I acknowledge all our distinguished guests, including Her Excellency the Governor of New South Wales and former Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
It is a pleasure to be here with you to celebrate the work and the success of the people who make up Street Side Medics.
The volunteer doctors, nurses and social workers – the heartbeat of this great organisation.
I’d also like to acknowledge my remarkable friend, Dr Daniel Nour.
As a young man he had a vision to make a difference for people experiencing homelessness.
In 2020, that vision became the reality of Street Side Medics, and since then it has grown into something very much worth celebrating.
Making sure the most vulnerable in our community don’t fall through the cracks and miss out on the healthcare they need and deserve, as our fellow Australians.
Because one of the most challenging aspects of homelessness is addressing the question of health care and access to it.
There are barriers for people on the street that span a lack of health education, distrust of the system and what must feel like endless practical troubles.
And while we all work towards the day when Street Side Medics is no longer required, it is this organisation that makes a world of difference in breaking down those barriers to a healthier life for those who are doing it tough.
Tackling issues like homelessness needs to be an all-in effort.
And I’m proud that my Government took a commitment to the last election to provide $2.6 million over four years to support Street Side Medics in their work.
The daily medical care that you provide – immunisations, pathology, nutritional advice and minor surgeries – literally saves lives.
But on top of that vital work, what is so valuable about Street Side Medics is that as an organisation, it acts as a social touchstone for those who need it most.
A beacon of kindness and community for Australians in need.
It is a reality that too many Australians experience homelessness.
For those who end up with no choice but sleeping rough, life is uncertain and often unsafe.
Street Side Medics provides real help, and the financial support from everyone here will assist their work.
As Prime Minister I want to see a reduction in homelessness.
We are implementing our $9.3 billion, 5-year National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness, supporting states and territories to deliver homelessness services and social housing.
And we’re building 55,000 social and affordable homes – because the key to addressing our housing crisis is increasing supply.
We need to build more homes, more quickly – especially social and affordable homes.
Over the last five years Street Side Medics has gone from strength to strength.
This time last year I spoke at the Melbourne launch, celebrating an expansion of your work into Victoria, servicing St. Kilda and the Melbourne CBD.
Tonight we mark the beginning of the next chapter of Street Side Medics, taking the mission nationwide.
This is a tribute to the hard work of a dedicated organisation focused on lifting people up, and should be a source of immense pride.
The work you do together is one of the greatest example of the Australian tradition of giving back, and it is one that I am proud to support tonight – and into the future.