One Year on at the Brisbane Homeless Services Centre
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Twelve months ago Mater nurse Ros Butler took up a challenging role as a community clinical nurse working at the Brisbane Homeless Services Centre. She is Mater’s contribution to the centre, which is run by Micah, a non-government organisation that provides services to marginalised people. In the time since her appointment she has seen over 200 individual patients with medical conditions as varied as scrapes and bruises, drug-related illnesses and cancer.
“There’s no knowing what you might end up doing in a day,” she said. “It’s a wonderful environment to work in. It’s very respectful and cooperative. Everyone who walks through the door gets a second chance, and a third and a fourth.”
She regularly refers her clients to Mater Adult Hospital, and mothers who require antenatal care to Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
The Centre focuses on providing early intervention, finding emergency crisis accommodation and providing preventative health measures and providing referrals for more acute conditions. The street-to-home program is an initiative particularly close to Ros’s heart.
“We have managed to house ten people who have been homeless for over ten years,” she explains. “We have secured specific funding to house the people on Riverside Drive (a park under the South Brisbane rail bridge) from Brisbane City Council.”
She follows up on these clients, ensuring that they continue with the medical treatment and practical support they require, often in coordination with a doctor.
“It is essential to create a relationship based on trust with each client, and ensure a continuity of care.”