Our Work
COVID-19 Supports, Information and Resources
Family Violence
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Information
and Resources
Youth Survey
Dementia Resources and Information
Rural Information
Grants
Webinars
eLearning
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#CentralHumePCP #SecurePCPsFuture
When 36 people from the Benalla community booked in for a dental appointment in 2016 and none of them had ever had a dental health check before, all the partners knew they were onto something.
We’ve been working with our partners and community organisations like the Waminda Community House to improve the health and wellbeing of people in the region for 20 years. To mark the anniversary, over the coming weeks we’re celebrating some of our collaborative projects.
Through support from many partner organisations, the Waminda health program has grown into a popular fortnightly GP van visit, which also offers an Aboriginal Health nurse. The dental van and optometry services are scheduled several times a year to coincide with the GP van day, making it a one-stop shop.
The increase in people attending and the changes in the services highlight the need for long-term support that a PCP delivers. We cover Alpine, Benalla, Mansfield and Wangaratta council areas, and are just one of 28 PCPs in Victoria, all celebrating 20 years in 2020.
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Health and community services, local governments and community organisations are playing a vital role is supporting community through this pandemic. We would like to thank those services and staff who have been working tirelessly to respond. We are appreciative of those who are not only trying to support their own family, but who are also there for other individuals and families in our community.
The Victorian Government has taken several actions to reduce the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria. Maintaining testing rates and ensuring Victorians actively seek testing if they have any symptoms, however mild, is an important part of an ongoing response to COVID-19. The Victorian Government has developed some promotional materials to support organsiations in promoting the 'get tested' message. The links to the promotional materials can be found at the top of our COVID-19 page.
The Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW has also developed a number of resources; including a self-care toolkit and a tip sheet on how to keep you and your mob safe from COVID-19. The links to these resources can be found under vulnerable groups at risk - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
We hope the webpage continues to be a beneficial resource to the communities across Central Hume.
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Applications Now Open
Community organisations and Victorian Councils are invited to apply for grants of up to $500,000 to improve community safety, security and confidence in public places.
The Community Safety Infrastructure Grants program is part of the government’s $2.7 billion Building Works package aimed at getting thousands of Victorians back to work as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 emergency while helping to combat crime and improve perceptions of safety.
The types of projects that may be funded include:
- upgrades to community centres, sporting facilities, and parks that increase the safety and use of these community spaces
- security upgrades to places of worship, and protection measures such as streetscaping or bollards.
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Date: Monday 29 June 2020
Time: 1–2pm
Cost: free
VicHealth and the Achievement Program are co-hosting a free webinar on prevention in Victoria post-coronavirus (COVID-19). In a Q&A format, well-respected thought leaders will provide insight into key prevention issues, strategies and approaches. The discussion will also include a short case study presentation by Sunraysia Community Health Services on its prevention approaches during this challenging time.
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Multicultural groups have welcomed a pledge from Victoria’s Health Minister to increase its efforts to provide in-language coronavirus support as Melbourne grapples with a spike in COVID-19 cases.
Victoria has recorded 133 COVID-19 cases over the past week.
As a result, six local council areas - Hume, Casey, Brimbank, Moreland, Cardinia and Darebin - have been declared virus hotspots with residents urged to limit their travel.
Victoria’s government says the recent rise in case numbers has come from large family gatherings.
In response, health authorities will ramp up testing in those areas and also increase messaging to Victorians from diverse backgrounds.
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Learning to use technology is one of the best ways older Australians can deal with these challenging times.
Knowing how to get online, use a smartphone, or make video calls keeps everyone connected and prevents isolation. It also means they can access vital services like online shopping and health information apps.
Tell your family and friends about the free, easy-to-use lessons on this website that provides step-by-step help to get older Australians started with technology.
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Who knows what the future holds?
This live session will unpack current health advice, how to navigate recent outbreak zones, and issues around returning to work, etc.
We will also have a dedicated discussion about COVID-19 and housing, homelessness and family violence.
Speakers include:
- DHHS Deputy Secretary Argiri Alisandratos
- A representative of the Victorian Chief Health Officer
- DHHS Director of Housing Pathways, Sherri Bruinhout
- Family Safety Victoria CEO Eleri Butler
- VCOSS CEO Emma King
It is important you register so we can track attendance and distribute materials. However, all you need to do to participate is go here at the scheduled time:
vcoss.org.au/live
A fully captioned video recording will be posted online after the event.
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RISE is a new program that has been developed to provide healing, hope and recovery for people who have experienced family violence.
RISE stands for Recovery, Individual Safety and Empowerment and it’s a program offered locally by Junction Support Services and the Australian Childhood Foundation.
Free, safe and confidential, RISE is for children, young people, women, men, people of all ages, people from all cultural backgrounds and people from the GLBTIQA+ community.
RISE supports children and young people for up to six months and adults for six to 12 months, so that people can get the assistance they need to achieve positive outcomes.
RISE can support people living in the following local government areas:
- City of Wodonga
- Rural City of Wangaratta
- Indigo Shire
- Towong Shire
- Alpine Shire
- Benalla Rural City Council
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COVID-19 is a gendered problem. Family violence, women’s economic security, mental and sexual health have all been affected in gendered ways during this crisis. We need gender responsive solutions.
“If we don’t do this deep work to recover gender equity, you can expect a two-lane economic recovery – where Australian men are on a fast-track, given the green light of public investment, while women are stuck in the slow lane – short changed, under-valued and going nowhere.” – Tanja Kovac
Victorian women have been hardest hit by the Covid19 pandemic with higher unemployment rates, less access to jobkeeper, greater responsibility for caring and unpaid work and significantly poorer mental health outcomes. However Government investment in strategies to help women has lagged behind other economic stimulus and support.
In a series of factsheets exploring the impact of Covid19 on women and gender diverse people in Victoria, Gender Equity Victoria and its members are raising awareness of the deep and lasting impacts of disaster on women across the State.
"Gender, Disaster and Resilience: Towards a Gender Equal Recovery" fact sheets:
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Family Safety Victoria and other government departments are committed to adapting their services to family violence prevention and response during this unique time of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
As previously advised, Family Safety Victoria have developed MARAM Practice Notes to outline the heightened and additional risk factors for victim survivors and perpetrators during COVID-19. These MARAM Practice Notes are available on the MARAM resources website.
Family Safety Victoria have produced a video to guide practitioners on the content of these Practice Notes, with a particular focus on MARAM risk factors in the context of COVID-19, best practice response for specialist practitioners and the importance of collaborative practice.
We would appreciate your feedback as to whether this type of communication tool is useful and how we can improve or provide guidance to help you in the future. We have created a short 3-minute survey that we ask you to fill out after watching the video: Survey Link.
The MARAM Practice Guides: Chapter Summaries have also been finalised and are on the website. The Chapter Summaries provide a high-level overview and introduction of the key concepts in the Foundation Knowledge Guide and the Responsibilities for Practice Guides 1-10. The chapter summaries do not replace the need to refer to the full practice guides when determining how to undertake practice.
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The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) are looking for Aboriginal people who want to work on Country to help protect Victorian communities from bushfires by becoming seasonal firefighters as part of Forest Fire Management crews. A significant pool of positions are made available using provisions of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, whereby only Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island people are eligible to apply.
What do you need to do to become a PFF?
- Hold a current manual drivers licence
- Pass a National Police Record Check
- Meet the "Category B - Firefighter Arduous" medical and fitness requirements. This requires passing the DELWP firefighter medical assessment at least every two years, and successful completion of the "Pack Hike Test" prior to commencement each year.
Applicants will be required to provide a completed Aboriginality form
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Consumer Action Koori Help can help you with:
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The Victorian Government is establishing the Local Aboriginal COVID-19 Response Networks to provide a single point of contact for the Aboriginal community to engage with government and access resources in relation to the COVID-19 response. These Networks will build on and amalgamate existing local COVID-19 responses that have already been established to engage Aboriginal communities and organisations.
In line with self-determination, membership of the Networks will be determined by the local community. However, membership is open to local VPS employees; local members of Victorian Government Aboriginal governance forums; representatives from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations; mainstream service providers and local community members.
The overall aim is to combine efforts across Government and community so that Aboriginal communities can more effectively respond to and recover from COVID-19.
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2020 Mission Australia Youth Survey is Now Open
The Mission Australia Youth Survey is Australia’s largest online youth survey, providing a platform for young people aged 15 to 19 to ‘speak up’ about the issues that really concern them.
Mission Australia CEO James Toomey urges young people across Australia to get involved and speak up in the charity’s annual Youth Survey.
“Last year we heard that many young people did not have the avenues to speak up on the issues that matter to them. The Youth Survey 2020 provides a forum for young people to highlight their personal aspirations and concerns, and express the issues they think are important in Australia today. In a climate where young people are actively seeking out opportunities to make their views known, the Youth Survey 2020 offers a safe and reliable platform to speak up. Their valuable insights provide up-to-date evidence to inform advocacy and policy change on the issues that affect their lives.”
Individual Youth Survey reports are available for schools and organisations where a minimum of 100 respondents complete the survey. If you would like to request an individual report, please contact us before commencing the survey to receive a unique code.
The survey closes on the 14th August 2020, with results to be analysed and released before the end of the year.
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Researchers at UNSW Sydney (The University of New South Wales) and Dementia Australia, are seeking research participants, who would be willing to take part in a study which will investigate the experience of men who support
a person living with dementia.
Eligible participants will be invited to take part in a one hour interview, where they will be asked to describe how they have accessed (or not accessed) formal support services; which support services have been helpful and/or unhelpful; and to suggest ways to improve current supports services, so as to make it easier for men to access services.
The research findings will be translated into recommendations on how to tailor support services- to better match the needs of men who support a person with dementia. We are thus looking to recruit men who meet the following criteria:
- You live in Australia.
- You are aged 18 and above.
- You are currently the main support person for the person with dementia and the person with dementia does not live in residential care.
- You are not employed as a professional or as a paid carer, to support the person with dementia.
There are no costs associated with participation in this research study, nor will you be paid.
How to register
Please call or email us, to express your interest to participate in this study.
Email: VIC.Admin@dementia.org.au
Phone: 03 9815 7800
Ethics approval number: HC191002
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Media Release: Rebuilding Relief for Australia's Primary Producers
Four new initiatives to support the forestry industry, wine producers and apple growers hit by the bushfires and the effects of COVID-19 are set to form a major plank in the rebuilding effort in communities across Australia.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the $86 million worth of new targeted grants would support some of Australia’s hardest hit primary producers.
The additional bushfire relief measures form part of the economic recovery effort and include:
- A $40 million Forestry Recovery Development Fund for competitive grants that support processors to navigate future wood supply shortages through innovation and product diversification.
- $10 million for the establishment of storage facilities for processed timber products, fire-affected logs and other forestry products. The fund will produce additional certainty for mills and help businesses plan their long-term recovery.
- A $5 million fund for grants up to $10,000, matched by a co-contribution, for wine grape producers who experienced crop loss because of smoke taint from the Black Summer bushfires in wine regions that aren’t currently activated for the $75,000 primary producer grants.
- A $31 million fund for grants of $120,000 per hectare for bushfire impacted apple growers. This program complements the support provided by the NSW government.
Further information about bushfire relief funding can be found at bushfirerecovery.gov.au.
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The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) are wanting to test their new Online Ag Health pilot project initiative before it goes live. They are looking for interested Victorian farming men, women and agricultural workers aged 18+ to help test.
Participants will be asked to complete an online questionnaire, participate in two telehealth consults with agrihealth professionals and an evaluation of the pilot project.
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The program aims to support the recovery of communities through the following focus areas:
- Health & well-being initiatives;
- Programs, events and initiatives that support the development of emerging leaders in the affected areas;
- Programs that assist the regeneration of the land affected by fire;
- Programs that assist animals affected by fire;
- Events and initiatives that connect bushfire affected communities
If you are an organisation based in, or servicing the bushfire affected communities located in the LGA's of Alpine, Greater Hume, Towong or Snowy Valleys, please head to the following website, https://bordertrust.org.au/grants/general-information/ for General Information and the Expression of Interest which closes 15 July 2020.
This round is predominantly focused on grants of up to $10,000, however, larger grants can be considered. |
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The On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants Program has been Expanded
Jaclyn Symes, Minister for Agriculture has announced changes to the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants program:
The maximum value of the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants has increased from $5,000 to $10,000 to boost farmers’ access to professional services whilst still enabling farmers to invest in drought preparedness infrastructure. Eligible farm businesses can now apply for:
- Up to $5,000 for business decision making activities (with no-contribution required)
- Up to $5,000 for infrastructure investments (with at least 50 per cent co-contribution required)
There are three new eligible infrastructure investments under the Resilience Grants:
- technologies to improve mobile phone connectivity
- weed control (e.g. purchase of registered herbicide)
- soil moisture probes (as an explicit investment under soil moisture monitoring activities).
Farmers in drought affected areas of East Gippsland and Wellington Shires also impacted by the bushfires can reapply for the grant where previously funded investments through the On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Support Grants, Pasture Recovery and Management Grants or the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants were destroyed or damaged.
For more information and to access the On-Farm Drought Resilience Grants program, call Rural Finance on 1800 260 425 or visit ruralfinance.com.au.
Farmers are encouraged to apply early to ensure they do not miss out on funding.
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Energy Efficient Communities Program – Dairy Farming Business Grants
The Energy Efficient Communities Program – Dairy Farming Business Grants provides dairy farming businesses with grants of up to $20,000 to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy costs and lower on-farm emissions. Grants may be used for equipment replacement, component upgrades, energy audits or feasibility studies.
Open
Close date: 17 Aug 2020 05:00 PM AEST.
What do you get? Grants from $5,000 to $20,000 for dairy farming businesses.
Who is this for? This grant opportunity is for dairy cow farming businesses.
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Date: Wednesday 1st July 2020
Time: 10am
Hear about the drought cycle, the cumulative challenges communities often face and key considerations at different stages of the drought cycle. Learn a bit about the psychology around adaptation in the face of this long term stress and how to strengthen resilience and manage wellbeing through tough times.
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Is an ounce of prevention really worth a pound of cure? How do we know?
As the first instalment of the PHAA Public Health Webinar Series, the Economics of Prevention Webinar will cover some of the vitally important underpinnings of assessing the economic value of disease prevention. If you want to make the argument that investing in prevention is worthwhile - this webinar will improve your capacity to mount that case.
The Economics of Prevention Webinar will provide an introduction to health economics concepts and explain why economic evidence is important to consider when building the case for investment in prevention. The webinar will aim to provide attendees the key tools to better understand economic evidence specifically related to the measurement of health outcomes in terms of quality-adjusted life years, cost-effectiveness ratios, and commonly used methods to incorporate uncertainty in cost-effectiveness estimates. Time will be allocated for Q&A opportunities
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Free Digital Health Security Awareness Course
The free Digital Health Security Awareness course is designed for people who work in a variety of healthcare settings and roles.
It includes examples that relate cyber security concepts to people’s work in healthcare organisations.
The course has been developed by the Agency’s cyber security team, in consultation with representatives from a range of healthcare settings and disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, practice management and allied health.
The Digital Health Security Awareness eLearning course includes five modules:
- Introduction to security awareness
- Think before you click
- Passwords
- Network and device security
- Report. Protect Privacy.
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