What your support makes possible
On the Gold Coast, many people experiencing homelessness face significant barriers to accessing healthcare.
Not because they don’t want help, but because the system isn’t always designed to reach them. Your donation helps fund a full‑time UnitingCare QLD homelessness nurse, providing essential healthcare in the community and at our Homelessness Hub.
This includes:
- wound and skin care
- support managing chronic conditions
- medication and health check‑ins
- referrals to specialist services
- consistent, non‑judgemental care
"It’s about sharing humanity — and helping people feel seen, respected, and cared for."
Lorraine, UnitingCare QLD's Homelessness Nurse
Care built on trust
For many people experiencing homelessness, trust is essential to accessing healthcare.
Seeing the same nurse regularly.
Being recognised by name.
Having someone explain options clearly and follow up.
UnitingCare’s homelessness nurses build relationships over time — helping people feel safe to seek care earlier and more consistently.
That trust is what makes healthcare work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will my donation be used for?
Your donation helps fund a full‑time UnitingCare homelessness nurse currently available on the Gold Coast. This supports community‑based healthcare for people experiencing homelessness, including wound care, chronic condition management, medication support, referrals, and follow‑up care.
This service doesn't receive government funding and is made possible entirely through generous support.
With enough sustainable funding, we hope to expand this type of support to other areas in Queensland.
Why is a homelessness nurse needed?
Many people experiencing homelessness face barriers to accessing healthcare — not because they don’t want care, but because services aren’t always easy to reach.
A homelessness nurse takes healthcare into the community, meeting people where they are and helping them access care earlier and more consistently.
I’m considering a larger gift. What would it support?
This appeal supports the Gold Coast Homelessness Health Nurse Program, which delivers professional, community‑based healthcare to people experiencing homelessness.
The annual cost to run this program full-time is approximately $150,000, which covers:
- a qualified, full‑time registered nurse (salary and on‑costs)
- outreach equipment and clinical supplies
- IT and communications needed for community‑based work
- integration with UnitingCare’s homelessness and health services
Gifts at this level help experienced nurses like Lorraine work at full capacity — with the time and resources needed to build trust, follow up consistently, and deliver care properly.
When operating part‑time, the service supported 158 people in one year.
With a full‑time nurse, the program has the capacity to support 500 or more people annually, with stronger follow‑up, continuity of care, and collaboration with other services.
A major gift can:
- fund the nurse role for a defined period, or
- make a significant contribution toward sustaining the program and its impact
If you’re interested in making a larger or strategic gift, we welcome a conversation and are happy to share more detail about how your support could be directed and the outcomes it would help achieve.
Please contact our Fundraising team atfundraising@ucareqld.com.au or on 1800 411 660
Where does the nurse work?
Our specialist homelessness nurse works out of the UnitingCare Homelessness Hub and across community locations on the Gold Coast — including places where people already feel safe accessing support.
They work safely alongside housing, health, and social services to help connect people to longer‑term care.
How is this program different from other healthcare services?
This program is designed specifically to address barriers people experiencing homelessness face when accessing healthcare.
The service:
- is delivered in outreach and fixed locations, improving access
- does not require a Medicare card or fixed address
- is delivered by a specialist nurse embedded within homelessness services
Care is coordinated with housing providers, GPs, disability services, and community health partners to help people move from crisis‑driven care toward more stable health management.
Does my donation really make a difference?
Yes. This appeal is focused on funding a specific, practical role.
Every donation contributes to making consistent, professional nursing care available in the community to help prevent smaller health concerns from becoming serious emergencies.
Donations help ensure experienced nurses like Lorraine can spend more time providing care, and less time rationing it.
I can’t donate right now. How else can I help?
Sharing this appeal with your community helps raise awareness of the importance of accessible healthcare for people experiencing homelessness.
If you’d like to explore other ways to support UnitingCare, you can visit our main website for information on services, volunteering, and advocacy.
A meaningful EOFY gift
Donations made before 30 June are tax‑deductible.
More importantly, your support helps ensure compassionate healthcare is accessible to people experiencing homelessness — delivered with dignity and respect.
Help bring healthcare and practical support into the community.
All donations over $2 are tax‑deductible.
