Homelessness Program – Outreach Byron Bay

The 2026 NSW statewide street count identified 732 people visibly sleeping rough on the North Coast, with 245 of these people in the Byron Shire LGA. The street count is based on specific criteria and does not include people experiencing housing insecurity.

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 often nurses as well, 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 Fletcher Street Cottage.

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 conducts the clinic at Fletcher Street Cottage 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 lead to determining the assertive outreach model as the best way to meet the identified need of this vulnerable community.

The Homelessness Outreach Program delivers a weekly clinic at Fletcher St Cottage in Byron Bay, with a GP attending the centre to deliver the clinical services.

These services address the clients needs in relation to their mental health, Alcohol and other drug use and other health concerns. The GP will also work closely with the existing support services at Fletcher Street Cottage, 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.