Homeless Healthcare inspires Colleen and Sakina
By undertaking a Diploma in Leadership and Management, nursing caregivers Sakina Bhavnagarwala and Colleen Fossey were drawn to the lives of the disadvantaged and the impact homelessness can have on health care outcomes.
17 May 2017
17 May 2017
Linking with Homeless Healthcare, which is St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital’s Charity of the Year, our caregivers have shown compassion and care by gathering and donating items to help those in their time of need.
We spoke to Colleen and Sakina to find out more about their journey, and what they have learned through this experience.
Colleen Fossey
Sakina and I are both undertaking the Diploma in Leadership and Management, which is offered by St John of God Health Care through TAFE.
One of the requirements of the Diploma was an ‘immersion experience’, and we were both drawn to Homeless Healthcare.
We started by encouraging our fellow caregivers to donate toiletry bags, sleeping bags, swags, socks and thongs during our Christmas Decoration Competition, which was aptly themed ‘Walk a mile in my shoes’.
I was overwhelmed by the support and the care that surrounded us. Everyone was so generous and we were able to fill the tray of a ute and deliver our collections.
Homeless Healthcare shines the spotlight on what it means to be homeless, and the disadvantages these people face.
Did you know that we collect socks to donate not only to keep these people’s feet warm, but also to protect their feet from insect and bug bites that can cause health complications?
Being part of these charity efforts has made me much more aware of the facilities that provide health-related services that I didn’t even realise existed.
We are so passionate and will keep supporting Homeless Healthcare.
Sakina Bhavnagarwala
Coming from an underdeveloped country, I never expected to see similar social and health issues affecting people in such a developed, first world society.
Homelessness is a huge issue and one that deserves our attention and awareness.
I have developed a greater understanding of the barriers that being homeless causes and how Homeless Healthcare is helping to bridge these.
By providing things like a place where you can have mail delivered, this means people can have contact with government agencies and other community support agencies that may help them move forward.
Having access to showers and laundry facilities is an expectation for most of us, for those without a home – it allows them to be clean.
These basic things, along with ready access to healthcare, is something we often take for granted, but they are also important in preventing chronic disease and ill health.
About Homeless Healthcare
Did you know that there are around 130 000 homeless on any one night? Or that the average lifespan of a homeless person is 44.5 years of age?
Homeless Healthcare is a charity dedicated to providing healthcare to Perth’s homeless and marginally housed. A team of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals provide much needed access to healthcare.
Find out more at Homeless Healthcare
You may be interested in