people in their own environments, building trust, and ensuring health care feels safe and accessible,” she said.
Health on Wheels complements other Homelessness Access Program initiatives, including telehealth
services at local Neighbourhood Houses, Breed Street Clinic, and Quantum Support Services.
