For people living in metropolitan Melbourne, Stage 4 restrictions continue to apply:\

• Stay within 5 km from home for shopping and exercise. Use this map to find out the 5-km radius from your home.
• A curfew in metropolitan Melbourne from 8pm to 5am every evening. You can only leave your house for work and essential health or care.  And anyone who needs to leave their home to escape harm or family violence is permitted to do so at any time.
• Everyone must wear a mask when they leave home, unless you have a permitted reason not to. 
• Restrictions apply to which workplaces can operate. See the business and industry restrictions page for more details.
• Study at TAFE, University, primary and secondary schools must be done remotely.
• Public transport information: visit the Public Transport Victoria translated resources page. 

Make sure that you get your information from the State Government (DHHS) or other credible sources to stop misinformation:

DHHS COVID-19 website with information in 40 community languages

Coronavirus hotline: If you are concerned, call the coronavirus hotline 1800 675 398 (24-hours).
Interpreting service: If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450.
Triple Zero: Please call Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only.

Testing at home available for vulnerable Victorians

The Call-to-Test service is available for those who cannot leave home due to injury, mobility or other eligible reasons.

Call the Coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 675 398  and select option 9 to find out if you are eligible for this service.

Find out about active COVID-19 cases in your postcode

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has commenced interactive daily reports of active coronavirus cases in Victoria.

An active case is someone who has tested positive and is currently in isolation.  The locations on the map indicate the address provided by a person during contract tracing, but do not reflect where they were infected or currently reside (for example, they might be in a hospital).

Ban on evictions extended and Rental Relief Grants available

The Victorian Government has extended a ban on rental increases and evictions until the end of the year.

Eligible residential tenants and landlords will be supported with up to $3,000 in rental payments as part of the Rental Relief Grant program, with new recipients able to apply for the full amount and up to $1,000 extra available for previous recipients.
Find all information about the grant and other support for tenants on the Victorian Government's webpage below.  

For those requiring legal advice and support call Northern Community Legal Centre on (03) 9310 4376.

Be Kind Moreland: Where to get help and support

If you are experiencing hardship or doing it tough as a result of the pandemic Be Kind Moreland provides details for services that may be able to help. To find information about a particular service please use the menu below:

• Food relief services
• Government payments and support
• Rent relief and housing support
• Assistance with energy bills
   
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support
• Disability support and information
• International student support
• Refugee and Asylum Seeker support
• Support for young people
• Useful services for Older People
   
• Family violence
• Gambler's help remote support services
• Legal assistance
• Family support
• Mental health and Wellbeing

Be Kind Moreland - Ask for Help 

Everyone in the community has the right to access services and seek help.  Moreland Council’s website lists services that may be able to help you.

Learn more by watching this video in English and 9 other community languages: Greek, Urdu, Arabic, Vietnamese, Turkish, Spanish, Nepalese, Italian and Chinese

Find services: www.moreland.vic.gov.au/bekind-support

Phone support for Moreland residents

This program is open to all residents impacted by the pandemic, with a particular focus on more vulnerable residents: . Call 8311 4140 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm or email Casi@moreland.vic.gov.au

• Food and material aid, including masks for vulnerable residents.
• Emotional support such as regular chats.
• Practical help such as running errands or helping people to video chat with friends and family.
• Connecting you with community support in your local area.

You can also call the coronavirus (COVID-19) 24-hour hotline on 1800 675 398 and press 3 to speak to an Australian Red Cross volunteer if you require an urgent response.

Council service update

Due to the stage 4 restrictions in Melbourne a number of our services and facilities are closed until further notice.  Details on how you can still access services are provided below:

• Customer Service Centres are temporarily closed but still available to provide information and services over the phone: Call 9240 1111.
• View online services, including bins and collections, new pet registrations, planning enquiries and more. Access urban planning advice via phone 9240 1111 or view advertised plans online.
• Our Family Day Care service is operating for children of permitted workers and vulnerable children.  Please contact the Family Day Care Team if you would like further information.
• Libraries are closed until further notice. Items have been renewed and library fines are suspended during the closure. All library programs, events and room bookings have been cancelled but online events continue.
• Maternal and Child Health centres are open and continue to provide telehealth and short face-to-face consultations. For further information, call our Maternal and Child Health team on 9240 1111 and select option 2.
• Our Council immunisation services are still running and appointments must be made.  Please call us on 9240 1111 or email sd-immunisation@moreland.vic.gov.au 
  for any queries.

2020 local council election

Local council elections will be held in Victoria by post in October 2020. Voters in each council will receive a ballot pack in early October.  

Encourage your clients to vote and learn how to vote. Book a free session delivered by a VEC Democracy Ambassador and find out:
• who can vote
• how to fill out your ballot paper
• where to get help, if you need it
• how our democracy works.

You can also register for one of three Voter Education Sessions run by VEC organised by Moreland Council in three languages:

• 15 Sep - English 
• 16 Set - Nepalese 
• 17 Sep - Urdu 

New legal clinic for international students during COVID-19

With support from Moreland Council, Northern Community Legal Centre (NCLC) is implementing a Legal Clinic for international students.  
Our dedicated lawyer will be available to provide advice by telephone on common issues experienced including housing and renting rights, employment, managing debt, and accessing financial support.

Appointments can be made by calling (03) 9310 4376 or by email to: admin@northernclc.org.au

Accessing mental health support

NorthWestern Mental Health is a service of the Royal Melbourne Hospital that provides a range of specialist, community and hospital-based mental health services for youth, adults and aged people who are experiencing or are at risk of developing a serious mental illness.

Those seeking help are encouraged to contact their local doctor (GP) first and to inform themselves about the options for mental health support. 

The clinical mental health service offers 24 hours/ 7 days a week telephone-based  triage assessment and support service staffed by senior mental health clinicians, a psychiatric registrar and a consultant psychiatrist.  Call 1300 874 243 for this FREE service.  

Hello Fawkner! Great Idea Program 

Community members can apply for The Great Idea Program to receive support and funding to turn their idea into reality!   This program will run from October 2020 - April 2021. Applications close 5pm on Friday 11 September 2020.

Financial support programs

Under the CareRing model, Uniting offers access to an extensive range of support services, including financial counselling and no interest loans, in partnership with other community agencies, the government and utility and financial service providers. 

If you need a new laptop for school, work, training or online appointments you may be eligible for a no interest loan of up to $1,500 with no fees and no charges. 

Call the intake team on 1800 545 366 to find out if you are eligible. 

Help is Here campaign - even in crisis, there is no place for domestic violence

The Australian Government’s Help is Here campaign provides information on support services available to anyone affected by domestic and family violence.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, contact 1800RESPECT for free, confidential advice and support 24/7, online and by phone. Call 1800 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au.

MensLine Australia also provides telephone and online counselling services 24/7, for men with emotional health and relationship concerns, including issues of violence. Call 1300 789 978, or visit mensline.org.au.

IMPORTANT: If you feel that you are in danger you can leave your house, even if you are self-isolating or required to isolate, Contact 1800RESPECT, or another domestic violence support service for advice about continuing to isolate in a safe place. 

Locals talk about their experience getting tested for COVID-19 

Merri Health asked community members who have been tested for COVID-19 to talk about their experience.

Community members speak in their first language about their experience getting tested for COVID-19. Languages include: Arabic, Bangla, Farsi, Italian, Pashto, Sinhala, Turkish, Urdu, English.