2014 $100,000 Primary Grant was awarded to:
Homeless Healthcare (previously Mobile GP) – Having provided healthcare to the homeless and marginalized in Perth since 2008 they applied to Impact100 WA for funding for a 2 year pilot program of a new service: mobile healthcare for rough sleepers. The program included a part-time nurse and outreach worker out on foot, in the parks, streets and areas where homeless people congregate offering basic healthcare for 3 hours, 5 mornings a week, with a GP on call. Services included general health checks, immediate first aid, ongoing wound care and through consistent outreach, an integration of disenfranchised patients into the health care system and flow on access to traditional homelessness services.
The improved relationships evolved during the project resulted in greater collaboration between agencies and a more holistic care approach, for example Royal Perth Hospital now sends outcomes and care plans for patients known to HH advising when patients have been discharged, allowing for followup care and reducing hospital presentations.
In the 12 months 2015-2016, Street Health has carried out 929 consultations with 427 rough sleeping individuals. Examples of the care provided include 128 major wound dressings and 81 minor wound care events, 24 diagnoses of diabetes and 17 urgent mental health referrals. The presence of an Assertive Outreach worker on Street Health rounds brings expertise in community services for rehousing and support to public places to start the process of engaging rough sleepers in coming off the street and into accommodation to address the social determinants of health. The coupling of health and community services means that Street Health is able to make a real impact on the lives of rough sleepers, recognising that both issues need to be addressed simultaneously. Thanks to Street Health, many rough sleepers are now regularly attending a general practice and are being rehoused and supported by programs such Street to Home and the 50 Lives 50 Homes collaboration.
You can read more about the success of the Street Health program here
$10,000 Minor Grant Winners:
Autism West – Youth Engaging Successfully (YES) is currently a Perth based programme that targets 13-18 yr olds with an autism spectrum disorder. This is a severely underserved population of children who have very few other means of socialising and learning life skills outside of their families. Austism West are looking to extend the programme into Metro Perth (Leeming, Joondalup, Kalamunda) as well as running it in Albany. YES aims to provide support for children on the spectrum to cope with the complex and often isolating social demands of the senior school years. The children who attend develop strong friendships in their peer group, making positive changes in their behavioural and social development. Parents of children who attend also find that they build a family of support around themselves simply by connecting with people who are experiencing the same challenges. One audience member was so moved by their presentation at the dinner that they received an extra donation of $10,000, enabling them to partly realise their plan.
Kalparrin – Kalparrin provide practical and emotional support for the families and carers of children with special needs, regardless of degree of severity or type of impairment. Read about the two programs they ran with their minor grant at their grant acquittal reports here: Kalparrin-Growing-Up-Acquittal-Report, Kalparrin -Caring-Blokes-BBQ-School-Aquittal-Report In 2015 Kalparrin re-applied for and won a $100,000 Primary Grant – click here to read about their success.
EdConnect (formerly School Volunteer Program – SVP) – Established in the 1990s, SVP have been working within 200 WA schools with students from 7-17 years old by providing community volunteer mentors. These mentors engage with at-risk children in a one-on-one scenario for a minimum of 1 hour per week, enabling them to better fulfil their academic potential, build resilience and support the emotionally at risk. The grant would be used to extend the program regionally (Wheatbelt, Great Southern and South West WA) into a further 31 schools potentially reaching 100s of vulnerable children. Mentors typically come from the older generation within the school’s community which leads to intergenerational contact and stronger communities. Edconnect also picked up an additional $5,000 on the night from a generous audience member!