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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:
Financial assistance for people living in VictoriaHelp available for Victorians having trouble with energy bills: Relief grants for paying overdue energy or water bills are available to low-income Victorians experiencing unexpected hardship. For comprehensive information in English see the Victorian Energy Saver website here. As above, fact sheets also now available in languages other than English here. Reminder: Test isolation payment has increased to $450: This payment can be applied for online here (English only). If you or someone you work with would like support to apply for the payment, you can call 1800 675 398 and select option 8. If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450. For guidelines, eligibility, FAQ please see the DHHS website here. Reminder: $1500 Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment: This is a payment for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and must quarantine. The payment is now being managed by Services Australia. The quickest way to claim is by phone on 180 22 66, 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. You can call Services Australia on 131 202 to talk to us in languages other than English. Red Cross is delivering the Extreme Hardship Program for people ineligible for income support. Applications can be made via web based portal here: The web portal is now available four languages other than English. In addition to the online application available through the Red Cross website, a dedicated phone line (1800 855 240) is 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. For more information about financial assistance and emergency relief across Victoria please see our website. 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 Research, news and eventsCOVID-19 and humanitarian migrants on temporary visas: assessing the public costs: Valuable research commissioned by the Refugee Council of Australia. This paper models the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the health, wellbeing and housing security of temporary migrants—including people seeking asylum and refugees on temporary visas. You can find the previous briefing paper on the federal budget and economic implications of not extending income support to temporary migrants here. Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) survey on housing issues housing issues for people from humanitarian backgrounds on insecure visas. The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) are conducting a survey to gather information about the housing situation and the risk of homelessness for people seeing asylum and other temporary migrants. This information and further consultations will inform a report and RCOA's advocacy efforts. Access the Housing issues survey here (should take less than 10 minutes to complete). Please forward on to people or groups that may wish to contribute. If you have any questions about the survey or about the research, or wish to set up a time to discuss these issues via a phone call, please contact Rebecca Eckard on rebecca.eckard@refugeecouncil.org.au. Surveys will be open until Friday September 4. 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. 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 Monday 31 August.For more information about Foundation House visit: https://foundationhouse.org.au/ Australian Government funding for 15 mental health clinics across Victoria and further enhance essential support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Victorian Primary Health Networks will establish the new clinics, working closely with key GP clinics, the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHO) and designated headspace centres. The clinics will be funded for 12 months. For the full media release see 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. 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:
Inaugural Integrated Care Community of Practice (CoP), Western Melbourne Region: This online meeting is for all healthcare practitioners, social care and community providers in the Western Melbourne Region. This CoP is a panel discussion on Working with Vulnerable Communities during COVID 19 and will be followed by Q&A and general discussion. There will also be optional breakout rooms at the end where all are welcome to discuss their services and experiences in the region. Details: Tuesday 15th September 2020, 7.00 am - 8.30 am, Online via your PC, Mac, tablet or other mobile device. Please register in advance for this meeting: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwtdumgpjgpE9zAqhexLsAv0CXgprXev4mL 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. |