Homelessness Program – Outreach Coffs Harbour

The 2026 NSW statewide street count identified 732 people visibly sleeping rough on the North Coast, with 151 of these people in the Coffs Harbour LGA, (an increase from 99 in 2025). The Street Count is based on specific criteria and does not include people experiencing housing insecurity, sleeping on couches or in overcrowded accommodation.

People experiencing or at risk of homelessness often have difficulties with getting the healthcare they need through traditional services. Healthy North Coast and their partners identified a need for a new way of delivering primary care, whereby GPs and nurses work closely with other support services to provide an appropriate medical service.

The clinic will assist people with their physical and mental health, any alcohol and other drug issues and work closely with the housing, homeless and social support services that are also based at Pete’s Place.

This service is delivered according to an assertive outreach model, to make sure that people that most need these services can access them. This model is used with people who generally have difficulties engaging with or attending traditional health services.

This means that the GP and nurse conduct the clinic onsite alongside existing services, to ensure that the different agencies can work together to best meet the needs of the clients. This service model is also designed to assist with connecting the clients with local GPs and health services.

HNC has consulted with representatives from local council, the LHD, community services (specifically delivering Homelessness and Housing services), AMSs and the Department of Communities and Justice. The result of this extensive stakeholder engagement led to determining the assertive outreach model as the best way to meet the identified need of this vulnerable community.

This Homelessness Outreach Program delivers regular clinics (3 sessions per fortnight) at Pete’s Place in Coffs Harbour, with a GP and nurse attending the centre to deliver the clinical services.

These services address the client’s needs in relation to their mental health, Alcohol and other drug use and other health concerns. The clinical team will also work closely with the existing support services at Pete’s Place, including the homelessness support and social workers to deliver effective outcomes for the people in this region experiencing homelessness.

A key part of the service delivery is the GP and practice team partnering with HNC to participate in discussions around service evaluation, to ensure the service remains effective and delivers against the desired objectives and outcomes.

The objectives of this program are to:

• increase the access to clinical services for this population
• improve the general health of this population through increased ongoing monitoring of chronic conditions
• increase the connectivity in the local health system and assist with referring clients into local GP and hospital/community health services.