COVID-19 Update, 11 February 2022

To subscribe to our COVID-19 Update mailing list, please email [email protected] and we will subscribe you.

If you would like to share any gaps or issues affecting your organisation, or any services that require increased funding to meet an immediate need in the COVID-19 response, please get in touch with ACTCOSS through our general email address [email protected] or email someone from the team.

Our COVID-19 Update will be issued as new information emerges.

Key Updates

[New!] The ACT Government has issued a Workplace COVID-19 Exposure Assessment Tool to assist organisations to respond to a COVID-19 exposure in the workplace. If you have any feedback, please send it to [email protected] or direct to the Health Directorate at [email protected].

[New!] The ACT Government is temporarily providing Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to disability and community aged care sector workers and self-managing participants of the NDIS who use support workers to provide in-home personal care so they can provide tests to frontline workers they engage. RATs will be provided in allocations for a one-week period and are limited to five tests, per week, per worker. Find more information and the RATs application form here. Queries can be sent to [email protected].

[New!] The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has determined that the definition of ‘fully-vaccinated’ should include a booster dose. ACT Government has committed to provide additional information about what this means for services, including the definition of mandatory vaccination.

[New!] Pop-up vaccination clinics for child, disability, aged, health care works. Clinics are available as follows:

ACT Government Clinics at the AIS Arena and Airport Precinct sites will also continue throughout February 2022.

[New!] To support Disability Care Providers to manage their COVID-19 exposures, ACT Health has developed new online resources to provide facilities with public health advice and guide them through the steps they should take following a COVID-19 exposure. The Chief Health Officer has written to disability services (pdf) on how to access these resources.

[New!] The ACT Government has published easy read resources on its COVID-19 website and has provided wording for inclusion in community sector newsletters (docx). They have also provided social media posts (docx) with tiles (zip via Google Drive). Organisations are asked to distribute these resources widely through your communication channels.

NGO FAQs: The ACT Government has gathered questions from NGOs about the current COVID-19 situation. Weblinks in response to questions are included. Read last NGO FAQs – 25 January 2022 (pdf) | (docx).

If community sector organisations have queries about COVID-19, please email [email protected]. The team will aim to address your questions as promptly as possible. Please note that ACT Health is managing a high number of cases at this time.

The ACT Government is taking a flexible and understanding approach to contract deliverables during COVID-19. If you need support, please contact your Relationship Manager at [email protected] for the Community Services Directorate or [email protected] for ACT Health. Reporting requirements have been deferred for all providers for the time being. Payments will not be affected. For organisations funded by other directorates, please contact your funding manager and reach out to ACTCOSS if you require support.

Requests for PPE can be lodged through the completion of the Distribution of Personal Protective Equipment online request form. Any questions or enquiries may be sent to the Community Services Directorate at [email protected].

WWVP: Given the current challenges with workforce, some organisations and workers are experiencing delays in receiving WWVP registration. Please encourage colleagues to make their application for renewals of WWVP in a timely way. ACTCOSS has been provided with an email contact for organisations if you have any urgent and outstanding WWVP registration applications. Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] if you would like to receive the ACT Government contact for urgent applications or to provide a list of urgent applications that ACTCOSS can forward to Access Canberra.

ACTCOSS COVID-19 Advocacy

[New!] ACTCOSS has been advocating on behalf of community organisations and people experiencing disadvantage during this COVID-19 pandemic period through the following:

• ACTCOSS has asked the ACT Government to extend the provision of free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to all ACT-funded community service providers
• ACTCOSS has asked the ACT Government to provide clear guidelines and examples of how to use RATs as part of a broader infection control regime in different community sector environments (offices, group sessions, one-on-one service provision)
• ACTCOSS has called on the ACT Government to work more closely with community sector organisations to ensure that Canberra’s most vulnerable are supported to access booster vaccinations
• ACTCOSS has asked the ACT Government to engage closely with the sector when the definition of fully vaccinated is extended to include a 3rd vaccination
• ACTCOSS has continued to highlight to the Community Services Directorate and the Health Directorate the additional costs incurred by community sector organisations and need for process to access additional funds to cover these expenses.

ACTCOSS Meeting with Members and Peaks on COVID-19: If you are a member of ACTCOSS or an ACT peak body for the community sector, you are welcome to attend our weekly COVID-19 online meetings. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Helplines

[New!] The Canberra Health Network is providing a free and confidential counselling service for clinical and administrative staff working in Residential Aged Care Facilities in Canberra. You can call Access EAP on 1800 818 728 and access up to six sessions. Please ask them to charge it to ‘CHN Medical Practice’. Your work will not be advised that workers have used this service.

NDIS – 1800 800 110 and press 5: For escalating COVID-related plan review requests.

ACT COVID-19 Helpline – 02 6207 7244: 8am-8pm daily. ¬†Or visit the ACT Government’s COVID-19 website.

Disability Information Helpline Р1800 643 787: Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-7pm. The Australian Government has established a Disability Information Helpline. The helpline is not available on national public holidays. 

National COVID-19 vaccine helpline – 1800 020 080: This line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Emergency relief and financial support

[New!] The ACT Government has established a Rent Relief Fund which provides grants of up to $1000 to eligible tenants in private or community housing which is paid directly to the landlord or grantor as a credit towards the tenant’s rent. The Rent Relief Fund is being administered by Care Financial Counselling Service and applications for rent relief are currently being accepted.

Emergency relief information guides: Volunteering ACT Community Info Hub have created useful information guides listing resources including free meals, laundry and showers, as well as emergency relief services. Find the latest emergency relief guides here.

Emergency Food Relief – call 1800 43 11 33, 9am-5pm: The ACT Government has partnered with VolunteeringACT and the State Emergency Service (SES) to provide emergency food relief to those in need. Any Canberran who is significantly and adversely impacted by the lockdown and is unable to feed their family is encouraged to call. The ACT Government has also provided information on priority grocery assistance for vulnerable people who require assistance with grocery delivery.

Selected ACT Government Updates

[New!] Access Canberra: To keep updated with changes to Access Canberra services changes visit the Access Canberra website and check social media channels. Demand at the Service Centres is still high, so we encourage anybody planning to visit to check the wait times on our website before visiting.

How to contact CSD: The ACT Community Services Directorate has set up a branch to respond to the COVID-19 situation. Outside of existing engagement, networks or contacts with relationship managers, you can contact CSD via CSD’s [email protected] inbox. Organisations can send their COVID-19 queries to this email if they need advice or have any questions.

Resources

COVID-19 info and health

• Easy to read resources on COVID-19 have been released on the ACT Government website
• ACT Health information on COVID-19 in other languages
• ACT Government factsheet for students and families who have to quarantine (pdf).
• ACT Health information on how to access mental health and wellbeing support during COVID-19
• ACT Government information on support for people on temporary visas
• Information from the Community Services Directorate on services for Canberrans needing support during COVID-19
• ACT Government signs and factsheets – COVID-19

Other resources

• I have COVID-19 – What do I do? (pdf) – Easy English resource from Advocacy for Inclusion
• Easy English COVID Words (pdf) by Advocacy for Inclusion
• Mask Exemption for People with Hearing Loss exemption resource: The ACT Deafness Resource Centre has created an image than you can download mask exemption image on your phone or print out (pdf).

< Past ACTCOSS COVID-19 Updates