COVID-19 Communiqué

Journaling the COVID-19 pandemic

Are you interested in keeping a journal to capture your impressions and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Keeping a journal of even a sentence or two each day can help in many ways:

https://headspace.org.au/blog/how-to-start-a-journal/

I’m interested in how women, men and people of diverse gender and sexual identities live through this event. We know from bushfires and other disasters that you don’t need to be directly involved to be anywhere from slightly anxious to profoundly affected.

We would like to interview people about their experiences related to COVID-19, whether you are directly involved through having contracted the virus, in self-isolation, unexpectedly at home with children or others, wondering whether to stock up on food and essentials, whether to continue travelling by public transport, etc.

Perhaps you are now working from home, or live alone, or are indirectly affected through bombardment of information, misinformation and 24 hour media coverage.

Once we have ethics approval, I will invite those of you who are interested, to email your journals through and/or be interviewed at a later stage.

Thanks to Cathy McGowan for sending this. Please pass it on to you own networks!

NSW Govt acts on DV and COVID-19

'Frontline domestic and family violence workers are on ready alert for higher rates and increasingly serious cases of domestic violence as COVID-19 forces significant proportions of the population in isolation and places financial strain on families reliant upon income from insecure work.

“It’s a double whammy” says Women’s Safety NSW chief executive officer, Hayley Foster.'

. Read more ...
This media release was on 16/3/2020
A day later...

'NSW Government announces changes to domestic violence service responses in the wake of COVID-19'

These welcome changes cover temporary accommodation, court advocacy and safety action meetings.

Yet, 'in response to concerns raised by members, Women’s Safety NSW have requested assurances from the NSW Police Force that both women and children’s safety (and the safety of all victims of DV) continue to be prioritised at this time, notwithstanding the difficult and unusual circumstances in which we now find ourselves'.

Other links to information on Domestic Violence and COVID-19:

https://www.thelookout.org.au/family-violence-workers/covid-19-and-family-violence
https://www.respectvictoria.vic.gov.au/news/staying-safe-current-environment (end of article)
https://twitter.com/NTVorg/status/1240028446639734786
https://www.nambuccaguardian.com.au/story/6680209/virus-prompts-domestic-violence-warnings/?cs=9397
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/julia-gillard-coronavirus-solution-is-in-our-hands/news-story/e6b16b69370f0b141973781db254eef7

Advice from Beyond Blue on the Coronavirus

Beyond Blue has tips for getting through this turbulent time caused by COVID-19. They have a dedicated webpage and state, 'Beyond Blue recognises and understands the feelings of anxiety, distress and concern many people may be experiencing in relation to the coronavirus (COVID-19)'.

Read this valuable information on wellbeing here.

Beyond Blue is also hosting a community forum for people to comment on how they are dealing with COVID-19 Click to join the forum!

Postponed
In line with COVID-19 advice, we have postponed the GAD Pod's Lessons in Disaster Train-the-Trainer, which was to be held tomorrow. It is now planned (perhaps optimistically) for May 22nd.

It is, nevertheless, important to remember the 2020 Bushfires, and the individuals and communities suffering in their aftermath. COVID-19 adds to an already stressful time for so many.

"Keeping everyone safe during bushfire disaster management extends to recognising that men are vulnerable and need help, and being willing to hear women speak of emerging family violence.

These are not matters to be swept aside as we revert to traditional gender roles - such as the strong, silent men and nurturing, sacrificing women narrative."