People who are Homeless

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) have purchased additional accommodation for people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or rough sleeps should they need to isolate due to COVID-19.  It is the same service / number as before (below).

At present the phone line will say it is for 5 days and can be extended in 5 days lots, however the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District are liaising with DCJ to ensure their messaging is updated in line with any changes. Additionally DCJ are enhancing their assertive outreach program and will be out talking with rough sleepers and offering them accommodation.

Karitane is Open Offering 100% Virtual Services

Parents Can Now Self-Refer Karitane Open, 100% Virtual Services

We know these are challenging and uncharted times and we want to ensure parents and carers get the support they need. From today, Monday March 30th we have have transitioned all our services to be delivered using Telehealth platforms. We are committed to supporting families through COVID-19 and we know now more than ever parents need support.

Parents Can NOW Self-Refer!

As COVID-19 continues to put increased pressure on the health system we no longer require a GP/health professional referral. We have made access for parents easier than ever, parents can now self-refer on-line here.

All parents need to access Karitane support is a smartphone, laptop or tablet. We are continuing to look at new ways to support families and will be sharing online supported playgroups, parenting workshops and more soon. Karitane digital services include;

Virtual Home Visits
Individual consultations up to 2 hours (video call) with a Karitane Child and Family Health Nurse for parenting challenges relating to sleep and settling, breastfeeding, feeding and nutrition, routines, and adjusting to parenting. The number of Virtual Home Visits you receive will depend on your individual needs and our intake team will develop the right support plan for your family.

Toddler Behaviour Telehealth Support
Aggression, tantrums, whinging and hyperactivity can be normal in the toddle years, but sometimes they can be ongoing and stressful. We provide you with skills and strategies to manage the challenging times and improve the quality of your relationship with your child. This service can include both short term support and more intensive support with Internet-Parent Child Interaction Therapy.

Mental Health Telehealth Support
Are you, or someone you know, feeling overwhelmed, worried or sad during pregnancy or soon after birth of a baby? If so, this could be Perinatal Mood Disorder (PMD). PMD is very common, 1 in 5 mums and 1 in 10 dads experience it as a new parent. Our team are qualified in Perinatal Mental Health and our offering support using Telehealth platforms.

Self-Refer Now

Guide for Local Aboriginal Land Councils

Supporting Apprentices and Trainees

‘Coronavirus Explained In Your Language’

SBS have produced 15 ‘Coronavirus Explained In Your Language’ in language videos.

Available in Filipino, Greek, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, Tamil,

Arabic, Cantonese, Hindi, Indonesia, Pashto, Persian, Vietnamese.

Click HERE to link to the relevant language. SBS is planning to produce another 10 this week

A COVID – 19 and domestic violence

Please know that being outside to escape harm and seek safety is LAWFUL.

It is considered a ‘reasonable excuse’ under the Public Health Act to be to be outside if you are:
  1. ‘accessing….social services, domestic violence services, mental health services’
  2. ‘avoiding injury or illness or to escape risk of harm’.

We are open – and we know home is not always the safest place to be. If you or your children are experiencing violence, abuse or controlling behaviours inside your home call us on 4255 6800 or come to us at 2/10 Belfast Avenue, Warilla.

What to look out for….. these are some of the ways people using family violence may use COVID-19 as a tactic or reason to abuse you:

1. Withhold necessary items such as food, medicine, hand sanitiser or disinfectants.
2. Misinform you about the pandemic to control or frighten you.
3. Use the pandemic as an excuse to gain total or increase control of the family’s finances.
4. Threaten or prevent you and your children from seeking appropriate medical attention if you have symptoms or hide your Medicare card.
5. Increase their monitoring and criticism of your parenting, such as blaming you if the children ‘misbehave’ or are upset.
6. Further isolate you or your children in the home by restricting your movements within the house, forcing you or the children into specific spaces in the house, or disabling your mobility devices.
7. Increasingly monitor your personal communication devices such as mobile phone, email, online messaging.
8. Use COVID-19 to excuse, blame or justify their abusive and violent behaviour towards you and the children.
9. An ex-partner may use COVID-19 in their attempt to reconcile or enter/live in your home. They may try to emotionally manipulate you to allow them to stay to ‘help’ you with the children.
10. Breach a family violence intervention order.
11. An ex-partner may use COVID-19 to threaten you about isolating the children. This could include using Family Law contact orders to bluff you to allow them in to stay or have contact with the children.
12. Feel more justified and escalate their isolation tactics.

Read more here: https://bit.ly/344traY