PAT, the ACT’s purpose-built mobile health outreach clinic for vulnerable Canberrans, now provides healthcare at the Early Morning Centre in Civic, a community hub supporting homeless and socially isolated people.

Homeless Canberrans can now access several essential support services in one location, health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said.

The PAT (Pathways to Assistance and Treatment) mobile clinic provides mental health, alcohol and other drug (AOD) services, social support, case management, and GP services. It is staffed by a GP, nurse, and alcohol and drugs counsellor.

• Chat with PAT: mobile health clinic expands (5 June 2021)
• A ‘chat to Pat’ could save a life (23 November 2020)

The mobile clinic started delivering services at the Early Morning Centre last month. It is outside the premises every Monday from 9am until noon, at the same time as the Orange Sky ‘Frosty’ van, which washes laundry for free. PAT replaces the two-hour weekly primary health care service supported by the Capital Health Network.

• More support for vulnerable at Canberra’s Early Morning Centre (21 December 2022)
• Early Morning Centre is a lifesaver for homeless Canberrans (14 September 2022)
• HelpingACT feeds homeless at the Early Morning Centre (13 September 2022)

Nicole Wiggins, UnitingCare Canberra’s city director, said the Chat to Pat bus would allow its vulnerable clients to easily access the medical help many urgently needed.

Ms Stephen-Smith said that vulnerable Canberrans (including homeless people) often have complex health concerns, but rarely seek primary or preventive health care. This could be due to financial barriers, difficulty accessing primary healthcare services, or poor experiences with healthcare providers.

“By bringing ‘Chat to PAT’ to the Early Morning Centre, we are ensuring more Canberrans can access primary and preventive health services, helping to combat chronic disease and improve people’s overall health and wellbeing,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.

The ACT Government has funded Directions Health Services since 2021 to deliver PAT. Bronwyn Hendry, CEO of Directions Health Services, said the organisation was pleased to partner with Early Morning Centre to increase access to health services for their clients.

“This weekly service to the EMC is even more critical now as the reduction in the number of GPs who bulk bill in the Canberra has meant it is more difficult for marginalised people to access the health services they need.”