If you would like to flag any gaps or issues affecting your organisation, or any services that require increased funding to meet an immediate need in the COVID-19 response, please get in touch with ACTCOSS through our general email address [email protected] or someone from the team.

The ACT Property Group is writing to tenants informing them that many ACT Property Group buildings are being closed in line with the Federal Government’s announcement. However, they are keeping the venues open for essential services.

If you are a community service that has received this notice and you need to continue operations, you should send an email to [email protected] with the name of the organisation and opening hours. So that essential services can continue, ACT Property Group have confirmed that all buildings will remain accessible.

ACTCOSS are seeking clarification on the definition of essential service. If you are not sure about whether or not you are an “essential service” and need to continue your work in the case of a broader lockdown, please email [email protected]. We need to ensure that the needs of vulnerable people will continue to be met.

ACTCOSS have been advocating on behalf of community organisations during this COVID-19 pandemic period through actions, including:

• Letter to the ACT Minister for Multicultural Affairs Chris Steel to:
  • Highlight that many people seeking asylum, international students, and people on visas without access to Centrelink have no access to any income
  • Ensure information on support for businesses is translated into key languages and distributed widely
  • Invite a coordinated approach between ACT Government and NFPs in the ACT to ensure culturally and linguistically diverse Canberrans are protected during COVID-19
    
    
• Hosting COVID-19 specific teleconferences with our networks to identify current and emerging gaps to flag with Federal Government advocacy partners and/or decision makers in the ACT Government:
  • Community Assistance and Support Program (CASP) – weekly telco on Wednesdays 10am – please contact [email protected] for more info
  • Human Resources Professionals – fortnightly telco next on Thursday 2 April – please contact [email protected] for more info
    
    
• In touch with the Health Directorate and Minister for Health on issues impacting the CASP and broader community sector network, including:
  • Lack of access to key Canberra Health Service activities, including services such as wound dressing
  • Dwindling supplies of cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Need for flexibility in CASP service provision to meet immediate need
    
    
• Letter to the Chief Minister’s Office to call for a suspension of rent for community sector organisations who are tenants of ACT Government property

• Signing an open letter written by criminal justice professionals and academic experts (Google doc) urgently calling on Attorney-Generals and Corrections Ministers to:
  • Implement widespread testing of prisoners
  • Immediately release low-risk prisoners with priority placed on those with chronic health conditions
  • Increase responsiveness of health services in prisons.

ACTCOSS Member Teleconference – COVID-19

Join our twice weekly member calls to shape our advocacy and for more information on our work.

Please feel free to join each call, or just when you have an issue.

Times of the calls are:

• Tuesdays 9.30am-10.30am
• Fridays 9.30am-10.30am

We will be using Zoom, which can be accessed via your web browser or phone:

• Meeting ID: 416 280 510
• Meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/416280510
  
• Meeting phone number: +61 2 8015 6011

• ACOSS are calling on the Federal Government to address the remaining gaps in the social safety net for people currently ineligible for Commonwealth income support, including all non-citizens in Australia on temporary visas, such as asylum seekers. This must include access to income support, relevant concessions and health services. We cannot allow anyone to fall through the cracks at this critical time
  
  
• ACOSS are seeking clarify regarding which community organisations deliver “essential services” to ensure relevant organisations get appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), so financial viability decisions can be made, and repurposing of roles can begin for workers stood down in our sector
  
  
• ACOSS are advocating for community sector representation on the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission  
  
  
• ACOSS are developing an advocacy response to payday lenders remaining open, and the potential for exploitation of vulnerable groups given supplementary Centrelink payments
  
  
• ACOSS will be sharing gaps emerging for children in out-of-home care with State / Territory councils of social service
  
  
• ACOSS are advocating to extend the period where social security mutual obligations are suspended, beyond the current date of 31 March 2020.

Canberra Relief Network – CRN

The Canberra Relief Network (CRN) is the ACT Government's response to the sudden and overwhelming demand for food and non-perishable household essential items that is occurring and is expected to increase as a direct result of COVID-19.

The aim of CRN is to support individuals who are not able to purchase items in the supermarket due to vulnerability. Eligibility is restricted to those who absolutely have no other choice. This includes:

• Pre-existing clients of food pantries
• Current clients of community services organisations
• Community members that are identified as vulnerable through government support
• People escaping family violence, refugees and migrants
• People directly affected by the pandemic: casual employees experiencing hardship, those in the gig economy, and those that are isolated or incapacitated due to illness and require direct assistance.

ACT Government will provide $1.5m over next 6 months to ensure vulnerable groups get urgent food and essential items through a food pantry model, coordinated by the Canberra Relief Network – ACTCOSS will share more info as it becomes available.

Other Updates

• The Commissioner of ACT Corrective Services sent a notice to detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre regarding video visit sessions (pdf) via Zoom from 27 March 2020
  
  
• List of venues and activities that need to close and/or stop has been provided by the Prime Minister’s Office
  
  
• Message from the ACT Community Services Directorate: “The directorate is continually working on our response to ensure business continuity. We are coordinating the flow of information to reduce the burden on providers to make and respond to queries. Information is key to the ability of government and the community sector to work together. We will communicate via email to keep in regular contact with you all, facilitating the flow of information both to and from your organisations. Our email address is: [email protected]”
  
  
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families with children and young people receiving a service from Child and Youth Protection Services can contact their Child and Youth Protection Services Case Manager, or the Cultural Services Team on 02 6207 2228 and [email protected] to discuss COVID-19 related issues
  
  
• The Refugee Council of Australia have an online email template to send to your local Federal MP to ensure refugees and people seeking asylum have the medical, social, and financial support they need during COVID-19, and a full list of priorities that need to be addressed 
  
  
• COVID-19 Stimulus Incentives for NFPs
  
  
• Aged Care: guidelines on the use of PPE when caring for patients in a non-inpatient setting – please email [email protected] with PPE questions or requirements
  
  
• It has been advised that access to PPE from the stockpile can be requested by email to [email protected], subject to triage conditions. Requesting parties will be asked to demonstrate:
  • They have been unable to source masks through the open market
  • Existing stocks have been depleted
  • Who the requested masks are intended for
  • How the masks are to be prioritised and distributed in order to minimise transmission to greatest effect.

Service Changes

• Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services service changes
  
• Canberra Rape Crisis Centre service changes (pdf)
  
• headspace Canberra service changes (pdf)
  
• ACT Community Legal Centres COVID-19 services summary (pdf)
  
• Health Care Consumers’ Association service changes  
• Dementia Australia service changes
  

• Webinar: ACNC & ATO – Charities, the ACNC, & COVID-19 – 30 March
• Webcast: Governance Institute – Director duties during COVID-19 – 6 April
• Webinar recording: Support Coordination & COVID-19 – recorded 24 March
  
• Checklist: Support Coordination in a Pandemic
  

• Issue 1 – Monday 23 March 2020
  
• Issue 2 – Wednesday 25 March 2020