No images? Click here May e-Bulletin: COVID-19 updateIn this Issue
This is our fourth e-Bulletin focused on COVID-19 related information and resources. Please visit our website's COVID-19 Information and Resources page to see previously circulated resources. If you are not already subscribed to our e-Bulletin, you can do so at our website here. NRAAG presents refugee experiences through COVID-19The National Refugee-Led Advocacy & Advisory Group (NRAAG) has produced its National Community Consultation Outcomes Report to inform advocacy, policy and solutions. This is a valuable resource as health and community services strive to best meet the needs of people of refugee backgrounds throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The report considers asylum issues, digital inclusion, community safety and well being and other emerging issues. The NRAAG consultation report highlights the complex issues faced by LGBTIQ people of refugee backgrounds, including those seeking asylum, during the COVID-19 pandemic. LGBTIQ Intersect is a great web-based resource to draw on as you look to promote the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people of different faiths and cultural affiliations. The website includes learning modules and an extensive resource and referral list. The National LGBTI Health Alliance are delivering a webinar series: LGBTI experiences of COVID-19, aiming to increase awareness of broader health and wellbeing issues for LGBTI communities in the time of COVID 19. Register for the series here. Multilingual and Easy English resources on COVID-19The Victorian Government has produced in-language resources for Ramadan relating to coronavirus (COVID-19). These include social media graphics in Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, Turkish, Indonesian, Bengali, Hazaragi, Malay, Pashto, Somali, Urdu and Dari. Download the stakeholder pack HERE. Translated information is available on the Victorian Government's coronavirus testing blitz. You can share the social media materials by email, social media or through messaging apps like WhatsApp, WeChat and Messenger. Download the stakeholder pack HERE. You can also find an interactive map of coronavirus testing locations on the DHHS website (scroll down). Translated mental health fact sheet: The Victorian Government has translated the factsheet "Looking after your mental health during coroanvirus (COVID-19)". Currently available in Vietnamese, Turkish, Thai, Tamil, Spanish, Punjabi, Persian (Farsi), Macedonian, Korean, Khmer, Italian, Indonesian, Hindi, Greek, Tagalog (filipino), Dinka, Dari, Mandarin-Simplified Chinese, Cantonese-traditional Chinese, and Arabic. You can read the English version here. Health Translations is the single best place for translated health information on COVID-19. Some recently uploaded resources include:
You can access the full Health Translations Coronavirus collection by language here, or the full list of Coronavirus resources here. Telehealth - information for patients and clientsWhat is Telehealth? An Easy English resource produced by Enliven which explains Telehealth to the community. Video (English) - How to access telehealth services - for patients: This video, produced by Brisbane South PHN, uses basic English to describe what telehealth is, and the equipment needed to access telehealth. Patient information - preparing for a virtual appointment and Attending your appointment using telehealth are (English) factsheets produced by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation. Other News and ResourcesFunding boost for multicultural Victoria: We commend the Victorian Government for their recently announced $11.3 million funding boost to "support multicultural and multifaith families in keeping connected to their communities amid the coronavirus pandemic". This includes funding for basic assistance for people seeking asylum and a $1 million to boost translated messaging across government departments. Read the full media release here. Hume City Council Covid Community Grants Program is offering grants not-for-profit organisations, community groups and individuals. The grants are focused on support to maintain social connections. Applications close 28 August 2020 (or before if funds are exhausted). More information and guidelines can be found here. Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria is monitoring racism and other forms of discrimination arising from the pandemic. EEO has translated information available in 31 different languages about Your Rights in Victoria. This fact sheet includes directions on how to make a complaint. The ABC is also conducting a survey on experiences of racism during COVID-19. Pandemic Kindness Movement, developed by NSW Health, is a curated collection of respected, evidence-informed resources and links to valuable services to support the wellbeing of the health workforce during COVID-19. Training and DevelopmentThe Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health (CEH) is expanding their popular free webinar series. CEH will now run webinars twice a month to meet the increased demand on topics relating to: Browse upcoming webinars HERE. To access older recordings join the new Member's Site HERE For more information contact Siri Gunawardana at:03 9418 9912 or sirig@ceh.org.au Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) has taken their monthly seminar series online. The next seminar will be held on Wednesday 20th May, 3-4 pm - Cultural Considerations for a population-level response to age, culture and COVID-19. Speaker: Associate Professor Bianca Brijnath is the Divisional Director of Social Gerontology at the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI). Register here. 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 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. |