St Vincent’s has always offered hope and healing to those in need.
With your help, it always will
St Vincent’s is committed to the mission of the Sisters of Charity, to serve and care for people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged. This mission continues to drive St Vincent’s Homeless Health work today and is made possible thanks to generous donors and through bequests left to support St Vincent’s Hospitals.
I’ve seen a lot over the past 14 years I’ve worked caring for people experiencing homelessness, but I have never seen more rough sleepers in inner Sydney as there are right now,” says Erin Longbottom, Nurse Unit Manager for St Vincent’s Hospital Homeless Health Service. “We are seeing a lot more women sleeping rough, as local shelters are increasingly full, as well as students and a lot more older Australians.”
At St Vincent’s, our Homeless Health Service provides assessment, treatment, referral, and care coordination for people experiencing homelessness. The services include the Community Outreach Medical Emergency Team, whose medical staff provide care to people sleeping rough or in crisis accommodation.
St Vincent’s Homeless Health Service provided Nicolle with life-changing support during her time of need. When an infection in her leg became so severe that she couldn’t walk, Nicolle was admitted to hospital. With no one to look after her dog, Bahtji, Nicolle made the difficult decision to leave hospital. That was when Emma and Tim from St Vincent’s Medical Outreach team stepped in, checking in on Nicolle three times a week and providing wound care, so that she could remain with her much-loved companion.
After years of living on the street, the St Vincent’s team advocated to have Nicolle’s housing application reinstated. Thanks to care she received from them, Nicolle now has a place to live, is mobile, and can walk Bahtji.
Established in 2009, the Healing, Hope and Humanity Fund provides essential support for marginalised or disadvantaged patients, covering medical treatments they could not otherwise afford.
“In addition to providing care, a lot of what we do is about hope and wanting to create change for the future,” says Erin.
The continuation of the Healing, Hope and Humanity Fund would not be possible without support from generous donors and specifically Gifts in Wills to St Vincent’s. This generosity helps to ensure that the Sisters’ founding mission and values remain at the heart of our work at St Vincent’s.
If you are considering including a Gift in your Will to St Vincent’s Hospital that could support areas like the Healing, Hope and Humanity Fund,
please contact our team on 1800 800 595 or email SVHNS.Bequests@svha.org.au.
All discussions are held in strict confidence.