COVID-19 Update No.2, 25 March 2020
25 March 2020
ACTCOSS COVID-19 Advocacy
ACTCOSS have been advocating on behalf of community organisations during this COVID-19 pandemic period through actions including:
-
Media release and continued advocacy calling for flexibility on contract requirements for our sector from all ACT Government Directorates, specifically to:
- Delay or relax reporting obligations
- Suspend KPIs and outcomes to allow for adaptation to new conditions
- Remove penalties for non-compliance with contracts arising from the COVID-19 emergency
- Allow flexibility in how funds are used to support our community safely during COVID-19
- Freeze government reform and new tendering processes
- Letter to the ACT Minister for Housing and the ACT Attorney-General on a temporary stop to evictions during this COVID-19 period
- Letter to the ACT Minister for Health, President of the ACT Human Rights Council, ACT Chief Medical Officer, Head of Canberra Health Service, and the Director-General for the Health Directorate on protecting the human rights of vulnerable groups in clinical settings during COVID-19. Specifically, that an ethical framework for clinical decision making is developed, and in ensuring these vulnerable groups are included in any decision-making body that develops the framework
- Email to Minister Orr:
- Highlighting gaps and opportunities for community sector intervention in the immediate response
- Calling for establishment of a hotline for isolated people requiring emergency food and other relief
- To include community services in any list of ‘essential services’ in case of a full shutdown
- Engaging with the ACT Discrimination, Health Services & Disability and Community Services Commissioner to raise key issues, including:
- Preventing discrimination in the healthcare sector in critical care decisions
- Ensuring disability organisations are properly equipped and resourced, and people with disability are supported and protected
- Supporting families who are engaged with ACT Child and Youth Protection Services.
ACOSS COVID-19 Advocacy
Community Sector Updates
- Letter from ACT Minister of Health (pdf) to ACT community sector organisations funded by the Health Directorate on changes to contract conditions due to COVID-19
- Aged Care Providers to email Federal Health to order Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- New online Personal Safety module for Aged Care Workers during COVID-19
Service changes:
- Care Financial Counselling and Consumer Law Centre providing phone support during COVID-19
- Toora Women Domestic Violence, Homelessness, and Counselling support now through phone or video conferencing
- Communities@Work COVID-19 service change
- Community Services #1 (CS#1) COVID-19 service changes
- Woden Community Service COVID-19 service changes