According to our analysis, the answer is that telehealth is indeed reducing the risk. Since March 2020, more than 7 million MBS-funded telehealth consultations have been reported, with the vast majority (91%) being done by telephone.

On March 13, the federal government added new telehealth items to the Medicare Benefits Schedule, to allow health-care providers to offer both telephone and video consultations.

Before then, only Australians living outside major cities were eligible for Medicare-funded telehealth consultations, via video only. This was limited largely to medical specialist services and a very small number of GP and allied health services.

Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW) is the major health provider in the Central Hume region with an extensive range of acute, sub-acute, aged care and community services.

The 2020 Nursing &/or Midwifery Cadetship Program offers an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of study in their Bachelor in Nursing, Midwifery or Allied Health qualification, the chance to undertake their studies whilst working at a Victorian public health service.  

The Cadetship program offers:
• Salary for a minimum of 40 shifts of work placement
• Clinical Support and mentoring from our Education department and Aboriginal Support team
• Hands on opportunity to work within a regional fast paced hospital

To be eligible you must be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander student currently enrolled in full-time study in a Nursing, Midwifery or Allied Health Bachelor Degree and live in Victoria.

Applying for the role:
• Enquiries can be made with Anita Cooper on 0447 164 626
• Completed applications, addressing the criteria from the PD, should be emailed to careers@nhw.org.au
• Applications close 15 July 2020

Support for wine grape producers

Wine grape producers can access up to $10,000 to support recovery efforts and rebuild resilient businesses.

To date, most assistance has been directed to fire impacted areas. But we know smoke taint damage extends beyond the fire scar.

Worth $5 million, this grants program is targeted at businesses in smoke impacted wine regions which are not currently activated for the $75,000 primary producer grants.
 

Forestry Recovery Development Fund

The Australian Government is spending up to $40 million over three years to help privately-owned wood processing facilities recover and rebuild using innovation and product diversification.

The fund is for facilities that were directly damaged, or experienced a decline in supply due to the loss of trees, as a result of the 2019-20 bushfires.

The fund will deliver public-private partnerships and grants valued up to $5 million. Grants will require a dollar-for-dollar financial co-contribution from industry.
 

More storage to secure forestry products

To support the recovery, resilience, and growth of Australia’s forestry industries, $10 million is being invested into forestry infrastructure. Specifically, funding is being provided for the establishment of storage facilities to help store processed timber products, fire-affected logs and other forestry products.