April e-Bulletin #2: COVID-19 update

In this Issue
Disability: Information and resources
New multilingual resources
Education: supporting children and families in home-based learning
Emergency Relief and financial information
Other news and information

Disability: Information and resources

Disability Information Helpline is now available for people with disability, their families and carers who need help because of coronavirus (COVID-19). The Helpline is free, private and fact-checked.
• Phone (free call): 1800 643 787
• If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can also call the National Relay Service on 133 677.The Helpline is available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm (AEST) and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 7pm (AEST). It’s not available on national public holidays.

Royal Commission Emergency Planning Issues Paper OPEN FOR RESPONSES. The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability is inviting information from the public on emergency planning and response during the COVID-19 emergency and the 2019/2020 bushfires. Responses should be submitted by 17 July 2020. Responses can be in any language. The Royal Commission will translate the response to English. See the website for more information.

Victorian State Government - COVID-19 Plan for the Disability Services Sector: This plan gives guidance on how the disability sector can operate and prioritise their efforts in this current stage of the COVID-19 response.

Federal Health Department - Management and Operational Plan for People with Disability during COVID-19. The plan provides guidance on a range of factors for consideration in managing and preventing the transmission of COVID-19 for people with disability.

National Disability Ethnic Alliance (NEDA) Radio Campaign. NEDA partnered with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to launch a radio campaign, targeted at new and emerging refugees and humanitarian entrants. The campaign aims to increase awareness on disability, break down disability stigmas and introduce services provided by the NDIS to humanitarian entrants, refugees and emerging communities. The campaign contains 40-seconds announcements, 2 two-minute podcasts and radio interviews with our Ambassadors in five languages (Arabic – Assyrian – Chaldean – Farsi – Burmese) and English. For audio files and transcripts visit their website.

National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) has joined with several organisations representing the interests of people with disability, their families, carers
and support persons to write an open letter to the National Cabinet. The letter has 10 points for immediate action. You can read the full open letter, an Easy Read version, and a Plain English version.

People with Disability Australia Covid-19 Hub is regularly updating their website with information and resources and update on advocacy for the needs and rights of people with disability at all levels throughout the crisis.

COVID-19 Disability Plan, released by People With Disability Australia (PWDA) and eight other disability peak bodies, includes recommendations about what people with disability need during this crisis. It also contains the following recommendations for culturally and linguistically diverse people with a disability:

Provide urgent access to translated materials about the COVID-19 public health emergency to people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Target information to address group events such as church and mosque attendance, and to engage with new and emerging community groups.

NDIS is developing a range of information packs with practical advice to assist during the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Information packs explain the NDIS approach to plan flexibility, assistive technology and the access process. Packs so far include advice for participants and advice for providers.

Home delivery priority access for NDIS participants: From Monday 6 April NDIS participants purchase grocery items online to be delivered to their home. All NDIS participants have now been assigned a unique home delivery access code to get priority access to supermarket home delivery services. These have been provided directly to participants by SMS and email.

NDIS has newly translated information: NDIA has recently published information for participants about the NDIA’s response to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Information available in Easy Read English and a selection of languages, including Arabic, Vietnamese and Spanish.

See here for the World Health Organization (WHO) Disability considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak.

New multilingual health information and resources on COVID-19

Health Translations is the single best place for translated health information on COVID-19. There are new translated resources uploaded every week. You can access the full Coronavirus collection by language here, or the full list of Coronavirus resources here. Recently uploaded information includes:

COVID-19 information for newly arrived humanitarian settlement program (HSP) clients developed by AMES Australia.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and changes to how the NDIS works (Easy Read) The NDIA has recently published information for participants about the NDIA’s response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Information available in Easy Read English and a selection of languages, including Arabic, Vietnamese and Spanish.
Cancer and Coronavirus is a factsheet translated developed by the Cancer Council of Victoria. Available in several languages, including Arabic and Farsi.
A factsheet on liver health and COVID-19 from Hepatitis Victoria (English and Vietnamese)

Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health has information about upcoming radio health sessions on their website.

Translated information available on The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability regarding the suspension of public hearings, due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.

“Greet Like Me” is a campaign by UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific which is inviting individuals to practice social distancing while embracing their local traditions. Social media messages and illustrations of ‘safe greetings’ are inspired by traditional hand gestures used across the region. You can download the social media cards here.

Education: supporting children and families in home-based learning

The Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET) has developed several resources to support children and families as Term 2 commences:

Information for schools - includes information about school operations and health and hygiene.
Information for parents - is available to support parents and their children with home-based learning.
Translated learning from home advice for parents and carers - DET have translated key learning from home resources for parents and carers into 23 community languages.

Also see the Learning from Home webpage on Fuse, which includes resources for teachers to develop activities for English as an Additional Language (EAL).

Fuse also includes information about e-Safety and privacy for schools and links to other resources including:

e-Safety Commissioner- Help in languages other than English (Translated into 23 languages)
Australian Multicultural Foundation's CyberParent Web App (Translated into 17 languages)

Emergency Relief and Financial Information

Services Australia (formerly Centrelink) website with COVID-19 services in language.

Social security information for refugees and people seeking asylum: The Refugee Council of Australia has produced a factsheet about access to social security for refugees and people seeking asylum during COVID-19.

Fact sheets on Services Australia (Centrelink): Economic Justice Australia has published a factsheet (English) with information on what Centrelink can do for people affected by COVID-19 including:

Economic Support Payment for Centrelink recipients
Mutual Obligations
Payments if you don’t currently get Centrelink
Asset Hardship Provisions
Step-by-Step guide to claiming Centrelink during COVID-19

Up to date information on community, food and material relief for people in the Outer Eastern Melbourne Area now available:

Maroondah Local Government Area: emergency relief and financial assistance
Knox Local Government Area: emergency relief and financial assistance
Yarra Ranges Local Government Area: emergency relief and financial assistance

For more information about other emergency relief options in Victoria, please refer to our website.

Ask Izzy is a free anonymous search engine, where you can search over 360,000 services to find housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice and addiction treatment.

Other News and Resources

Leaving no-one behind The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is campaigning to ensure people seeking asylum and refugees are included in COVID-19 strategies. They have developed an open letter to the Prime Minister asking for leadership on three key issues for people seeking asylum, refugees, and other temporary migrants who have been made vulnerable by this crisis:

Ensuring all people have access to medical treatment and Medicare for people seeking asylum
Ensuring all people have a financial safety net, so they are not forced into destitution:
- Extend JobSeeker to people on bridging visas currently ineligible for income support 
- Extend JobKeeper to temporary visa holders so that businesses employing them can continue to operate
- Remove penalties for Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV) holders accessing Special Benefit in light of the pandemic and remove restrictions on accessing Special Benefit for Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) or SHEV holders who are studying
Preventing people from losing legal status and access to support

Digital Inclusion Brief – Digital inequality is impacting on social equality more than ever; APO has released a Collection Brief on digital inclusion.

Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law has launched COVID-19 Watch – a dedicated space for expert analysis of COVID-19’s impact on refugees and other forced migrants.

Multicultural Youth Network Australia (MYAN) is hosting regular sector meetings to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds, and those working with them. Subscribe to their mailing list here for updates.

Emerging Minds is hosting a reflection on culturally competent practice with Mthobeli Ngcanga. Listen to the Podcast here. Thanks for Queensland Refugee Health for sharing this resource!

Essential resources from previous COVID-19 E-bulletins

SBS Radio – Multilingual news updates on COVID-19 available online: SBS news and information about coronavirus (COVID-19) is available in 63 languages on the SBS Radio website. The material is updated regularly and includes news bulletins and written content.

Safe Steps Victoria are continuing to operate their 24/7 crisis response phoneline as usual. For confidential crisis support, information and accommodation, please call the Safe Steps 24/7 family violence response line on 1800 015 188. If it is unsafe to call, email safesteps@safesteps.org.au.

InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence provides information and advice for professionals and women experiencing family violence. In Touch will continue to provide support to our clients via phone, and teleconferencing and are available to support the sector with secondary consultations and co-case management.

Technology Safety Australia is a great resource, as many services shift to remote service delivery in response to COVID-19. It includes the Women’s Technology Safety & Privacy Toolkit

Foundation House: Foundation House is delivering counselling services by phone and video-conferencing technologies. Group events, professional development and training, and complementary therapy modalities such as bodywork have been suspended. Foundation House encourages agencies and individuals to continue to refer clients to the service.

Refugee Legal is continuing to provide legal advice and assistance to asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Call (03) 9413 0101.

The Refugee Council of Australia hosts a thorough directory of services available for refugees and people seeking asylum in Victoria, including details on emergency relief.

Stay informed

A reminder to visit the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Victoria’s COVID-19 page for the latest information, updates and advice from State Government on COVID-19.

If you suspect you may have the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) call the dedicated hotline – open 24 hours, 7 days. Coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398.

If you would like to contact the Victorian government coronavirus hotline and need an interpreter, call 131 450 (TIS National), then request the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398

Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies

About the Victorian Refugee Health Network

The 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.

The Victorian Refugee Health Network is delivering a more regular e-bulletin during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the Victorian Refugee Health Network website to find collated COVID-19 related information and resources from this e-Bulletin and others.

Connect

You can contact the Victorian Refugee Health Network secretariat at info@refugeehealthnetwork.org.au.