“ To assist our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Professionals NATSIHWA has lead a project in collaboration with AIDA, IAHA and CATSINaM to develop a resource toolkit that includes oosters on important contacts, tips and information to help you care for yourself, as well as posters for distribution in your communities.
The toolkit is available now A&TSI Health Professionals Resource Toolkit .
To avoid a second wave we all have to continue to be cautious and vigilant.
As Health Professionals it is important that you keep yourself informed and understand what you need to do in case of an outbreak.
We are facing uncertain times. As we work collectively to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, we know that our people are at a higher risk.
Please look after yourselves and each other. “
NATSIHWA Press Release continued below
As the frontline Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce it is important you know how to protect and care for yourself, your families and our communities.
We all need to do things differently. People’s lives are at risk.
Everybody needs to know the signs or symptoms and how to keep each other safe. In particular, care must be taken around the elderly and those with chronic health conditions – they are most at risk.
We have never been in a situation like this before and it is changing all the time. Over the coming weeks your regular roles may change dramatically and you may be faced with additional demands.
You will need to take particular care of your own physical, cultural, spiritual, mental, social and emotional wellbeing.
We have put this pack together to assist and support you in this changing environment.
It includes tips and information to help you care for yourself, as well as, resources for distribution in your communities. To make sure you are getting the most up to date and correct information we will continue to publishing links, resources and information on our websites, social media pages and newsletters.
Stay informed and join NATSIHWA for free! Join here
The official Australian Government website is a good source of information.
They have also developed an online COVID-19 infection control training module and we would encourage you all to do the training .
Another good source of collated information from primary sources is the Indigenous HealthInfoNet COIVD19 portal.
To protect against infection and prevent the virus spreading everyone must practise good hygiene, physical distancing and self-isolation when required. As a general rule the hygiene procedures that you apply in the clinic or your workplace should also be applied at home.
We are working closely together and our operations will continue to run so if you want to have a yarn, need assistance or to raise any concerns, please give us a call. We are here for you and our communities.
We acknowledge and thank you for the work that you do. Please stay safe.
The teams at: NATSIHWA, CATSINaM, AIDA and IAHA.
Contents
Be prepared
- Other Routine Precautions in your Clinic or Practice
- Establish Staff logs
- Disposal of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other waste
- Handling of linen
Looking after yourself
- Tune into SELF – your OWN health and wellbeing
- We need you to be safe for you, and for your families and your communities
- Try to eat well, get sleep and exercise if you can.
You will need this energy to get through this - Feeling confident and supported
- Keeping you and your family well and safe
- Staying connected to culture and the environment
- Reminders for your clinic
Resources to help you keep our communities safe
The toolkit is available now A&TSI Health Professionals Resource Toolkit