The GP clinic for patients often overlooked by society

Dr. Nada Andrick, a general practitioner at the Reverend Bill Cruz Clinic in Sydney's Ashfield and Blacktown suburbs, shares her deeply human approach to caring for society's most marginalized patients. The clinic, celebrating its 40th anniversary, serves people who are homeless, undocumented, living in crisis, or disconnected from mainstream healthcare systems—individuals often excluded due to lack of Medicare, housing, or language proficiency. Nada describes a holistic model of care where medical treatment is inseparable from social support, housing advocacy, mental health care, and trauma-informed communication. She emphasizes the importance of time, trust, and dignity in building relationships with patients who have experienced profound loss, violence, and systemic neglect. Through powerful stories like Mary, a traumatized migrant mother, and Frances, a homeless woman with delusions and no teeth, Nada illustrates how basic human connection—combined with coordinated care—can begin to heal complex, cascading crises. Her own migrant background and family’s journey to Australia deepen her empathy, fueling her commitment to being a 'safe space' for those who have been failed by institutions.