Over the past 12 months, Soul Clinic has become a trusted and welcoming healthcare service for individuals experiencing homelessness, disadvantage and complex health challenges across the Newcastle region.

Delivered in partnership with Soul Hub and funded by the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (the PHN), the clinic was established to provide accessible, trauma-informed healthcare for guests of Soul Hub within a safe and familiar environment. This model recognises that health outcomes are deeply connected to housing, safety, wellbeing, connection and trust.

Since officially launching in March 2025, during its first 12 months Soul Clinic has delivered:

  • 198 clinics
  • 1,893 GP appointments
  • Support for 693 guests
  • Care for 305 new guests accessing the service for the first time.

What makes Soul Clinic unique is the way healthcare, social support and community services work together to support guests both inside and outside the clinic room. The clinic works closely with Soul Hub social workers and guest support coordinators to support guests experiencing health challenges, mental health concerns, social and housing instability, recognising that each element is of equal importance in a persons ability to maintain wellness. This includes regular care planning and collaboration with a wide range of local organisations and services. Over the past year, the clinic team has built strong relationships with community dental providers, mental health services, housing and homelessness supports, drug and alcohol services, hospitals and NDIS providers. These partnerships help guests access the support they need more easily, without having to repeatedly tell their story or navigate complicated systems alone.

Soul Clinic has also worked closely with other Hunter Primary Care programs while introducing a range of health and wellbeing supports including:

  • Individualised GP Management Plans
  • Preventative health screening as a standard
  • Diabetes education with upcoming DAPS+ individual case conferences
  • POC Hepatitis C testing
  • DACS Q&A sessions with a clinician to discuss options available and pathways
  • Weekly mental health clinicians
  • Education and support sessions for guests.

The clinic also works closely with NSW Health hospital and community teams to help guests transition safely back into the community after leaving hospital and stay connected to ongoing care and support by developing working relationships with our local teams and clinicians. The team helps guests connect with specialist services, advocates for affordable care where possible and supports people through the referral process, helping reduce barriers that can often prevent people from accessing healthcare.

Together, these partnerships help provide more connected, person-centred care for people experiencing significant disadvantage.

Clare, Integration Coordinator at Soul Clinic, reflected on the impact of the model during its first 12 months. “It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside the incredible team at Soul Hub over the past year. Soul Clinic would not exist in the way it does without the support, knowledge, compassion and sense of community that Soul Hub provides every single day. Being part of this model of care has highlighted the importance of slowing healthcare down, building trust and recognising how strongly factors such as housing, connection, safety and wellbeing impact overall health outcomes. By taking the time to work alongside people at their own pace, within a familiar and safe space, the clinic has been able to focus not only on immediate clinical needs, but also on preventative health, education, mental wellbeing and long-term stability.”

Matt, General Manager of Soul Hub said “Soul Clinic is a wonderful collaboration between large and small – Soul Hub, a small local charity and Hunter Primary Care, a larger regional healthcare provider. Together we are providing medical services through the Soul Clinic to vulnerable people who have fallen through the gaps between other services. The Soul Clinic’s multi-disciplinary team is supporting some of Newcastle’s most vulnerable homeless, housing insecure, mentally unwell, addicted and/or socially isolated people. Together we are creating a small island of hope for vulnerable people who often fall through the gap.”

Billy’s Story

Billy* is a 22-year-old guest who has lived with complex mental health challenges since adolescence, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, resulting in long periods in hospital and ongoing support from mental health services.

After connecting with Soul Clinic in mid-2025 for ongoing treatment and support, Billy became a familiar and trusted face within the Soul Hub community, regularly checking in not only for healthcare, but also for connection, reassurance and support navigating everyday life.

Earlier this year, Billy experienced a significant increase in mania symptoms alongside severe insomnia, made even more difficult by unstable housing and ongoing safety concerns. Despite ongoing support from the clinic, Billy’s mental health continued to decline and his sleep became increasingly difficult. Through close collaboration with Billy’s previous mental health team, Soul Clinic was able to arrange a one-off psychiatry review without requiring Billy to go through a lengthy new referral process.

Following changes to his treatment and ongoing support from the clinic team, Billy experienced a significant improvement in sleep, daily functioning and symptom management. The support helped Billy avoid further mental health crises and stay connected to care.

Today, Billy continues to engage closely with Soul Clinic and Soul Hub. He is beginning to address his housing situation, reconnect socially and with family and has recently started attending a local educational facility.

*Billy’s name has been changed for privacy.