1.Prime Minister Press Releases.
1.1 : COVID-19 $1.1 Billion support for mental health, telehealth etc.
1.2 : The Prime Minister strongly advised that Indigenous Australians with a chronic illness over the age of 50 should stay at home as much as practical
1.3 Download the COVID-19 App
2.Border closures cause critical health staff shortages
3.AMA 2 Press Releases : Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders must me a priority in COVID-19 Crisis
4.First Coronavirus cases in Central Australia confirmed ACCHO Services drop everything to help stop the spread to remote communities.
5.RACGP 2 Press Releases : Secures $500 million to help general practice fight Corona Virus. Aboriginal Health Assessments included in Telehealth.
6.Message video from Karen Heap VACCHO Chair.
7.Professors Anita Heiss and Megan Davis COVID-19 messages.
8.Our CEO Pat Turner interviewed tonight Dr Norman Swan Radio National 5.30 pm
9.Download AH+MRC COVID-19 poster and insert your brand.
10.Gallery of COVID-19 on social media images to share.
See NACCHO Corona Virus Home Page
Read all 22 NACCHO Aboriginal Health and Coronas Virus Alerts HERE
1.1 : PM Press Release : COVID-19 $1.1 Billion support for mental health, telehealth etc.
Extra health support from the Government to keep people healthy and strong
The government has announced extra support for health services during coronavirus. It includes telehealth, mental health and domestic violence support.
Medicare will also provide help for people at home, and emergency food relief.
Support will roll out immediately to help everyone deal with coronavirus.
During isolation, the government is helping Australians to work together to stay healthy and strong.
Medicare support at home – telehealth
· Health services will be available to people in their own home.
· Telehealth uses telephones or Facetime video calls to connect you with health providers.
· This will include Doctors, chronic disease management and mental health.
· You can also get the 715 health check for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of all ages.
· Some of these services will be available after hours too.
· Accessing health services at home, helps stop the spread of the virus at clinics. It is safe to talk to a doctor on the phone or video call.
· Using these services will help keep you, your family and community safe.
· You can still see a Doctor or clinic face to face in an emergency.
· These services will be in place until 30 September 2020.
Domestic violence support
There will be extra support for families experiencing domestic and family violence.
· Counselling services will increase.
· You can also call 1800 RESPECT at any time over the phone for counselling.
Mental health support
· The government has a digital website to help people look after their mental health. Visit www.headtohealth.gov.au for tips.
· We need to help our Elders and communities with the impacts of coronavirus.
· Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) will develop culturally appropriate mental health and wellbeing resources. They will be available on social media, NITV and podcasts.
· During these times, we all need to support our families and communities to stay strong.
· Stay connected by calling family over the phone, using video calls or social media.
· Ask people, are you okay?
· A national helpline will be set up by Beyond Blue to help people worried about coronavirus. It can help people learn more about the virus and any changes to their family or community like jobs and money.
· Health workers can access special support too. It is important they to look after their wellbeing during the virus. They are working hard to help us all and it can be very stressful. We need to look after them too, while they look after us.
Relief services for vulnerable Australians
· The Community Support Package will help communities with funding where they need it.
· It will include help with bills, food, clothing or petrol. It will help keep people their jobs too.
· Extra services will be available through the National Debt Helpline too.
· You can call on 1800 007 007 if you are experience financial difficulties.
Supplied above by 33Creative
Download full press release
1.2 : The Prime Minister strongly advised that Indigenous Australians with a chronic illness over the age of 50 should stay at home as much as practical
Download Read Full Press Release HERE
The Australian Government has released an official app with the information you need to know about #coronavirus. Search “Coronavirus Australia” in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
2.Border closures cause critical health staff shortages
Indigenous health clinics are grappling with critical medical staff shortages after border closures and new quarantine measures cut off their supply of fly-in, fly-out GPs and nurses.
Doctors are warning there could be dire consequences in some Indigenous communities where residents already have limited access to care, and high rates of chronic disease.
“It’ll have a massive impact, it’s one thing to do telehealth, but you can’t do CPR or resuscitation over the phone,” said Dr Mark Wenitong from the Cape York Health Council (CYHC
3.AMA 2 Press Releases : Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders must me a priority in COVID-19 Crisis (C.C.DM
The AMA is calling for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be a top priority in national measures to control COVID-19.
AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, said today that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a higher susceptibility to COVID-19 due to higher rates of underlying chronic diseases, overcrowded living conditions, lack of food security, inadequate income, and other social determinants of health, such as water.
“The AMA supports the Government’s significant funding to help combat COVID-19,” Dr Bartone said.
“This includes around $50 million for telehealth services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and increased capacity for remote communities to prevent outbreaks through screening fly-in and fly-out workers, supporting the evacuation of early cases, and mobile respiratory clinics.”
AMA Press Release 1 Read More HERE
A breakthrough agreement brokered by the AMA with the Federal Government for expanded telehealth access to general practitioners and other medical specialists will allow continuation of normal patient care, and reduce the need for scarce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
AMA Press Release 2 Read More Here
4.First Coronavirus cases in Central Australia confirmed ACCHO Services drop everything to help stop the spread to remote communities.
While Indigenous media groups focus on getting coronavirus health advice into remote communities, health experts are already preparing for potential outbreaks.
Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, the main Aboriginal health organisation in central Australia, is planning to set up medical clinics inside remote communities as part of their coronavirus response action plan.
The Chief Medical Officer at Congress, Dr John Boffa, said they were also repurposing medical equipment which would help speed up testing.
“We’re part of a research project called the Tango Project where they are using this gene-expert technology to do point-of-care testing for gonorrhoea,” he said.
“That same machine can now be used with cartridges for the COVID-19 virus.”
This new method will be able to deliver a result in 45 minutes and means samples won’t need to be sent long distances for analysis.
“I think it’s going to be very significant in terms of the improvement that gives us in our capacity to case find and rapidly get results,” Dr Boffa said.
5.RACGP 2 Press Releases : Secures $500 million to help general practice fight Corona Virus. Aboriginal Health Assessments included in Telehealth.
‘Blatant racism can never be tolerated – least of all at this crucial time.’
This is the stern message issued to healthcare workers across the country by the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA), following numerous reported incidents of racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people seeking healthcare during the coronavirus response.
6.Message video from Karen Heap VACCHO Chair
7.Professors Anita Heiss and Megan Davis messages
A shout out to all our Elders during #covid_19
Please: #StaySafe #StayHome #stayHomeAunty #StayHomeUncle#KeepOurMobSafe @cultureislife @33CreativeAus @atsisuq @NACCHOAustralia @IndigenousX pic.twitter.com/MofpSTBcPI
— Prof Anita Heiss AM (@AnitaHeiss) March 29, 2020
8.Our CEO Pat Turner interviewed tonight Dr Norman Swan Radio National 5.30 pm
Specialist and mainstream audiences alike rely on The Health Report to bring clarity to health and medical issues from social, scientific and political points of view.
Airs Monday 5.30pm Repeated: Tuesday 5:30am, Wednesday 11am
Listen for free on your mobile device on the ABC Listen app, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.
9.Download AH+MRC COVID-19 poster and insert your brand
10.Gallery of COVID-19 on social media images to share
10.1 COVID-19 on social media images
10.2 COVID-19 on social media images
10.3 COVID-19 on social media images
10.4 COVID-19 on social media images
10.5 COVID-19 on social media images
