Support for those experiencing homelessness in Bendigo has had a huge win with Bendigo Community Health Services’ InRoads program securing $600,000 from the Victorian Government.
InRoads Senior Program Lead Clare Woods said it was meaningful recognition of the enormous impact the team’s Community Connectors – Karl Quast and Rhiannan Engi – have had.
“This is an exciting win for health equity,” Clare said.
“I am so proud of this program and what it’s achieved. Our model of care is to meet people where they are, and that so often means at a time in a person’s life when they feel incredibly vulnerable and uncertain.
“Karl and Rhi do an amazing job of walking alongside over 70 individuals, offering care, time and practical help. This funding ensures they can continue to do that.”
InRoads is comprised of the Community Connections and Health Access programs, respectively. Community Connections began in 2023 thanks to funding from the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS). The program then joined forces with the Murray Primary Health Network (PHN) funded program Homeless Health Access to form InRoads.
The continued funding from Murray PHN and this new funding from the state government’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) means the program can look to the future and deliver services through to June 2028.
The VRU was established in December 2025 and works directly with community organisations, including BCHS, to help connect Victorians with targeted early interventions, when and where they’re needed.
Clare said a partnership approach was used to ensure the pilot program’s success with the hope always being to secure longer-term funding.
“From BCHS to the City of Greater Bendigo to the Bendigo Library, to local MP Maree Edwards, to the DJCS, MPHN and now to the VRU, it’s been a whirlwind of collective advocacy to secure continued funding but those who come in contact with InRoads see the positive impact it has on lives firsthand and want to see it’s continuation, and we’re so grateful for the support,” she said.
In 2025, InRoads Community Connectors – based at the Bendigo Library and BCHS’ Hargreaves Street site – and a dedicated nurse practitioner have:
- Supported more than 70 people over more than 1000 hours
- Supported more than 300 appointments
- Made more than 230 internal and external referrals
- Contributed to housing stability for at least 16 people.
“The funding injection from the VRU allows us to increase the clinical hours of our paramedic practitioner and boost our community connector presence in the library from the current four days a week to five,” Clare said.
“It’s a huge vote of confidence in the future of this program, and we want to thank the state government for giving us the momentum to keep building on everything we’ve achieved so far.”
With the rate of people experiencing homelessness remaining high in Bendigo and recent incidents involving those sleeping rough, this $600,000 investment couldn’t have come at a more pivotal time.
“Of the people we’ve supported into housing, 13 of 16 remain housed. That stability is transforming people’s ability to feel safe and grounded in community, with real flow-on effects for their physical and mental health,” Clare said.
“Our program acknowledges the trauma and stigma that the people we support hold and experience every day. We do this by sitting and listening to their stories, providing access to material aid to help work through daily barriers, coordinating referrals and appointments, and supporting people to make a link with a new service, and staying with them throughout the process.
“We really have had some inspiring moments of success in the program, and we want to keep that momentum going. Our support doesn’t end at one success, or at one person attending one appointment. We acknowledge that progress isn’t linear. It’s an immense privilege to walk alongside people and support them the way we do.”
*InRoads is supported by funding from the Department of Justice and Safety’s Community Support Fund.
"InRoads saved my life"
Sarah* is straight to the point when asked about the impact BCHS’ InRoads program has had for her.
“InRoads saved my life,” she said.
With over 30 hospital admissions, including intensive care stays, related to substance withdrawal and overdose to her name she reached out to an alcohol and drug service for help. After missing two appointments her health file was closed. She then turned to InRoads, which works differently in that there is no appointment quota and no file closure.
This year alone Community Connector Karl (pictured right, not with Sarah) has supported Sarah in a variety of ways including gathering medical evidence for paperwork to receive income support, attending multiple GP and nurse practitioner appointments, completing a full intake and assessment for AOD services, progressing a referral toward stable housing, attending a meeting on her behalf regarding engagement with her children, ongoing material aid around clothes, shoes and food, as well as ongoing wellbeing support.
“This has all meant everything,” she said.
Karl is equally straight to the point when it comes to how he has supported Sarah to turn things around. “This trust is built slowly, in the small moments,” he said.
“Sarah is one of my greatest teachers. It is a privilege to have her allow me to be in her life.
“I treat this type of trust – that Sarah has given me from the situation she has found herself in – with humility and the ever-present understanding that Sarah knows her life and her needs better than I ever will.
“I’m proud of how things are turning around for her.”
Sarah is now receiving income support she is entitled to, is in the queue for AOD treatment and listed as a priority and has been referred (and is awaiting an outcome) for housing.
*Sarah’s name has been changed to protect her identity.