Mobile health outreach supporting Bundaberg residents during flood recovery

As Bundaberg moves into the next phase of recovery following recent flooding, a temporary mobile primary healthcare service is helping residents access essential medical care closer to where they are staying.

Operating daily from Saturday 14 March 2026 to Friday 27 March 2026 inclusive, the outreach service runs for approximately five hours each day and is staffed by an experienced general practitioner and nurse. The team is providing health assessments, chronic disease support, medication management and referrals to ongoing care.

The service is focused on supporting residents whose living circumstances have been disrupted by the floods, including people staying in temporary accommodation or experiencing homelessness. For many, accessing a clinic or managing existing health conditions has become more difficult during the recovery period.

Local partners report that people experiencing homelessness or housing instability often face higher and more complex health needs, with disaster recovery periods increasing the risk of interruptions to medication, chronic disease management and routine care.

There were 649 people experiencing homelessness in Bundaberg LGA in 2021(ABS Census 2021). The Bundaberg Local Housing Action Plan suggest that figures are significantly higher, with unofficial estimates around 1,800 – 2,000 people experiencing homelessness.

Data collected using the Australian Homelessness Vulnerability Triage Tool through the Wide Bay ZERO initiative, shows that in the Wide Bay region this cohort has high and complex health needs and a heavy reliance on acute health services:

• 75% have a serious ongoing health condition
• 39% have presented to an emergency department five or more times in the past 12 months
• 30% have used ambulance services five or more times in the past 12 months
• 36% have been admitted to hospital five or more times in the past 12 months.

Country to Coast Queensland Healthy Communities Director Olivia Naughtin said maintaining access to primary care is an important part of helping communities stabilise after disasters.

“Recovery continues well beyond the immediate emergency phase. People may still be dealing with displacement, disrupted routines and uncertainty about where to seek help,” Ms Naughtin said.

“By bringing healthcare directly into the community, we can support residents to stay well while they rebuild their lives and reconnect with regular health services.”

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing through Country to Coast Queensland’s PHN program, the outreach service is being led by Country to Coast Queensland with support from local community organisations and clinicians linked to the Bundaberg Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which is operated by ForHealth. Through this connection, experienced GP and nursing care can be brought closer to people who need it during recovery.

The service is working alongside the broader response and is designed to help residents access care early, reconnect with services and reduce the risk of health issues becoming more serious during recovery. This also supports the wider health system, including Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, during a period of ongoing demand.

This response has been made possible through local collaboration, including partnerships with the Department of Housing and Public Works, specialist homelessness services including Regional Housing and other community organisations helping the health team to locate people, build trust and support access to care. In-reach to shelters, transitional accommodation and food services has also been critical, ensuring clinical time is used effectively and care is available wherever people are staying.

Community organisations or services supporting people affected by flooding who would like to arrange an outreach visit can contact Olivia Naughtin on 0459 254 708 or email [email protected].

Residents needing non-emergency medical advice can call 1800MEDICARE (1800 633 422) at any time to speak with a registered nurse. Urgent but non-life-threatening conditions can also be treated at the local Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, and people can use the healthdirect Service Finder online to locate nearby healthcare services.

The temporary initiative is working alongside local partners to identify residents who may be facing ongoing health risks following the flooding and to support safe reconnection to longer-term care as recovery progresses.

Country to Coast Queensland will continue to monitor local health impacts and work with partners to support community wellbeing during the recovery period.

Outreach examples:

An example of the type of outreach care being provided through the Bundaberg Mobile Health Service includes supporting people in the community who require wound care follow-up after surgery or recent hospital treatment.

Outreach clinicians have been able to assess wounds in community settings, identify risks early and help connect people with the right supports. This has included linking individuals with local housing or community services to ensure they have a safe environment to recover, as well as coordinating earlier clinical review through general practice, outpatient services or the Medicare Urgent Care Clinic where appropriate.

By bringing care closer to people and strengthening connections between health and social services, the Bundaberg Mobile Health Service is helping to prevent avoidable deterioration in health conditions and reduce the likelihood of ambulance callouts or Emergency Department presentations.

Media spokespeople available for interview may include:

• Olivia Naughtin, Healthy Communities Director, Country to Coast Queensland
• Kim Pryce-Lunt, Director Queensland Medical Centres, ForHealth
• Clinical outreach team member/s, subject to availability
• Representative, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service

Learn more or get in touch: c2coast.org.au/mobile-health-service

Community members can also access a range of primary care services in the Bundaberg region including:

• Medicare Urgent Care Clinic

• Medicare Mental Health

• 1800MEDICARE

• Healthdirect Service Finder