How we’re supporting children, young people and carers during COVID-19

Supporting our Carers

Message for our carers in Victoria: August 2020

• Restrictions are in place for everyone living in Victoria. For more information visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.

• The use of face coverings/masks is mandatory throughout Victoria

Carers in Victoria should follow the restrictions and keep children at home from school, and please reach out to us for any support you may need to do this. We are here to help. If you or a someone in your care is sick, or you need support during Stage 4 or Stage 3 restrictions please reach out to your Life Without Barriers team or call the Life Without Barriers COVID-19 Response Call Centre on 1800 313 117.

More Information

• Victorian Government Education and Training website (schools)

• Department of Health and Human Services website

• Department of Health and Human Services website Stage 4 restrictions

• Translated resources for people in Victoria

  • Victorian Stage 4 and Stage 3 restrictions (Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) –- available here

  • Coronavirus public transport factsheet – available here

• DHHS – Supports for parents and care-givers: Triple P Online Program

• DHHS - FAQs for Kinship and Foster Carers during COVID-19

• Translated resources - coronavirus (COVID-19) - available here

• Translated Coronavirus public transport factsheet – available here

Interpreter service

• Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) National (Australian Government) – call 131 450 or visit here

Bringing carers together online during COVID-19

We have invited all Life Without Barriers foster and kinship carers to join our Community of Kindness on Workplace by Facebook. This online community allows carers from across Australia to join a social network that is only open to Life Without Barriers carers and staff. It also helps carers to meet other people in their local area that they can connect with once COVID-19 restrictions have ended. If you are a Life Without Barriers carer, check your email for the invite or email communityofkindness@lwb.org.au for access.

Supporting young people in residential care

We are taking all the necessary precautions to protect every child and young person we support in residential homes.

To ensure people remain safe, we are seeking the support of the communities and partners we work with. Please do not visit our Life Without Barriers properties unless it is essential to service delivery or the wellbeing of people we support.

If you believe your visit is essential, please contact your Life Without Barriers representative first to ask if it is safe to visit. Remember to follow the Australian Government’s advice, such as staying 1.5m away from other people where possible, practising good hand hygiene, using hand sanitiser, and avoiding handshakes. If you feel unwell, please stay home.

Thank you for your cooperation and helping us look after the people we support, across Australia.

Update for families of young people in residential care in Melbourne - 24 August, 2020

Update for families of young people in residential care in Queensland - 26 August 2020

Concerned about your health? If you need health advice, call the Australian Government’s 24/7 Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.

Struggling with your mental health? If you want to talk to someone about your mental health, you can call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 for 24/7 phone counselling. They also have an online chat open 3pm to 12am (AEDT).

Resources

We have collected relevant and informative resources from other organisations and developed our own which you can use to help children understand COVID-19 and what it means for them:

• Gus Talks COVID-19 with Kids, for Kids!

• How to talk to children about Coronavirus (UNICEF)

• Tips for parents and teachers when talking about Coronavirus with children (CDC)

• COVID-19 storybook for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids