Nurse practitioners improving access to primary healthcare

At Micah Projects, we recognise the strong connection between homelessness, social isolation, and poor health. These challenges can worsen existing conditions or contribute to new health issues, particularly when people are unable to access timely prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

Through our Inclusive Health Partnerships, we continue to expand access to care by strengthening existing collaborations and forming new partnerships across healthcare, housing, and social support services. Our goal is simple but powerful: to provide comprehensive, whole-of-person care that prevents health crises, improves overall wellbeing, and supports people to break free from cycles of homelessness and adversity.

Why primary healthcare matters

People who are homeless or unstably housed face a range of barriers to accessing healthcare from transport and cost, social isolation, to stigma and system complexity. As a result, this population experiences a significantly higher burden of chronic health conditions compared to the general Australian population. Primary healthcare plays a critical role in addressing this inequity.

Multidisciplinary team

Delivered by multidisciplinary teams of medical, nursing and health professionals, primary healthcare supports prevention, early intervention, and long-term health management, all essential for improving outcomes and reducing avoidable hospitalisations.

View our 2024-25 Inclusive Health Partnerships Annual Report

The role of nurse practitioners

Nurse Practitioners are highly trained healthcare professionals who bring advanced clinical expertise together with a strong focus on disease prevention, health education, and continuity of care.

At Micah Projects, our nurse practitioners work alongside people experiencing homelessness, domestic and family violence, or those at risk. Their approach centres dignity, safety, and long-term wellbeing, helping people navigate complex systems, address immediate health needs, and build trust in care over time.

Meet Daniel, Nurse Practitioner

A meaningful experience

“Some of my most memorable experiences have come after months of consistent, opportunistic engagement with participants. One participant had been sleeping rough for over eight months near our Boundary Street office. Our nursing team supported him through daily contact, medication administration, and clarification of his diagnosis. With coordinated support across multiple Micah Projects teams, we were able to assist him into permanent housing. He has maintained his tenancy ever since, which has been incredibly rewarding to witness.”

What I enjoy most

“I love the opportunity to engage with people I’ve never met before. Many participants have experienced significant hardship and have been excluded or let down by systems meant to support them. Building trust and walking alongside someone through those challenges is a real privilege. Working as an outreach Nurse Practitioner in homelessness — I honestly think I’ve got the coolest job in the world .”

Fun fact 

“I repair and collect typewriters! You’ll often find me in a park writing poetry on my 1968 Olivetti Lettera 32. ”

Meet Talay, Nurse Practitioner

A meaningful experience

“One of the most meaningful parts of my work is being there for women during some of their most vulnerable and complex moments - providing care, support, and connection to healthcare services when it’s needed most.”

What I’ve learned

“I’ve learned that being present, consistent, and reliable over time can deeply influence how safe and supported women feel in their care.”

Fun fact

“As a wahine Māori, whanaungatanga (connection and belonging) and manaakitanga (care for others) sit at the heart of who I am — making Micah Projects a place where I truly thrive.”

Our nurse-led clinics 

Our clinical nurses and nurse practitioners deliver care across a range of settings to meet people where they are, including:

• Domestic and Family Violence and Homelessness Services: Support for women experiencing domestic and family violence or homelessness.
• Pop-Up Clinics: Providing vaccinations, health screenings, and access to specialist services.
• Street to Home Outreach: Direct healthcare outreach on the streets, in motels, social housing, and boarding houses.

You can read more about our work in our 2024–25 Impact Report.

Find out more about our Inclusive Health Partnerships.

Read Health, Home, Hope. A research report on Inclusive Health and Wellness Partnerships.