COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources

How Central West Gippsland PCP is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic

Central West Gippsland PCP has over 20 years experience in partnerships and connecting health and human services with each other, and the community. The PCP also has a strong history of supporting food security work across Baw Baw and Latrobe.

This allowed the Central West Gippsland PCP to readily mobilise our members and community groups to respond to challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the case studies:

Services open during COVID-19:

Central West Gippsland PCP have prepared reports outlining which services are open during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide information on the supports available to community members:

Food Security during the COVID-19 pandemic: Baw Baw & Latrobe:

Central West Gippsland PCP, the Baw Baw Food Movement and Food For All Latrobe Valley have developed a local food security resource:

A series of smaller fact sheets supporting eating well and food security during COVID-19 have also been developed, including:

Health and wellbeing during COVID-19

Central West Gippsland PCP have developed a series of fact sheets supporting health and wellbeing during COVID-19. These include:

Health Advice (Victoria):

The best place to access up-to-date Victorian health advice on Coronavirus remains dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.

Victoria's Restriction Levels:

To read about Victoria's current restriction levels, click here.

How to stay safe and well during Coronavirus:

The Department of Health and Human Services have a range of Coronavirus resources on 'how to stay safe and well' including hygiene and physical distancing; financial assistance; mental health resources; translated resources; and family violence crisis response and support.

COVID-19 Promotional Material including Culturally & Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and Translated Resources

The Department of Health and Human Services has a range of Coronavirus promotional material available:

The Victorian Government is requesting organisations' support in sharing the latest translated materials widely through their networks. Organisations can assist by:

COVID-19 Testing across Gippsland:

It is important to continue testing so any community outbreaks can be detected.

Vulnerable Victorians can get tested at home to help slow the spread of COVID-19. The Call-to-Test service is for people who have COVID-19 symptoms and cannot leave home due to injury, mobility or other eligible reasons.

Gippslanders can also access testing at one of the six Respiratory Clinics across the region - by appointment. Symptomatic testing is for people who have respiratory symptoms such as fever or chills or a respiratory sickness (e.g. cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose or loss of smell). In addition, testing is recommended for people with new onset of other clinical symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (headache, muscle pain, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea).

Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS) are running a drive-through COVID-19 testing site in Moe. The site is located at the carpark of Moe Kmart:

  • The drive-through testing site will open every Tuesday and Thursday from 9am until 11am.
  • No appointments are necessary.
  • LCHS are only testing people with symptoms or who have been requested to get tested, according to DHHS guidelines.

For the complete list of where you can get tested, visit: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19.

Funded Agency Channel Sector Advice:

The Funded Agency Channel have released Coronavirus information, guidelines and advice for sectors funded under the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education and Training, State Government of Victoria.

Australian Government:

Australia.gov.au is regularly updated to provide latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from government agencies across Australia.

The COVIDSafe app speeds up contacting people exposed to Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Federal Support:

JobKeeper Payment

The Government has a 'JobKeeper' payment available for eligible businesses to help keep more Australians in jobs and support businesses affected by the significant economic impact caused by the Coronavirus. Read more.

Support for Businesses

The Australian Government is supporting Australian businesses to manage cash flow challenges and retain employees. Assistance includes cash flow support to businesses and temporary measures to provide relief for financially distressed businesses. Read more.

Supporting Individuals and Households

The Australian Government is providing financial assistance to Australians to support them through the Coronavirus. This assistance includes income support payments, payments to support households and temporary early releases of superannuation. Read more.

Economic Justice Australia has produced a fact sheet with specific information on how to claim a Centrelink payment during COVID-19.

Victorian Business Resilience Package / Business Support Funds

The Victorian Government has established various business support funds to support Victorian businesses impacted by restrictions in Victoria.

Working for Victoria:

The $500 million Working for Victoria Fund will help Victorians who have lost their jobs due to the economic impacts of COVID-19 find new opportunities. Read more.

Free Online Infection Control Training:

The Federal Government is offering workers across the health, aged care, disability and childcare sectors access to a free online training module on infection control.

This training module takes about 30 minutes to complete and covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control (IPC) for COVID-19.

Mental Health and Wellbeing:

Beyond Blue has produced a guide to mental wellbeing during the Coronavirus outbreak. The Beyond Blue Support Service offers short term counselling and referrals by phone and webchat on 1300 22 4636.

Lifeline is available 24 hours/7 days on 13 11 14 and online chat (7pm – midnight, 7 nights).

Lifeline Gippsland also has a free CATCH Program, which matches individuals needing support you with a trained supporter for up to 12 weeks.

Victorian Aboriginal Health Service have set up a new and free 'Yarning Safe and Strong' phone counselling service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Family Violence Safety:

The 'STOP Family Violence' Card (Gippsland Women's Health / Gippsland Family Violence Alliance) provides a full list of Gippsland and state-wide Family Violence Support Services.

The Orange Door is available in Inner Gippsland and is a new way for women, children and young people who are experiencing family violence or families who need assistance with the care and wellbeing of children to access the services they need to be safe and supported.

1800RESPECT is operating during COVID-19 and a list of safety apps for mobile phones can be found at their website.

The safe steps 24/7 family violence crisis response phone line will continue to operate as usual 1800 015 188.

Central West Gippsland PCP have developed a Gender Equity during COVID-19 Fact Sheet.

Domestic Violence Resource Centre and Domestic Violence Victoria are collating information, resources and responses to frequently asked questions on COVID-19 and family violence at the Lookout website.

Suite of Resources

Health and Social Sector Advice:

Community and Health Professional Resources:

General Information

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities and Health Professionals

Aged Care Resources

Alcohol and Other Drugs

Auslan

Cardiovascular Disease

Children and Youth

Disability Services

Easy English

Family Violence Safety

Financial Assistance

Food Security and Healthy Eating

(Central West Gippsland PCP)

General Health and Physical Activity

Housing and Homelessness

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Translated / Multilingual