Does paramedic empathy improve attitudes towards the homeless?

The Salvation Army has been in Australia for over 130 years and currently deliver in excess of 1000 specifically designed social programs across Australia. The Salvation Army Melbourne provides Social Service centres and programs that provide aid and support to people in need within the community and in the form of emergency assistance and rehabilitation. Several examples of this support includes the Youth Street Teams and Health Café. This project will explore paramedicine student volunteerism with The Salvation Army in Melbourne (CBD). Paramedicine students from Monash University will volunteer up to 40 hours working with Youth Street Teams and Health Café in the Melbourne CBD area with the aim of interacting with community members - particularly the vulnerable, disadvantaged and homeless. Throughout their shifts students work with other volunteers throughout the evening/morning engaging with those in need of assistance, support or require basic health assessments. These are often lacking in the homeless, and provide a unique opportunity for paramedic students to better understand the backgrounds, expectations and needs of these individuals. Equally, it provides vulnerable individuals with an opportunity to engage in basic health assessments and better understand the health care system if they require this in the future as a consumer.