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In case you missed it....We have published a series of e-Bulletins focused on COVID-19 related information and resources. You can view previous e-Bulletin editions here, or visit our website's COVID-19 Information and Resources page to see a collection of many of our previously circulated resources. If you are not already subscribed to our e-Bulletin, please subscribe here. Multilingual COVID-19 resourcesThe Victorian Government continues to produce multilingual campaigns with key COVID-19 messages. Now available: Stage 4 Restrictions - Metro Melbourne messaging in 56 languages (Poster, audio message, social media tile). Access the full stakeholder pack here. Stage 3 Restrictions - Regional Victoria (Poster, audio message, social media tile). Access the full stakeholder pack here. Other available multilingual campaigns include the Worker support payment and Get tested Emergency financial assistance for people living in VictoriaRed Cross is delivering the Extreme Hardship Program for people ineligible for income support. Applications can be made via web based portal here: In addition to the online application available through the Red Cross website, a dedicated phone line (1800 855 240) is now available to respond to people needing support to apply for financial assistance at the Red Cross. The phone line is open from 9.30am-4.30pm Monday-Friday. There is also a FAQ available and flyer. Note, there is also an International Student Emergency Relief Fund for people who are unable to access Commonwealth income support. Accessing the COVID-19 $1500 Pandemic Leave Disaster PaymentThe Commonwealth Government’s Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment for Victoria replaces the Victorian Government’s $1500 Coronavirus (COVID-19) Worker Support Payment. For more information on eligibility and how to claim you can see the Services Australia website for information , or contact 180 22 66. Test isolation payment increasedJust announced: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test Isolation Payment to be increased $450 across the Victoria. The Test Isolation payment available to people who need to self-isolate while waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test has increased from $300 to $450 to "...make sure that every Victorian can get tested, stay home and not worry about missing wages." Eligible people include casual workers, contract workers and workers who have run out of sick leave and are waiting for test results. This is in addition to the existing $1,500 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment on offer to eligible workers who test positive and need to isolate for multiple weeks. Please promote within your networks and for more information see: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/covid-19-worker-support-payment. Multilingual videos with key COVID-19 messagesNorth Western Melbourne PHN has partnered with community organisations to develop videos with vital Coronavirus public health message in 18 languages. Access the videos on Vimeo here. Reminder from last e-bulletin, Community Ambassadors presenting key Victoria Government messages available in 15 languages including Arabic and Dari, with a further 35 to become available in the coming weeks. You can view the available videos here. Need more translated information about COVID-19, including in audio or video format?Health Translations is a free website with access to high quality consumer focused translated materials on COVID-19, & much more. The August newsletter includes multilingual resources on COVID-19, mental wellbeing support services, face masks, test isolation payment, worker support payment, how to access services you need, ATO help for your first tax time and support, bereavement, eating disorders, Hepatitis B, oral health and more. Click here Other information and resourcesSchool’s In For Refugees – website launch! Foundation House invites you to a special launch of the School’s In for Refugees website by The Hon. James Merlino MP. School’s In for Refugees is a resource designed to support schools and school staff to provide high-quality education for students from refugee backgrounds. The website provides a range of tools and strategies that complement the best-practice standards currently used in Victorian schools. Foundation Houses' School’s In For Refugees website is now available. Access the website here: https://sifr.foundationhouse.org.au/ and the flyer here. Help improve Foundation House’s Intake and Access System! The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, also known as Foundation House, is seeking feedback to improve the way they receive and respond to referrals. Your feedback will help to identify what is and isn’t working well with Foundation House’s current system of Access and Intake, and opportunities for improvement moving forward. If you have referred a client to Foundation House in the past, please share your experience via this short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NJZ9CNY The survey comprises 8 questions, takes 3 -5 minutes to complete and will be open until 5pm on Friday 28 August. For more information about Foundation House visit: https://foundationhouse.org.au/ Foundation House Arabic Language Schooling help line- Northern Melbourne suburbs. A reminder, Foundation House has launched a pilot support line for Arabic speaking parents/carers from refugee backgrounds who have school aged children and who live in the northern suburbs. For more information, see the flyer here. North American Refugee Health Conference, September 17-19, 2020 | Virtual NARHC has gone virtual, meaning it is now more accessible for us here in Australia. Join refugee health professionals at the largest conference in the world focused solely on caring for resettled refugee populations. Previously resettled refugees working in the medical field can apply for a scholarship to attend. More information here. Guidance and support for general practitioners (GPs) providing telehealth consultations with patients who require an interpreter. In addition to this resource on telehealth consultations, The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has developed a suite of resources to support GPs and practices with continued care provision during the COVID-19 pandemic. Victorian Refugee Health Network Statewide meeting - online August 20 The Victorian Refugee Health Network will be holding our next statewide meeting via Zoom on the 20th of August 2020 from 2 pm - 3.30 pm. Special guest: Pam Anders, CEO of Mental Health Reform Victoria (MHRV) MHRV is driving the implementation of seven of the nine recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System's Interim Report.There will also be a discussion of state and Commonwealth refugee and asylum seeker health policy issues, within the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Register here! You will receive the Zoom invite details and an agenda closer to the date. If you would like to receive notifications about future state wide meetings subscribe here. Training and Professional DevelopmentThe Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House) is now delivering their learning and development calendar online, via Zoom. Upcoming workshops include:
Victorian Transcultural Mental Health August Seminar: The seminar will be on the explanatory framework, Dissociachotic. The session will also consider how the framework applies to other forms of distress and the value of human connection. For more information see the event page here. About the Victorian Refugee Health NetworkThe Victorian Refugee Health Network brings together health, settlement and community services to be more accessible and responsive to the needs of people from refugee backgrounds, including people seeking asylum. The e-Bulletin provides a regular forum to share news, resources and information to support practitioners and services in providing health care to people from refugee backgrounds. ConnectYou can contact the Victorian Refugee Health Network secretariat at info@refugeehealthnetwork.org.au. You can subscribe to the e-Bulletin here. |