COVID-19: Services Update

AOD Counselling
All counselling sessions will now be offered via telephone or Zoom (online video communication). Please note that after-hours/evening sessions will still be available.

AOD Care and Recovery Coordination
AOD Care and Recovery Coordination Workers will no longer be conducting outreach or in-person appointments. Care coordination will now occur via telephone or Zoom. Workers will still be able to assist clients in navigating and accessing AOD and human services over the coming months.

Therapeutic & Peer Support Groups

ReWired 2.0: Our peer – based Chemsex/PnP group ReWired 2.0 will continue to run every Tuesday evening via Zoom. Please contact the Services intake team to register and access the invite link.

A limited number of our therapeutic and peer support groups are being offered online at the moment. Head to our Calendar of Events for a listing of upcoming groups.

The Centre Clinic is continuing to operate.

All appointments are being booked as Telehealth appointments. If your GP or Nurse Practitioner deem it clinically necessary to see you, a subsequent face-to-face follow up appointment will be scheduled as soon as possible. The clinic can post or fax out prescriptions, pathology forms and certificates if required.

Telehealth appointments are bulk-billed for all Medicare Card holders. Privately-billed telehealth services are available to non-eligible patients. The clinic encourages all HIV positive and patients with chronic illnesses to avoid coming into the practice if their needs can be met by phone or online video appointments.

We ask that all clients with cold or flu symptoms to phone ahead BEFORE coming to their appointment.

Some Community Support staff are working from home, but there are staff in the office Monday to Friday. Contact numbers remain the same, including:

• Support: (03) 9863 0426
• Home Care and NDIS: (03) 9863 0430
• Housing Plus: (03) 9863 0425

Most staff support, including client assessments, is done by phone.

Social Support
All group social outings, including lunches, have been suspended. Volunteers are providing most support by phone, but individual visits can now be arranged.

Home Care
Help at home (home care, NDIS and aged care support) is continuing, provided clients do not have flu-like symptoms (such as fever, sore throat and cough). Workers use personal protective equipment and ensure strict social distancing.

NDIS community participation
NDIS community participation shifts are going ahead but are restricted to short local outings and remote support by phone or Zoom meetings.

Medical transport
Limited volunteer transport to medical appointments is available, but trips will be cancelled if clients have any flu-like symptoms. During the lockdown period, it is expected that most medical review appointments will be by telehealth.

Peer support
Staff and volunteers will provide peer support by phone. Staff peer support in hospital clinics has been suspended.

Housing
Housing support is provided by phone and in person when required. If you are experiencing housing instability or homelessness, please call Housing Plus on (03) 9863 0425. Our Launch Housing worker provides phone support for clients with emergency housing needs.

Nutrition support

Deliveries of PLC pantry are available, and frozen meals can be provided to clients with nutrition issues. If you need help with food, please call the Support office on (03) 9863 0426.

We are now providing the option of Telehealth or telephone counselling. While the format of sessions will change, all other aspects of our individual counselling service will remain the same.

For existing clients - your counsellor will be in touch to discuss these new options and your preference of format.

For those who are interested in accessing our service - you can continue to contact our Intake team on (03) 9865 6700 (Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM) or email counselling@thorneharbour.org

Therapeutic Groups
A limited number of our therapeutic and peer support groups are being offered online at the moment. Head to our Calendar of Events for a listing of upcoming groups.

Equinox is continuing to provide Medicare-billed GP services to existing patients with Medicare cards via telehealth appointments. Privately-billed telehealth services are available to non-eligible patients. Reception can provide information on request regarding private fees. We continue to operate Nurse Practitioner clinics every Thursday morning to facilitate hormone injections, vaccinations and STI screens.

We ask that any patient with cold and flu symptoms to please call the clinic BEFORE attending appointments.

Please follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/equinoxcentre/ for service updates and information.

All counselling and case management appointments are conducted by telephone or Zoom online video communication. Outreach services are not available at this stage.

We will still be providing risk assessments, safety planning and referrals for clients where appropriate. After hours appointments will continue to be provided. Please get in contact via fvintake@thorneharbour.org or by calling 03 9865 6700 and ask for the Intake Team.

Flexible Support Packages
We are also accepting and processing Flexible Support Package applications from external agencies. Agencies should be aware that processing times may be impacted and we will do our very best to limit any delays. Please email us to request information or forms at flexi-packages@thorneharbour.org.

Revisioning
Revisioning is being delivered via Zoom. Each participant will continue to receive support from our facilitators on a weekly basis for check in and safety planning.

Intake assessments for new participants in Revisioning are also being offered. Contact revisioning@thorneharbour.org or contact our Intake Team on (03) 9865 6700.

Partner contact will also continue to support and maintain people’s safety.

Making financial decisions can be challenging even at the best of times. Under the current circumstances this is especially challenging. Moneysmart.gov.au offers a ranges of advice on tackling financial issues during COVID-19. So whether your considering early acess to your super or just want some advice on getting on top of debt, check out their page about financial issues during COVID-19: https://moneysmart.gov.au/covid-19

For people living with HIV, the David Williams Fund is continuing to operate and is offering financial counselling & emergency relief over the phone or via email..

Face-to-face services at the Positive Living Centre are restricted until further notice. While the site is closed during Stage Four Restrictions, limited services will be offered via phone, email or other online options. The contact phone number for support is (03) 9863 0444.

The following services are currently available:

• Client Care and Support via phone or email. Please telephone (03) 9863 0444 or email plcfeedback@thorneharbour.org. Client Care Staff will respond to all incoming calls and enquiries in a timely manner.
• HALC (HIV Legal Service) offered via phone or email.
• The David Williams Fund (Financial Counselling and Emergency Relief) provided over the phone or email.
• Nutritional Support Services will continue to be an important service. The manner in which it will be provided will change. Pantry packages will not be available during Stage 4 restrictions. Please contact the service in order to discuss the options available to you. A Client Care and Support Worker will discuss your needs and explore a number of possible ways we can assist you.

Please note that Vitamart will be suspended during Stage Four restrictions.

All other PLC services will be temporarily suspended.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has impacted people in varying ways and it is understandable that during times like this, people may be feeling afraid, worried, anxious, and overwhelmed by the constantly changing alerts and media coverage regarding the spread of the virus. We appreciate that the measures we are taking at the PLC may cause some distress or anxiety amongst those who use the services. These actions are only taken in the spirit of ensuring the health and wellbeing of everyone, especially those who are more vulnerable. We thank all of you for your patience and understanding at this time. If the current situation causes you any concerns or stress we encourage you to talk confidentially to our client care staff over the phone. Contact the Positive Living Centre on (03) 9863 0444

In response to the recent coronavirus lockdown, PRONTO! has temporarily paused routine asymptomatic Peer HIV/STI testing services until the end of lockdown.

PrEP Access and STI Treatment Services

Our PrEP GP clinic continues to operate on site and via telehealth on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. Bulk billed Telehealth appointments are available and privately-billed telehealth services are available to non-eligible patients. Face-to-face appointments are available for clients that are symptomatic and require STI testing and treatment. To book in for STI treatment, select 'PrEP Dr' on our online booking system or call reception on (03) 9416 2889

Our bulk billed PrEP Nurse Practitioner (NP) clinic operates most Saturdays.. Privately-billed services are available to non-eligible patients. Telehealth and face to face appointments can be booked for clients that are symptomatic and require STI testing and treatment. To book, please call reception on (03) 9416 2889. This service cannot be booked on line.

All clients with cold or flu symptoms must delay testing until all symptoms have cleared.

We encourage all clients to follow our Facebook page for updates on service changes.

ReWired 2.0: Our peer – based Chemsex/PnP group ReWired 2.0 will continue to run every Tuesday evening via Zoom. Please contact the Services intake team to register and access the invite link.

Revisioning is being delivered via Zoom on Tuesday evenings in order to provide content to the participants. There is ongoing phone support for participants who may not have technology to access via Zoom with the facilitators for check-in and safety planning.

A limited number of our other therapeutic and peer support groups are being offered online at the moment. Head to our Calendar of Events for a listing of upcoming groups.

We will be operating a phone-based check-in services for people who are currently enrolled in our groups. People enrolled in any of our groups will hear from us shortly to discuss this alternative service.

The office at 56-60 King Street in Bendigo has been closed to clients.

If you need information or support this will need to be given over the phone or online via video, please call us on 03 4400 9000.

Counselling will now be delivered over the phone or via Zoom/Skype only. Counselling services can still be accessed by calling us on 03 4400 9000 and asking for Maria (Thursday and Friday).

Events have now been cancelled until further notice.

Any health promotion activity with community can be arranged by calling the Program Coordinator Claudia Validum on above numbers.

All face-to-face Training and Capacity Building activities have been postponed or moved to Zoom or similar online video platforms.

The Training and Capacity Building team are available to discuss any details necessary to reschedule any upcoming or booked face-to-face trainings. These can be rescheduled for later in the year or potentially modified for online training delivery.

We are still taking bookings and enquiries. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch via email education@thorneharbour.org