Involved eNews 3 September 2021

Thu 3 Jun 2021

Involved eNews 3 September 2021

Involved eNews 3 September 2021

With the ACT lockdown extended until midnight on Friday 17 September due to the ongoing public health risk in Canberra, we want to thank all Canberrans for doing the right thing and staying at home. We know this is a challenging time for everyone, but this is the single most important thing we can all do at this time to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

We wish to remind you that if you undertake essential activity out of the home, please take precautions to protect yourself and your family. Wear a mask, maintain good hand hygiene, keep your distance and use the Check In CBR app.

It is a challenging time for all in our community, and we want to ensure that people with disability can still access essential services under current provisions.

Over the next few weeks, Minister for Disability Emma Davidson will be running a series of videos addressing some of the questions raised by Canberrans with disability and the sector. These can be found on Minister Davidson’s Facebook page.

We really want to encourage everyone in our community to get vaccinated and to support the people in your lives to get vaccinated. Please see the details below about the new COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Arena and book your vaccination today.

 

COVID-19 Vaccination

The ACT Government is opening its largest COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic at the AIS Arena today, Friday 3 September.

People who had vaccination appointments in Garran on or after 3 September will remain at the same time and date, but at the new AIS Arena Vaccination Clinic. These people have been notified by ACT Health.

The Access and Sensory clinic will continue to operate from Garran. People booked in at the Access and Sensory Clinic can continue to come to Garran for their appointment. Should the location of their appointment change in the future, ACT Health will contact them directly.

The Access and Sensory Clinic is available to anyone who would benefit from a quieter environment, additional space, longer appointment time, or requires carer assistance, including people with disability, people with mobility limitations and people with mental health conditions.

More information is available here on the new AIS Arena COVID-19 mass vaccination clinic

Information on how to book at the ACT Government Access and Sensory clinic is available on the COVID-19 website.

People with disability, support staff, volunteers and carers are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine right now.

Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is a safe and effective way to protect you from becoming very sick if you catch COVID-19.

Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) and ACT Health have created a video talking about the importance of getting vaccinated which is available on the WWDACT facebook page.

Information about COVID-19 vaccinations in the ACT is available on the Information for people with disability page on the COVID-19 website.

In-home (in-reach) COVID-19 Vaccination

If a person with disability feels they may need to be vaccinated in their home because they have significant barriers to accessing other vaccination options, they can contact the ACT vaccination booking line on 02 5124 7700 (choose option 3 for the dedicated disability line).

 

They will be able to speak to someone who will take their information and then someone from the COVID-19 Vaccination Program team will contact them and coordinate vaccination in your home. This information is available on the Advice for People with Disability page of the COVID-19 website.

 

Priority COVID-19 vaccinations for all disability care workers

The ACT Government is continuing to offer priority COVID-19 vaccinations for all health, aged and disability care workers. This includes, but is not limited to, clinical and non-clinical workers of hospitals, health, age and disability care facilities.

Bookings can be made by calling the ACT COVID-19 vaccine booking line on 5124 7700 (7am to 7pm, daily). Identify yourself as an aged, disability or health care worker. You’ll need to answer a few questions to confirm your employment.

If you already have a booking that’s more than 10 days away, you can reschedule your appointment for a date and time within the next 3 days.

If you need the help of a translator, call the translating and interpreting service (TIS) on 131 450 and ask to be connected to the ACT COVID-19 vaccine booking line.

Find more information on the ACT COVID-19 vaccination web page.

 

Essential PPE information

The latest essential PPE information for ACT Disability Support providers and their workers can be found in this video: Correct PPE Usage in a COVID Environment Video

It features:

  • information on PPE requirements from ACT Health
  • a live demonstration of donning and doffing PPE
  • the correct fitting and fit-testing of the P95 Mask
  • an interactive question and answer session 

National Disability Services advise it is recommended viewing for all ACT organisations and their support workers.

 

COVID-19 testing for people with disability

Currently you should only get tested if you have been notified by ACT Health that you are a close or casual contact, you have been to a public exposure site or if you have COVID-19 symptoms.

Regular updates on testing - including wait times and when and where priority testing will take place are on the ACT Health website and Facebook page.

 

If you have difficulty accessing a testing site, please call the COVID-19 Helpline. The Helpline operates on 6207 7244 between 8am and 8pm daily.

Information about the location of testing sites can be found on the Where to get tested page on the COVID-19 website.

In-home (in-reach) COVID-19 Testing

In addition, people with disability who are unable to attend a testing site can call ACT Health on

5124 6500. ACT Health will talk to the person about their needs and COVID-19 contact status and assess whether they are suitable for in-reach testing. The request is passed on to a team who will schedule the in-reach testing. Depending on demand for this service, a request may not guarantee a test.

Contact Tracing

When someone tests positive to COVID-19, they have a detailed interview with one ACT Health’s expert contact tracers. During this interview, ACT Health work to identify other people that may have had contact with the person while they were infectious.

Those people who are identified during the contact tracing process will be contacted directly be ACT Health. They will provide you with advice about what you need to do next which would involve entering quarantine or getting tested.

If someone who tests positive to COVID-19 has visited a public location, a thorough risk assessment is done to determine if other people at those locations might have been exposed – these are defined as public exposure locations.

More information about public exposure locations can be found on the COVID-19 website

 

Definition of close, casual and secondary contacts

There are a few things that go into deciding the type of contact – each situation is different.

For example, this includes whether:

  • the exposure occurred indoors
  • the amount of ventilation at the exposure locations
  • presence of crowding
  • activities that increase risk of transmission, like singing or shouting
  • if COVID-19 transmission has already occurred at the exposure location.

Close contacts have a high risk of infection – this could be because they spent a long time with, or were in a confined space alongside, a confirmed case. Check the requirements for close contacts.

Casual contacts have a lower risk of exposure – they may have been outside or spent a short time in a large venue with the confirmed case. Check the requirements for casual contacts.

Secondary contacts have been close to a close contact since they were exposed to COVID-19. Check the requirements for secondary contacts.  

 

Respite Effect and Recovery Grants to open again for people with disability and carers

The ACT Government has made $40,000 available to support people with disability, their families, and carers under the ACT COVID-19 Disability Strategy. The Respite and Recovery Grants will support the wellbeing, resilience, and recovery of people with disability across the ACT community.

The Grants will help relieve some of the challenges people are facing during the ACT lockdown – offering supports such as meals, respite, cleaning and funding for bills, hobbies, or recreational activities, to a maximum value of $250. Seeking to reach as many people as possible, those who received funds in the previous round of the Grants, will not be eligible to apply this time.

Applications will open Friday 10 September 2021, for three weeks, or when the grant funding is exhausted, whichever comes first. Applications will be processed on a first in, first served basis.

Application form and guidelines will be available on the Community Services Directorate website from Friday 10 September.

 

ACT COVID-19 disability workforce register

To assist the disability sector to continue to deliver quality supports to those who need it, National Disability Services (NDS) has been funded by the ACT Office for Disability to deliver a service that will link community organisations that have excess workforce with organisations that are having workforce shortages.

The NDS’s matching service will assist organisations who might otherwise have to stand staff down and support any organisations who are experiencing staff shortages.

Any organisation with excess staff with disability support experience or transferrable skills or staff shortages should be encouraged to provide a contact name and details to ndsact@nds.org.au

The NDS COVID-19 Administration Officer will then contact each organisation and facilitate the sharing of support staff.

 

Resources and supports for families and students with disability

Information and resources are available to support families and students with disability in ACT public schools. Parents and carers are encouraged to keep in contact with their child’s school.

  • Support is available for children and young people with disability during remote learning.
  • Parents and carers can contact their child’s school with specific needs or queries.
  • Please don’t wait to be contacted – if you need help get in contact with your child’s school straight away.
  • If you need ICT support, make contact with the school they can help or organise equipment you may need at home.
  • We don’t expect you and your child to engage in the education program all day – both you and your child will benefit from regular breaks.
  • Don’t try and do it all yourself. Reach out to friends, family, other parents in your child’s class and your child’s teacher.
  • Look after yourself. The Raising Children Network has some useful resources to help everyone in the family during COVID-19 lockdown and remote learning
  • Keep connected with the school and Education Directorate on social media for information and updates.

 

 

Emergency Food Relief

If you are experiencing hardship and cannot afford to feed your family or yourself during the lockdown in the ACT you can request a food and essential item delivery to your front door for free.

A volunteer will deliver your order to your front door. These volunteers are not permitted to enter your home. If you are unable to collect the delivery from your front door you will need to arrange for a carer or approved visitor to assist you. A limited number of pantry items are available through this service. Fresh produce is not available at this time.

To place an order for emergency food and essential items and to find out what items are available call Volunteering ACT on 1800 43 11 33, on Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.  If the phone is not answered, please leave a message and someone will return your call.

 

COVID-19 Test - Hardship Isolation Payment

Financial support to isolate while waiting for a test result is available through the ACT Government COVID-19 Test Hardship Isolation Payment. A payment of $270 will be made to eligible workers who isolate while awaiting their COVID 19 test result. This payment covers up to three days in isolation. A range of eligibility criteria apply. Apply for the isolation payment here.

 

 

Grocery and Medicine Delivery Options

Home Medicine Service

The Home Medicines Service is available from participating pharmacies across Australia. Contact the pharmacy you usually visit to find out more.

Find out more about home medicines service on the Australian Government Department of Health website.

Some community service organisations also do pharmacy delivery. Ask the community organisations you usually visit for assistance.

 

Grocery Deliveries

We understand some households are unable to get groceries delivered in a timely manner due to demand.

If you are not in quarantine or isolation, and can go to a supermarket to shop, you can do so under the lockdown rules. Try to shop in your local region, and get in and out as quickly as possible.

If you are shopping for a family member or friend, please ensure you drop the groceries off without coming into contact with them.

If you need to order home delivery, there is a range of options to consider through other grocers and independent supermarkets as well as the major supermarkets listed on the Access Help page on the COVID-19 website.

 

Woolworths grocery delivery for vulnerable customers

To ensure vulnerable customers in the community have access to delivery services at this time,  Woolworths will be providing a Priority Assistance service with dedicated delivery windows.

Eligible customers include people with disability, seniors and those with compromised immunity or who are required to self-isolate.

Woolworths also provide Priority Assistance services to vulnerable business customers which include aged care facilities, childcare centres, disability services, community housing, some charities, and prisons.

Register with Woolworths for Priority Assistance and be sure to include any supporting information to assist Woolworths in assessing your request. If you accessed the Priority Assistance service during 2020, you should be able to see ‘preferred’ delivery windows when shopping online with Woolworths via a mobile or desktop device. Priority Assist windows are not unlimited, so there may be times where customers will not find a preferred window.

 

Transport options for people with disability in lockdown

There are a range of community transport options to assist people with disability to attend medical appointments, including vaccination appointments, and to go grocery shopping:

Transport through Regional Community Service Organisations

The five Regional Community Service Organisations who provide community transport services are:

Communities@Work - 6293 6500

Capital Region Community Service (Belconnen Community Service) - 6278 8124

Northside Community Services - 6257 2255

Woden Community Services - 6181 2828

Community Services#1 - 6126 4700

 

Community Assistance and Support Program

The Community Assistance and Support Program (CASP) provides community care supports for people under 65 years with a health condition and their carers. Below is a list of eight providers who provide community transport for people who are eligible for CASP to attend medical appointments, including vaccination appointments:

Anglicare - 6278 8480

Belconnen Community Service - 6278 8124

Communities@Work - 6293 6500

Community Services #1 - 6126 4700

Life Without Barriers - 1800 935 483

Mercy Health ACT - 6228 9600

Northside Community Service - 6257 2255

Woden Community Service - 6181 2828

Taxi Subsidy Scheme

The ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme (TSS), administered by ACT Revenue Office, provides financial assistance to ACT residents with disability or significant mobility restriction preventing them from using public and community transport.

 

The TSS is intended to assist members attend essential activities. People with disability can access extra trips if the COVID-19 lockdown has impacted their ability to renew their TSS applications. Additional trips can be requested by phoning the ACT Revenues Office on 6207 0028 (Select Option 5, Sub Option 1 - Taxi Subsidy Scheme).

 

Transport options for NDIS Participants

NDIS participants may use their transport funding to attend vaccination appointments.

NDIS participants living in a residential setting of two or more people with disability can be vaccinated at their residence by a vaccination provider, arranged by the Department of Health.

Supported Independent Living (SIL) providers are being supported by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations for their clients, including provision of transport to and from a vaccination clinic, through a fixed price $150 payment.

 

Support provided by advocacy organisations

Both Advocacy for Inclusion and ACT Disability Aged and Carer Advocacy Service (ADACAS) continue to provide individual advocacy for people who need assistance.

Advocacy for Inclusion can assist you by providing short term individual advocacy support.

Phone: (02) 6257 4005 or email: info@advocacyforinclusion.org

ADACAS is also able to offer Supported Decision Making to people who may need some additional assistance in regard to consent for vaccination plus support for people in SIL or other accommodation. Please email adacas@adacas.org.au or call 6242 5060.

 

 

Domestic Violence Services and Support

With the ACT in lockdown, for some, being at home may not be the safest place.  If you feel unsafe, you do not need to stay home. Please know that police are available to help you.

If you experience, see or hear family violence occurring call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency or life threatening situation.

For non-urgent police assistance call 131 444.

Domestic Violence Crisis Service has created an Easy English document sharing tips on how to stay safe while in your home and information about how to contact them for help if you cannot telephone them. The Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT crisis line (6280 0900) is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Easy English document is available here Ways to increase safety during Covid-19 (dvcs.org.au)

 

NDIS COVID-19 Update for the ACT - Resource Pack and NDIS advice/links

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) advise they are committed to keeping you up-to-date on available National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) COVID-19 support for NDIS participants and providers:

Latest advice from NDIS – contains the most recent advice and information from the NDIA about COVID-19 response measures.

Information for participants – outlines how the NDIA is supporting participants during the pandemic, including information about plans and plan reviews, temporary supports available and other resources.

Minister for the NDIS, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, announced an expansion of financial payments available to providers supporting NDIS participants to attend COVID-19 vaccination appointments: More support for people with disability and COVID-19 vaccinations | NDIS

Information for providers – outlines how the NDIA is assisting providers during the pandemic, including information about the workforce response service, personal protective equipment and provider obligations.

Information packs – we have collated information on key topics and for different situations to support NDIS participants and their families.

NDIS office operations – the latest information about NDIA office closures in your region.

Partner office operations – the latest information about partner office closures for local area coordinators and early childhood coordinators in your region.

Previous NDIS COVID-19 information sessions for Providers:

COVID-19 scenario planning  held on 4 August 2021: Links: session recording and transcript

COVID-19 scenario planning for positive cases held 18 August 2021:  Links: session recording and transcript.

 

Carers ACT to host virtual activity program for people with disability

The current COVID-19 lockdown has presented some challenging times for us all. The Disability sector has seen some social programs temporarily close due to the restrictions, and as a result, people with disability are experiencing social isolation. Carers ACT acknowledges the importance of social connection and has a created a program of virtual activities to keep our disability community connected through these times.

The Team at Carers ACT are hosting sessions three afternoons a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 3.00pm.  

The sessions are free to attend and hosted through the Microsoft Teams platform.

For more information about each session and a link to download the free software before you start, open the .

If you have any questions or need assistance please email The.Hub@carersact.org.au or call 0413 997 466.

 

Advocacy for Inclusion Easy English resources

Easy English documents and videos about COVID-19 have been developed by Advocacy for Inclusion and are available on their resources page.

 

 

Accessible Information from Scope Australia

Scope have developed some great communication resources for understanding and staying safe from COVID-19, including:

 

Social Stories from Scope Australia

Social Stories are used to help someone better understand a specific social situation or idea.

Here are some Social Stories that explain the different situations and experiences you could have because of the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Activity and connection ideas during lockdown

 

 

Useful links and websites

You can also call the National Coronavirus and COVID-19 Vaccine Helpline which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 020 080. Contact details are also found here: National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline

 

To connect to disability information and services you can call the National Disability Gateway on 1800 643 787. The Disability Gateway also includes a website at

National Disability Gateway

 

For emergency respite, you can call your local Carer Gateway Service Provider 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 422 737.  Contact details are also found here: Contact Carers ACT

 

Advice and resources Information for people with disability are available on the ACT COVID-19 website the CSD Support for people with disability.  

 

If you have any further questions that have not been addressed after reading the ACT Health information, please contact the Office for Disability at officefordisability@act.gov.au or 6207 1086.