(15/2/2019) City of Fremantle to fill Freo Street Doctor funding gap left by state government

The City of Fremantle is shaping to step in to fill a funding gap left by the state government by committing $20,000 to support the Freo Street Doctor.

Black Swan Health has been delivering the Freo Street Doctor mobile health service for more than 14 years using regular funding from the Department of Health’s South Metropolitan Health Service, but that funding will end on 30 June.

Fremantle Council’s Finance, Policy, Operations and Legislation Committee this week  voted to support a $20,000 donation to keep the Freo Street Doctor operating.

The FPOL decision will require the approval of the full council when it meets at the end of the month, with the donation to be considered as part of the 2019-20 budget process.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said it was extremely disappointing the state government had withdrawn its funding for the service.

“The Freo Street Doctor provides a vital service to some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable people in our society,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“38 per cent of the Street Doctor’s clients are Aboriginal, 36 per cent are homeless and 96 per cent say the service is their only source of health care.

“The Street Doctor has done an incredible job over the past 14 years to build relationships with their clients and provide easily accessible, non-judgmental care to people who really need it.

“Apart from the fact that this is yet another example of the state government shifting costs onto local governments, it’s very frustrating and a real shame that they can’t see the value in continuing to support such an important service.”

Freo Street Doctor delivers six mobile clinics per week. Each clinic operates for three hours with a general practitioner, volunteer nurse and outreach worker.

GP costs are covered by the federal government through Medicare, but financial support is required to cover operational costs.

The $20,000 donation from the City of Fremantle, if approved in the 2019-20 budget, would support indirect costs like the running costs of the two Freo Street Doctor vehicles, the salaries of outreach workers, clinical consumables and IT costs. 

The City will also lobby the state government to resume their responsibility for funding the service.