Since 2015 the Order of Malta Community Care Van been operating in Sydney, bringing medical care and essential goods to homeless people in the Archdiocese.

A second Order of Malta Community Care Van has now started operation in Parramatta Diocese, NSW on a Monday evening with a second weekly service anticipated to commence shortly.

The Parramatta Community Care Van is recruiting volunteers with full, unrestricted driving licences and medical, nursing or paramedical knowledge to help run the service.

“Nurses can make a huge difference to the homeless,” said Regional Hospitaller Mark Boffa. “They take blood pressure readings, bandage wounds and injuries, and have people in critical condition be admitted to emergency wards who might otherwise not be taken seriously.”

Volunteer drivers accompany the medical professional and also help by distributing goods and connecting the homeless to available services. Goods distributed include dental health kits, water, hygiene and women’s sanitary products, hats, sunscreen and the Order’s “Coats for the Homeless”.

“Our hope is that we will establish further Community Care Vans throughout NSW and ACT” explains Mark. “Our biggest obstacle is finding the funding for the set-up costs, including the vans themselves”.