BCHS Annual Report 2025 - Report - Page 7
Making InRoads where it’s needed most
Clare Woods has a passion for people… and data. It’s
an unusual pairing, but it may just be a combination
that will change lives forever as she drives forward an
ambitious program for Bendigo Community Health
Services: the InRoads program.
In the 昀椀rst six months of 2025, InRoads:
• Delivered 435 engagements
• Provided 498 hours of direct contact and referral
management to 42 individuals
Placing two Community Connectors – Karl and Rhiannon
- on the streets of Bendigo’s CBD, the program aims to
improve healthcare access for individuals at risk of or
experiencing homelessness. By providing one-on-one
support and addressing systemic barriers, Inroads seeks
to enhance health outcomes through a non-judgemental,
trauma-informed, opportunistic, and low-barrier model
of care.
• Facilitated and supported 118 internal health
appointments (64 with a Nurse Practitioner and 19
with a GP)
• Seen a drop in missed appointments; down to less
than 20 per cent.
“The InRoads program is focused on building trust and
working at an individual’s pace to reconnect with health
and social services,” Clare says. “It’s about meeting
people where they’re at.
The team has supported more than 40 individuals so
far and Clare was proud to report that they had an 80
per cent success rate of program participants attending
appointments. This is no small feat given the day-to-day
challenges an individual seeking support may be facing.
“Our Community Connectors bridge the gap between
a service’s policies and an individual’s day-by-day
capacity. They also o昀昀er conversation, kindness and
care when it’s needed most.
“The program’s model of care is already showing
strong results,” Clare says. “State and local government
services, NGOs and health services are all reporting
improved engagement with their clients that are being
supported by our team.”
“The health systems in place now are too rigid, set up
for the few not the many. If we were to set up systems
around the most vulnerable in our community and build
out from there all services would be much more inclusive
and accessible for everyone.”
7
