What Happens When Med Students Take Healthcare Into Their Own Hands

Somewhere in Brisbane, a few volunteers arrive with crates of medical supplies.

No big signs. No waiting room. Just a folding table, a few chairs, and a few hours carved out for the people who need it most.

This is a clinic.

And this is The VacSeen Project.

Born in a Pandemic. Grown on Purpose.

In 2021, while most of us were still adjusting to lockdowns and distancing, a group of Queensland university students noticed who was missing from the national health response — people experiencing homelessness.

So they stepped in.

With an immunisation nurse, some donated vaccines, and zero budget, they began offering free flu and COVID jabs to anyone who couldn’t easily access mainstream care.

“We didn’t have a plan,” says Hannah, one of the co‑founders.

“We just knew people were being left behind.”

The VacSeen Crew at a Signal Flare Event, 2025

Since then, The VacSeen Project has evolved into something bigger.

Now, their clinics offer general healthcare too:

• Wound care

• Health advice

• Basic prescriptions

• General checkups

• Health counselling

“We can do basic prescriptions, basic wound care, and things like that — just general checkups and answering questions and concerns that people might have,” Hannah explains.

“So now our model is that we run little pop-up clinics with other community organisations that are run by a GP, that have medical students and junior doctors volunteering.”

Each clinic isn’t just about treatment — it’s about giving people space to ask questions, get clarity, and access care on their terms.

How It Works

Each clinic is led by a GP and supported by med students and junior doctors who give their time for free. There’s no office or fixed base — everything is mobile, built around partnerships with community organisations.

“Everybody just tends to volunteer their time for specific clinics,” Hannah says.

In Brisbane, Hannah helps coordinate the Monday clinic, run in partnership with Hope Street Ministries at Roma Street Parklands.

“We arrive at 6 o’clock and volunteer for two hours… and see as many patients as we can.”

Clinics now run weekly across Brisbane, Toowoomba, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.

Want to Get Involved?

You don’t have to be a medical student to help.

“If people aren’t medical and they want to volunteer in other ways, we’re always looking for people to get involved.”

Get in touch with The Vacseen Project to find out how to get involved

🌐www.vacseen.org.au

To see what else we're up to, visit our Event Page