I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and I pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
It is such a privilege to be here with you today.
The arrival of Street Side Medics in Melbourne represents a fresh chapter in a great Australian story - a story that begins with a great Australian and former Young Australian of the Year, Dr Daniel Nour.
I know Dr Nour is keen to emphasise what a team effort it's been. To quote him:
There's nothing special about me ... but with a number of other people we've built something amazing.
While the second part of that statement is rock solid, I'll very gently disagree with the first.
This all began with Dr Nour and his vision of how to ensure that people who are experiencing homelessness don't fall through the cracks and miss out on the healthcare they need.
Homelessness is the tough reality for too many Australians. My Government is making meaningful progress in tackling it. Among our measures is the $9.3 billion, 5-year National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness.
This provides funding to the states to help those who are either experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and supports the effective functioning of Australia's social housing and homelessness services sectors.
We'll keep working, but we know lasting solutions will take time.
Among the many challenges homeless people face, health looms large.
So much stems from the barriers that stand between homeless people and access to medical care. Barriers that span the spectrum from cost to lack of awareness to mistrust of the medical system.
Street Side Medics erase those barriers. In Dr Nour's words:
Lots of people refuse help but no one refuses kindness and what we show to them is we don't need to provide just medical care, we can have a conversation and a friendly face and that makes a world of difference.
That world of difference is made possible by the energy, compassion and selflessness of the army of Street Side Medics volunteers.
Nurses, GPs, neurologists, physiotherapists - you name it, they're out there treating everything from wounds to cancer, doing blood tests, administering vaccinations and performing ultrasounds
We all look forward to the day when Street Side Medics are no longer required.
Until that day comes, you are a source of light in the darkness, working through the night and changing lives for the better.
And in the process, you are making our country better.
You deserve the gratitude - and support - of all Australians.
