COVID-19 & Aboriginal Communities
At the moment, the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is affecting all our communities. This includes our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
At this time, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are considered a high-risk group for COVID-19 due to higher rates of pre-existing chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart and lung disease compared to non-Aboriginal people.
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Educator is currently based at our Positive Living Centre (03) 9863 0444 to support LGBTI people or people living with HIV from indigenous communities as part of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Project.
Our key partners in this project are the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO).
VAHS is still open during this time and is continuing to care for the community; however, they have made some changes to their services to protect their clients, staff and the community. You can read more about these changes here.
VACCHO has posted information about COVID-19 for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who might be more vulnerable to the virus. Click here for more info.
The Victorian Department of Health is regularly releasing updated the information for Aboriginal Communities on their website. Click here to check it out.
The Australian Department of Health have posted series of clips on YouTube, check out their playlist - Coronavirus: Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Check out the full playlist here.
NACCHO, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, has also released a collection of COVID-19 resources to help promote healthy messaging to help STOP the spread of the COVID-19 in our communities. Click here for more info.