“That’s why we have gone out to the communities to find out what information is most needed and then used qualified interpreters and our own staff of Karen, Afghan and South Sudanese background and our doctors to create videos and information sheets to deliver messages to support these communities and keep them safe.
“We all need to work together to ensure this messaging gets to as many people as possible.
“Our staff have supported KR Castlemaine and Hazeldene’s Chicken Farm in getting messaging to staff around testing and close contact rules after positive tests at their processing plants. We have also provided language support for Bendigo Health in running their screening clinics which has been a great partnership.”
Ms Graves said new information sheets and videos were created as the BCHS refugee services team saw a community need arise or the Coronavirus landscape changed in Victoria.
“Our staff saw a need to support the Karen and Afghan communities around talking to their children about Coronavirus and maintaining a normal family routine. So we have made a little Parenting Series of videos in Karen and Dari to give families some hints and support on how to go about these things which is really valuable,” Ms Graves said.
Ms Graves said seeing other organisations around Victoria use the resources to support their refugee communities was pleasing.
“We have been working with refugee support organisations in different areas who have been really appreciative of having these resources available. For example there is a large Karen community in the Nhill area and the Wimmera-based support services have been getting messaging out with our resources and that’s wonderful to see. This is about getting the messaging to the communities who need it desperately – the more people the better and working together is a way of achieving that,” Ms Graves said.
The free Coronavirus Telephone Hotline for the Karen community can be reached on 5406 1254 from 1.30pm to 4pm Monday to Thursday.
The online Coronavirus Bendigo Refugee Resource Hub can be found at www.bchs.com.au or by using this direct https://bit.ly/CoronavirusRefugees link.
Last updated: August 16, 2020
