Good things happen when health and housing unite.
Over the past two weeks, the CCQ Rockhampton Mobile Health Service has been on the ground supporting people experiencing homelessness and housing instability after the recent Central Queensland floods. The service has been delivered by Country to Coast Queensland (CCQ) with local regional partners and support from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
The goal has been simple: take healthcare to people, instead of expecting people to push through the usual barriers. With a nurse and a GP on board, the team has been able to treat issues early, including wounds, infections and other health concerns and connect people in with existing services for ongoing care. Early care like this can help stop small problems turning into emergency department visits or hospital admissions.
The temporary disaster response service wraps up at 6pm Sunday 1 February 2026. Rockhampton is no longer in emergency, but this work has shown what is possible when services turn up early and work together. CCQ will take these learnings into future planning so people are not left behind when the next event hits.
Thank you to our partners
CCQ thanks the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works (HOME outreach team), Roseberry QLD, CQID, 1300MEDICS, Rockhampton Central Medical Centre and ForHealth, Foodbank, Anglicare (MPIP), Jacks House, Vinnies, Orange Sky and the Salvos.
Building on CQ Zero
This work also builds on CCQ’s delivery of CQ Zero in partnership with Roseberry QLD, localising the national Advance to Zero initiative. CQ Zero has registered around 100 people experiencing homelessness in Rockhampton, many with high and complex health needs and frequent reliance on acute services.
Photo caption:
Fabian Webber, Homelessness Coordinator, CQ Zero, Roseberry QLD, Hayley Starr, CQ Zero Coordinator, Roseberry QLD, Olivia Naughtin, Director Healthy Communities, Country to Coast Queensland, Julie Sturgess, CEO, Country to Coast Queensland, Leann Dalton, Rockhampton Housing Service Centre, Sandra Hansen, Department of Housing and Public Works (HOME team), Kate Carmody, Clinical Nurse Consultant, 1300Medics, Dr Rabia Afridi, Rockhampton Central Medical Centre (ForHealth) alongside the CCQ Rockhampton Mobile Health Service.