Everyone likes to be touched -- but gentle touching is so new to many of these people, said Dr. Geoff Irvine, a Sydney, Australia chiropractor. He was speaking of the treatment given to the street people of Kings Cross, the red light district of Sydney, at the Wayside Chapel. The chapel houses a health center staffed by volunteers, including the health center's founder, Dr. Irvine.
The clinic has a bright, cheerful atmosphere which is a marked contrast to the Kings Cross world of strip clubs, teenage prostitutes, and drug pushers. "Its's a drug free alternative in a very drug oriented environment," said Dr. Irvine.
The clinic provides low cost treatment -- $5.00 a session, but free to those with no money -- for street people, pensioners, welfare recipients, and other low income earners. Along with a natural, health-oriented GP, a homeopath, two acupuncturists, and seven DCs work there one afternoon per week.
Patients from a wide spectrum attend. Many have suffered severe hardship. Some are drug addicts, ex-prisoners or schizophrenics. There are young street kids who live in squats and bins, or sleep in the street. They are largely on their own and have no one to look after them.
"Sure," said Dr. Irvine, "some are middle-class kids rebelling against authority or wealthy parents, but they're in the minority -- most of the kids have escaped abusive homes and situations."
Dr. Irvine established and runs the clinic with his wife Kit as the administrative force. He first thought of such a place for Sydney in 1988 when he heard that several chiropractic students had embarked on a similar venture in Melbourne's Salvation Army Sacred Heart Center.
"Getting it off the ground wasn't easy," he said, but after many negotiations and frustrations, particularly in finding a suitable venue, the Wayside Chapel secured a room. With volunteers from the community, and other chiropractors, the room was refurbished. Donations of paint, carpet, and many services, as well as the all-important tables from the Sydney College of Chiropractic, made the program a reality. Initially the center was operated only by chiropractors, but the idea snowballed and other types of practitioners joined in.
While recognizing that many people in Kings Cross are well beyond any help the center provides, Dr. Irvine says that it achieves a lot and he finds the work there rewarding. He speaks of the "good news" stories: A young, unmarried mother and ex-heroin addict now works at the center as a voluntary receptionist and is studying toward university entrance for a social work degree. Another success is that of a 17-year-old, paralyzed and suffering a speech impediment, who under chiropractic care has, according to Dr. Irvine now begun to get around very well and is trying to help a friend kick the heroine habit. "Chiropractic seem to somehow tapped the young boy's nurturing instincts," said Dr. Irvine.
Future plans for the Wayside Chapel clinic include shower and laundry facilities for street kids, to help them look presentable for job interviews. It is only an initial step for them, but a least it would be a step in the right direction.
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