Vaccine information - main sources

• WHO, Cth Department of Health (DH), Vic DH, Vic Covid vaccination guidelines, Vic DH translated vaccine resources, NCIRS, MVEC, University of Melbourne vaccine updates, Burnet Institute modelling, Doherty Institute modelling
• Vaccine appointment finders - Cth vaccine clinic finder, Covidnearme and Covidqueue
• Covid + pathways - fact sheet (Dec 2021)

As of 2/1/2022

• Covid cases - World - 289.3M and Australia - 430,712 (158,782 active, 1743 hospitalised currently)
  • Deaths - World - 5.44M and Australia - 2253
  • The overall case fatality rate is ~2%. Deaths increase with age (after 50y and more so older than 70y) pre-existing medical conditions, and are higher in Black, Asian and minority Ethnic (BAME) in US and other data. The risk for for serious outcomes exists across the age spectrum, and outbreaks in other countries have caused thousands of deaths in young adults.
  • Children have decreased as a proportion of cases in Victoria since school ended
• Vaccine safety and development process - Australia is following its normal process for vaccine registration and monitoring through the TGA.
  
• Types of vaccine (WHO and also see UoM updates)
  • mRNA vaccines - use RNA to generate a protein that itself safely prompts an immune response
    • Pfizer - 2 doses, min 3 weeks apart - patient information (includes translated) - approved for age 12y+
    • Moderna - 2 doses, min 4 weeks apart - patient information (includes translated) - approved for age 12y+
  • Viral vector vaccine - uses a safe virus that cannot cause disease, but serves as a platform to produce coronavirus proteins to generate an immune response
    • Astra Zeneca - 2 doses, 8-12 weeks apart (can be as early as 4 weeks apart if needed) - patient information (includes translated) 
• Vaccine effectiveness
  • Pfizer - 63-95% any infection, -18-97% symptomatic infection, 85-98% severe disease/hospitalisation, 90-100% death
  • Moderna - 76-92% any infection, 82-95% symptomatic infection, 92-98% severe disease/hospitalisation, 98% death
  • AstraZeneca (AZ) - 45-73% any infection, -39-78% symptomatic infection, 84-100% severe disease/hospitalisation, 90-100% death
  • Covid vaccines reduce, but don't prevent transmission (and a vaccinated person can still get the infection and pass it on to others)
• Vaccination numbers - World - 9.17B doses (4.59B at least one dose, 3.88B people fully vaccinated) and Australia 42.60M doses (94.4% of age 16y+ at least one dose, 91.4% fully) - with ~ 20% Australian population aged 0-15y = ~ 73% population
• Australian Rollout strategy  Covid vaccination is available for:
  • Anyone 12 years and older, including women at all stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding
    • Pfizer or Moderna vaccine (12y and older, now including 60y+) 
    • AZ vaccine is available for adults 60y+ and 18-59y if they choose
    • Severely immunocompromised people age 12y + are eligible for a 3rd dose (considered part of the primary course, at least 28d after 2nd dose)
    • RCH booking 9345 6599 - specified medical conditions (post-transplant, haematological disease, malignancies, BMTx, immunodeficiency, inflammatory conditions requiring medical Rx, severe asthma, diabetes, severe obesity 40kg/m2+, cardiac and circulatory congenital anomalies, neurodevelopmental disorders, T21, epilepsy, severe mental health conditions) 
      
  • Children age 5-11 years - vaccination will commence 10 Jan 2022 - see ATAGI advice
    • The recommended schedule is 2 doses, 8 weeks apart (can be shortened to 3 weeks if needed).
    • The dose is one third of the adult dose (orange topped vial)
    • If children turn 12y after their first dose they can receive the adolescent dose as their 2nd dose
  • The vaccine is free for everyone in Australia, even if they don't have Medicare, the vaccine is not mandatory 
  • People who have had covid infection should still get the vaccine (no timeframe as long as they have recovered, and cleared quarantine, although vaccination should be delayed for at least 90 days after receiving an anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody or convalescent plasma)
• Booster doses are strongly recommended for age 18 years + and available for anyone who completed their primary course 5 months ago (regardless of vaccine type used for primary course) - the interval will be shortened to 4m from 4 Jan 2022.
  
• How do I get vaccinated? - Sites include GPs, pharmacists, State run clinics, Cth vaccine clinic finder, Covidnearme and Covidqueue
  • Continue normal medicines, seek medical advice if on immunosuppression, immunotherapy, chemotherapy or anticoagulants (heparin),
  • Covid vaccine can be given with influenza vaccination, and with other vaccinations if required
    
  • You will need a second dose of the same vaccine (Pfizer = 3 weeks, Moderna = 4 weeks, AZ 4-8 weeks in outbreak setting, recommended = 12 weeks)
    
• Consent process - ATAGI guideline on consent
• Side effects and what to do if you get them
  
  • It's important to remember that the main side effect of covid vaccine is to avoid serious illness and hospitalisation with Covid-19
  • All vaccines can cause side effects, usually these are mild and last 1-2 days. Common side effects include a sore arm, fatigue, headache, fever and muscle aches - take panadol or ibuprofen if needed. Respiratory symptoms (coryza/cough) are not associated.
    
  • Serious side effects are rare:
    • Anaphylaxis - AstraZeneca ~ 1/1,000,000; Pfizer ~ 1/200,000 (ATAGI and ASCIA) - typically within 15 minutes, mostly in people with a past history of drug allergy, and with good recovery with treatment (CDC)
    • Thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after AZ vaccine - almost all after 1st dose, usually ~2 weeks after vaccination. There has not been a higher rate of more common blood clots (including DVT/PE)
      • ATAGI and TGA - (2 Dec 2021) - TTS - 166 cases (total 13.5M vaccine doses); median 13 days post dose (range 1-83), 47 of these required ICU, 8 deaths (4.8% total cases TTS). 
        • estimated risk TTS per 100,000 AZ doses:  2.0 age < 50y, 2.0 all ages - current monitoring suggests earlier detection, good surveillance, and higher survival in Australia compared to other countries. 
    • Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and Guillain Barre syndrome monitoring the TGA is investigating 93 reports of suspected ITP (<1/100,000) and 156 reports of suspected Guillain Barre syndrome (1/100,000) following AZ vaccine (28 Nov 2021) - not yet definitively linked with vaccination
    • Myocarditis and pericarditis monitoring - TGA (2 Dec 2021) - 354 reports of likely myocarditis (102 in age 12-17y), and 1471 reports of suspected pericarditis (109 in age 12-17y) following Pfizer vaccine (total 24.4M vaccine doses), usually within 10 days, particularly after the 2nd dose. Overall frequency 1-2/100,000, and more common in young men/teenage boys after the 2nd dose (6-11 cases per 100,000 doses). See ATAGI/CSANZ advice.
  • Covid vaccine side effects are being closely monitored by AusVaxSafety - (as of 19 Dec 2021) 4,986,989 people have provided information 3 days after their vaccination - overall 44% reported any side effects, and 1% needed to visit a doctor or emergency department.
  • ATAGI risk benefit document (June 2021) and AskShareKnow decision aids (includes picture based information).
• Record keeping - vaccines are recorded on the Australian Immunisation register (AIR) - you do not need Medicare to have an AIR record. People can also apply for an Individual Health Identifier (IHI, with certified proof of identity) - you do not need an IHI for AIR records either. Covid vaccination does not affect Centrelink payments. AIR records are individualised from age 14 years.
• Questions on vaccinations - Commonwealth - is it true?, NCIRS, MVEC, allergies, MVEC vaccine confidence, and Victorian DH translated
• And still always get tested immediately if you have symptoms, download your digital Covid vaccine certificate, check in using the Services Victoria app.

Key data sources

• RCH – also PPE,  COVID Clinical Practice Guideline and Learning Hero resources (intranet only)
• State – DHHS (includes Chief Health Officer update, case definition, resources, stay at home restrictions, and Community services sector plan and roadmaps)
  • Free testing for migrants and asylum seekers and 'getting tested' advice (including test locations)
  • Data dashboard and Healthcare worker data
  • Roadmap to reopening, Doherty modelling, Burnett modelling
  • Schools - modelling report, MCRI Report Covid-19 and child and adolescent health (Sep 2021)
• Victorian government updates (includes links to health, financial supports, schools, public sector)
• Federal – Department of Health and Australian live guidelines
  • Australian government updates -  including restrictions in States/Territories and 'restriction checker' by activity for jurisdictions
  • Covid vaccines - and information in language
  • DHA -  advice in language
• Australian numbers 
• Global numbers and WHO Coronavirus
• Covid-19 kids research updates and vaccine updates (University of Melbourne), and Research database 
• National Refugee-led Advisory and Advocacy group - COVID-19 consultation report 
• Mobility in the time of Covid-19 - Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility - including 14 principles of protection.

Timeline related to migration

• 31 Dec 2019 – Pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China reported to WHO regional office
• 25 Jan 2020 – Australian restrictions on travel to and arrivals from China
• 30 Jan 2020 – WHO declares public health emergency of international concern
• 01 Mar 2020 – Australian restrictions on travel to and arrivals from Iran
• 11 Mar 2020 – WHO declares pandemic
• 13 Mar 2020 – Expanded MBS telehealth item numbers
• 16 Mar 2020 – Victoria declares State of Emergency
• 16 Mar 2020 – IOM and UNHCR suspend travel for refugees. People with a 202 visa may still travel to Australia pending flight availability, quarantine applies to international arrivals
• 18 Mar 2020 – DFAT issues standing advice to not travel overseas, with subsequent closure of many transit hubs
• 18 Mar 2020 - Guard at Kangaroo Point APOD in Qld tests positive for coronavirus - see media reporting
  
• 21 Mar 2020 – Victorian Government announces $1.7B economic survival package, including a $500M Working for Victoria fund
• 23 Mar 2020 – Stage 1 restrictions Victoria
• 24 Mar 2020 – Prime Minister announces a ban on all overseas travel (with limited exceptions), and advice to avoid all non-essential domestic travel
• 24 Mar 2020 – Detention visitor program suspended
• 25 Mar 2020 – Stage 2 restrictions Victoria – non-essential businesses close
• 28 Mar 2020 – Enforced 14 day quarantine for all international arrivals in Victoria
• 29 Mar 2020 – New  Coronavirus supplement announced – $550/fortnight in addition to existing payments through JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Special Benefit, Parenting Allowance and others - see fact sheet
• 30 Mar 2020 – Stage 3 restrictions Victoria – to apply for 4 weeks, no more than 2 people in a gathering, only 4 reasons to be out (essential supplies, healthcare, exercise, work/study if required), playgrounds closed), restrictions now enforceable
• 30 Mar 2020 – Federal Government announces $130B JobKeeper payments – providing affected businesses with $1500/fortnight per employee (70% median wage) – for citizens, permanent residents, and special category visa (SCV) holders – see fact sheet
• 31 Mar 2020 – OHCHR, IOM, UNHCR and WHO joint press release - The rights and health of refugees, migrants and stateless must be protected in COVID-19 response
• 31 Mar 2020 – CDNA guidelines for COVID in correctional and detention facilities - later revised Jun 2020, and Aug 2020
• 2 Apr 2020 – Federal government announces free childcare – see Department of Education, Skills and Employment Fact sheet, and  media reporting
• 4 Apr 2020 – National COVID-19 Clinical evidence taskforce announced
• 7 Apr 2020 – Victorian government announces school students to learn from home in term 2
• 12 Apr 2020 – Additional Victorian Government funding ($59.4M) for mental health during COVID – see media release
• 17 Apr 2020 – Additional Victorian Government funding ($40.2M) for crisis accomodation and specialist services for family violence
• 23 Apr 2020 - Additional Victorian Government funding (S77.5M) for vulnerable children and families - including additional payments for foster carers
• May 2020 - Additional Victorian Government funding ($17M) for people with disability
• 6 May 2020 - NRAAG - COVID-19 consultation report
• 6 May 2020 - RCOA Summary of April 2020 Working Group on Resettlement Briefing on Covid-19.
  
• 3 Jun 2020 - UNHCR Policy Brief - Covid-19 and People on the Move - also see commentary by Gillian Triggs, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection.
  
• 18 Jun 2020 - UNHCR and IOM announce resumption of resettlement travel for refugees
• 20 Jun 2020 - Victorian worker support payment ($1500) 
• 30 Jun 2020 - Victorian government announces further lockdowns by postcode - see Premier's media release. 
• 3 Jul 2020 - Lockdown of public housing high rise towers in Flemington - see DHHS information and media reporting
• 7 Jul 2020 - Victoria announces return to Stage 3 restrictions from midnight Wed 8 Jul 2020
• 10 Jul 2020 - Victoria asks all people to wear masks in public where social distancing not possible - see DHHS information and media reporting
• 12 Jul 2020 - Victoria announces return to remote learning for students in prep-year 10
• 13 Jul 2020 - Guard at the Mantra Preston APOD tests positive for coronavirus - see media reporting
• 13 Jul 2020 - Extreme hardship program - for people unable to access other Victorian or Commonwealth support, including temporary and provisional visa holders and undocumented migrants (payment of $400 for a single adult, more for families, with a possible 2nd payment after 2 months) - phone - 1800 855 240 (available to support eligible people submit an application).
• 19 Jul 2020 - Face masks mandated in Victoria from 22 Jul 2020 - for all people aged 12 years and older
• 21 Jul 2020 - Job Keeper program extended to 28 Mar 2021, with new changes announced including tiered payments (full time workers $1200/fortnight, part-time workers <20 hours/week $750/fortnight), increased checks of eligibility (business turnover), and new conditions for childcare commencing immediately. Changes to payments commence 28 Sep 2020, with further reductions from 4 Jan 2021.
  
• 2 Aug 2020 - State of Disaster and Stage 4 restrictions announced in Victoria (note criteria for onsite supervision in Education section of this document and childcare permits).
• Aug 2020 - Victorian coronavirus test isolation payment ($300)
• 10 Aug 2020 - home based testing for vulnerable communities - 'Call to test' (GP referral required)
• 13 Aug 2020 - Victorian government announces 'Working together for multicultural communities' - $14.3M additional funding. 
• 14 Sep 2020 - Further 2 weeks of stage 4, although curfew 9 pm, exercise - 2 hours exercise/outdoor time daily - 2 people or a household; visitors - those living alone, or single parent - one nominated visitor; distance - 5 km zone, education: remote learning unless exemption
• 24 Sep 2020 - Job Seeker/Coronavirus supplement payments  reduce to $250/fortnight (until 31 Dec 2020, then to $150/fortnight until 31 Mar 2021), also with mutual obligations reinstated, and increased threshold for additional income prior to reduction of payments (to $300).
• 28 Sep 2020 - Victoria moves to '2nd step' out of lockdown, face masks, curfew stops, exercise as above; up to 5 people from 2 households outdoors, visitors as above, distance - 5 km zone, education - Childcare restarts
• 28 Sep 2020 - information on DHA transitioning people in community detention to final departure BVE - initially Qld, NSW, SA, subsequent stay for Victoria
• 1 Oct 2020 - Announcement Extreme hardship payments doubled - see Premier's media release
• Oct 2020 - very small numbers of offshore arrivals recommence
• 5 Oct 2020 - education - Kinder restarts and year 12 GAT testing the same week
• 12 Oct 2020 - education - prep-2 and years 11-12, and specialist education restarts, otherwise remote learning unless exemption
• 22 Nov 2020 - 'third step' - curfew - stops;  distance - no restrictions; outdoors - up to 50 people, visitors - household visitors - up to 15 visitors, education - staged return to school for years 3-10
• 24 Nov 2020 - Victorian State Budget - includes $3.9 million for asylum seekers in 2020-21, and free 3-year old kindergarten (15 hrs weekly) for all refugee and asylum seeker children from 2021 across Victoria.
• 7 Dec 2020 - face masks public transport/taxis and shared vehicles/supermarkets and department stores, outdoors - up to 100 people, visitors - household visitors - up to 30 daily (can be across different visits); international arrivals to Victoria restart
• 18 Dec 2020 - new cases of Covid in NSW (Northern Beaches) and face masks also applied to airport terminals in Victoria
• 18 Dec 2020 - Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) report - Homelessness and hunger among people seeking asylum during Covid-19
• 21 Dec 2020 - Hotel quarantine inquiry final report.
• Jan 2021 - Medevac refugees released from APODs in Victoria - see ASRC summary numbers
• 12 Feb 2021 - snap 5 day lockdown in Victoria, and tightening of restrictions - 5 km rules, essential reasons to leave home, 2 hours exercise, masks inside and outside 
• 17 Feb 2021 - Victorian restrictions change - masks inside and outside if social distancing not possible, max 5 visitors, max 20 people outside
• 22 Feb 2021 - Vaccine rollout commences - stage 1a - border/quarantine, frontline health, aged care/disability staff/residents
• 26 Feb 2021 - Victorian restrictions eased again - masks on public transport, supermarkets, department stores
• 14 Mar 2021 - Telehealth extended to 30 June 2021 - see PM media release and MBS guidelines (note different for GPs)
• 17 Mar 2021 - Minister Hunt announces booking system for GPs - concerns then raised by GPs around lack of notice - see media
• 22 Mar 2021 - Vaccine rollout stage 1b - adults 70y+, other HCW, Aboriginal people 55y+, younger adults with medical conditions/disability, essential workers (EW)
• 26 Mar 2021 - Victorian restrictions eased - masks on public transport/ride-share, hospitals, airports/flights, symptoms; max 100 visitors, max 200 people outside, workplaces 100%, most venues 75%; 1 person/2m²
• 28 Mar 2021 - Jobkeeper supplements and tenancy protections end
• 31 Mar 2021 - Jobseeker coronavirus supplement payments end, and temporary waiver for newly arrived residents waiting period ends
• 7 Apr 2021 - UNHCR statement on access to covid vaccination for refugees
• 8 Apr 2021 - ATAGI recommends Pfizer preferred vaccine for adults <50y, with PM press conference.
• 3 May 2021 - Vaccine rollout stage 2a - AZ vaccine for people >50y at Cth and State services, then 17 May 2021 - same in general practice
• 24 May 2021 - new community acquired cases in Victoria, with a rapidly increasing number of exposure sites
• 27 May 2021 - Victoria opens Pfizer vaccination to people aged 40-49y
• 28 May 2021 - 7 lockdown for Victoria, masks inside and outside, 5 km, 5 reasons to leave home only, schools move to online - see guidelines
• 2 Jun 2021 - further 7 days lockdown announced for Victoria, 10 km radius
• 3 Jun 2021 - Federal government announces 'temporary covid disaster payments' for people in greater Melbourne area with <$10,000 in 'liquid assets', $500 if work >20h, and $325 <20h.
• 10 Jun 2021 - lockdown lifted in Victoria
• 16 Jun 2021 - first case of delta variant in NSW --> becomes a more widespread outbreak
• 17 Jun 2021 - ATAGI recommends Pfizer as preferred vaccine for age 16y - 59y
• 25 Jun 2021 - NSW commences lockdown, followed rapidly by lockdowns in Queensland, NT and WA
• 28 Jun 2021 - PM announces AZ vaccine available to anyone aged 18y+ by choice, and announces new no-fault indemnity scheme for GPs - it is not clear whether this scheme includes nurses/specialists, and details are currently unclear - see media reporting
• 15 Jul 2021 -  5 day lockdown commences at midnight after new cases of covid delta variant in Victoria, later extended for a further 2 days, ending 28 July 2021
• 23 Jul 2021 - TGA approved Pfizer vaccine for 12-15 year olds
• 2 Aug 2021 - ATAGI statement on use of Pfizer vaccine in children 12-15 years (specified medical conditions, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, children in remote communities)
• Aug 2021 - new cases of delta variant, and higher proportion in children and young adults
• Aug 2021 - release of JRS report on homelessness in people seeking asylum during Covid (Mar 2020 - Mar 2021) - A place to call home
• 6 Aug 2021 - Lockdown in Victoria - 7 days, cases in Al Taqwa, Warringah specialist school, high rise towers Flemington. 
• 9 Aug 2021 - TGA provisional approval of Moderna vaccine, with 10M doses arriving from Sep 2021
• 16 Aug 2021 - Victorian lockdown extended for another 14 days (until 2 Sep 2021), playgrounds closed and curfew imposed - see media release
• 15 Aug 2021 - Taliban forces take control of Kabul, with subsequent evacuation of more than 100,000 people
• 21 Aug 2021 - Regional Victoria enters lockdown, and new restrictions on childcare and kindergartens - see media release - regional lockdown lifted 8 Sep 2021
• 31 Aug 2021 - reporting on covid vaccine coverage in Immigration detention - 35% partially and 16% fully vaccinated (comparable national figures at the time = 59%, 35%)
• 13 Sep 2021 - vaccinations open for those aged 12-15 years
• 17 Sep 2021 - slight easing of restrictions for metro Melbourne - exercise with one other person, 5 fully vaccinated adults, from 2 households (+dependents) can meet outdoors
  
• 19 Sep 2021 - Roadmap out of lockdown released - including Burnet Institute modelling - hospitality and community sport from 70% double vaccination (16yrs+ - expected 26 Oct 2021), schools reopen from 5 Oct 2021 (year 12s start back 6 Oct 2021), 80% double vaccination (16y+ - expected 5 Nov 2021) - easing restrictions on household visitors. Peak covid cases expected mid October at the time.
• 7 Oct 2021 - Victorian rules around secondary close contacts (i.e. people in the same house as a PCC) change - no longer required to isolate (but need to get tested if they have Sx)
• 22 Oct 2021 - Melbourne lockdown ends - no curfew, no limits on leaving home, hospitality re-opens, 10 visitors to home, 25km limit continues
• 29 Oct 2021 - Travel to regional Victoria permitted
• 18 Nov 2021 - further easing of restrictions in Victoria - no restrictions home visits, masks in health facilities, public transport, retail, schools. Cases isolate 10 days, no contact tracing, household contacts isolate 7d if fully vaccinated, 14d if not vaccinated, non household contacts isolate until test negative, cases to notify their work, uni, school or childcare. Infectious period = 2 days prior to onset symptoms or test + (whichever comes first).
• 24 Nov 2021 - Omicron variant reported to WHO - subsequently identified as variant of concern
• 3 Dec 2021 - ATAGI statement on Omicron and booster doses
• 5 Dec 2021 - TGA provisionally approves Pfizer vaccination for children aged 5-11 years
• 8 Dec 2021 - ATAGI recommendations on vaccination of children 5-11y, and TGA approves use of Moderna for booster doses
• 23 Dec 2021 - Covid cases rise in NSW to more than 5000 cases daily, interval for booster doses shortened (to 4m) for people 18y + (not yet recommended age 12-17y)
• 24 Dec 2021 - Masks become mandatory again for all people aged 8y and older in Victoria.

Telehealth

Like many services, Immigrant health transitioned to telehealth for many consults in 2020 - a high proportion of our patients rely on public transport, and there were/are challenges with social distancing in a family based clinic model working with interpreters. Direct attendances were limited to targeted visits where examination, tests, or immunisations were essential. In 2021 - we routinely completed some visits by telehealth, including 1st visits where families prefer - which allows us to ascertain transport and technology options, and once again during lockdowns, and as cases have risen in late 2021, we have transitioned back to predominantly telehealth visits. 

Quick tips

• Data usage: HealthDirect telehealth uses ~230 MB on a mobile device and 450 MB on a PC for a 20 minute call – similar to Skype or FaceTime, and less than half the data of an HD YouTube video. Data use is more on three party consults, and less on lower speed internet connections. There is no data use while waiting for the consult to start.Phone companies
• Functions: HealthDirect allows clinicians to open a chat function, share a screen and use a whiteboard function and send messages (in language!) via email or SMS
• Three party consultations: work well for interpreting or for JMS supervision, however data use increases, which may affect call quality. 
• Billing: 
  • Consults should record consent for telehealth and bulk-billing – verbal consent is adequate if the consult is not recorded. See ACRRM consent form for an outline of benefits and risks.
  • Previous telehealth item numbers –  Item 112 – attendance by video conference, patient not admitted, and located within a telehealth eligible area and at least 15km away from physician – see health workforce calculator - select ASGS - area RA2 or greater eligible (RA1 = metropolitan). Use together with 110, 116, 132, 133.
  • New temporary (until 30/9/2020 -  extended to 3/2021 & then 6/2021) telehealth item numbers are available – for bulk-billed, non-admitted patients across a range of disciplines. See MBS item numbers:
    • Specialist telehealth – 92422¹³²   92423¹³³ 91824¹¹⁰  91825¹¹⁶  91826^{minor attendance}   92140¹³⁵   92141¹³⁷
    • Specialist telephone item numbers were withdrawn from Oct 2021

Telehealth resources

• Health Direct - Guidelines for clinicians and patients, and translated
• RCH Telehealth site
  
• RACP telehealth resources
• BMJ Editorial –  Video consultations for covid-19.

Translated resources

• DH - Coronavirus translated resources 
  • Face masks - subtitled videos (also how to make a mask)
• Department of Home Affairs - 63 languages, wide range of information
• SBS audio resources - 65 languages
• Health Direct - translated
  
• Health Translations – Coronavirus 
• Department of Health – Coronavirus translated and vaccine information
  
• NDIS - Translated information on coronavirus and NDIS
• RCH - Translated resources for parents
• Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) - COVID resources
• Vaccines - Cth vaccine information and Victorian DH translated
  

Supports

Covid + pathways - fact sheet (Dec 2021)

Emergency relief and food

• Summary of Victorian payments - and June 2021 announcements on additional funding
• Emergency accommodation - Integrated Intake Assessment and Triage Service - 1800365 100, IIATS@justice.vic.gov.au
• Emergency relief - temporary/provisional/undocumented migrants (Red Cross) - Extreme hardship program - (payment initially $400/single adult, more for families, (increased to 800/single adult as of 1/10/2020) with a possible 2nd payment after 2 months) - phone - 1800 855 240 (available to support eligible people submit an application)
• Family recovery program - statewide support program for CALD families who have been impacted by Covid (positive diagnosis,  close/secondary contacts, required to self-isolate or quarantine) - to refer email frp@dffh.vic.gov.au, and either ask for a referral form, or include the following details: 
  • Client name, address, contact details
  • Eligibility - Covid-19 positive, close or secondary contact, public health order to self-isolate or quarantine; and CALD
  • Interpreter required and language
  • Type of support required - education, employment/training, mental health)
  • Referrers name, organisation and contact details
  • Verbal consent to share details
• Foodbank (Statewide service)
  
• RCOA - services - select area, then select 'food' or 'everyday things'
• Rental relief payments (Housing Victoria, up to $2000) - criteria - revised rental agreement with reduction/mediation (not deferral), and income/proportion of income spent on rent thresholds (Note - no residency requirements). 
  

Childcare and schools

• Department of Education and Training (DET) -  General,  Learning from home for schools,  Learning from home for parents – and  translated versions (23 languages)
  
• FUSE (includes grade/level based resources from early childhood onwards, DET)
• Khan academy – free multilingual teaching and learning resources
• As of December 2021 - covid + cases are automatically cleared at day 10 (and will receive text messages from their local Public Health Unit) - students will not receive individual clearance. 

Employment related and income support

• Summary of Victorian payments - includes worker support payment ($1500) coronavirus test isolation payment ($450) and extreme hardship program (= Red Cross Emergency Relief) - phone - 1800 855 240 (available to support eligible people submit an application)
• Coronavirus supplement  was in place until 24 Sep 2020 – $550/fortnight in addition to existing payments through JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Special Benefit, Parenting Allowance and others. There are provisions around faster access, and waiving the newly arrived residents waiting period (NARWP). As of 24/9/2020 - payments reduced to $250/fortnight (between 25 Sep 2020 - 31 Dec 2020), also with mutual obligations reinstated, and increased threshold for additional income prior to reduction of payments (to $300).
• JobKeeper payments – provided businesses with $1500/fortnight per employee (70% median wage) - for citizens, permanent residents, and special category visa (SCV) holders – see fact sheet. Payments remained in place until 28 Sep 2020, then Job Keeper changes included tiered payments (full time workers $1200/fortnight, part-time workers <20 hours/week $750/fortnight), checks of eligibility (of business turnover), and further reductions from 4 Jan 2021.
• Household support payments – 2 separate payments of $750 were available in 2020 for social security and income support recipients and eligible concession card holders (includes carer allowance and carer payment). The first payment was made from 31/3/2020 and the second from 13/7/2020
• Foster carers - State government funded supplementary payments of $600 per child (late May 2020)
• Other possible payments - Services Australia
• RCOA - services - select area, then select 'getting work'
  
• Detailed information - eligibility for payments and Medicare for temporary visa holders (Red Cross)
• Stage 4 restrictions and employment rights (Job Watch, Employment Rights Legal Centre).

Mental health 

• HeadtoHelp - Mental health hubs - 15 locations
  
• Department of Health (Vic) – mental health resources and additional funding announcements June 2021 - notable focus on child mental health
• Beyond Blue – Mental health and COVID-19
• Paediatrics.online – collated resources.

Other

• RCOA - service guide (search by area and then select area of need)
• Family violence
  
• Summary of the Australian Government  Treasury response
• Services Victoria check in app

People seeking asylum 

• Are not eligible for supports directed to permanent residents/citizens, see Asylum seekers webpage for additional resources.
• Refugee Council of Australia - service guide (search by area)
  
• SRSS – evidence for new applications is unchanged, clients should contact their case management agency.
• Free childcare – see media release,  DESE Fact sheet and  media reporting - free childcare was not limited by residency status but ended mid-July 2020. 
• Covid testing and vaccination is free for everyone, regardless of visa or Medicare status
• Disability supports, including through HACC.
• Housing - July 2021 - $355,000 short term COVID-19 Asylum Seeker emergency rental brokerage fund providing emergency assistance to maintain secure housing and assist with rental arrears. The funding is being administered through the NASAVic HEF mechanism via Launch Housing, and can be accessed via ASRC, Red Cross, Uniting, Baptcare and the Brigidines.
• Support for Asylum Seekers initiative – $3.9 million announced in the Victorian State Budget (May 2021), extending case coordination, basic needs, utilities and homelessness assistance; mental health support and primary care support.

Other resources

• Community services providers (DH)

• Resources for children – Raising Children Coronavirus, and paediatrics.online – collated resources.

^{Immigrant health clinic resources. Author Georgie Paxton, Sophie Oldfield, Linny Phuong, 2 April 2020, updated 2 Jan 2022. Contact: georgia.paxton@rch.org.au}