Welcome to the Community Noticeboard - 27 June

In this issue:

• COVID-19 Community Grants Program
• Knowing your risk to COVID
• Flu vaccinations
• Asthma action plans
• Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
• Smoke-free and vape-free areas
• Understanding Vaping Webinar Recording
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day
• Dry July
• NAIDOC Week
• Working with Interpreters training 

Funding

Opportunities

COVID-19 Community Grants Program

This Grants Program has been established by the Department of Health to provide funding to eligible not-for-profit organisations. Grant money is available for organisations who work with these groups to:

• provide accurate and tailored health information to the community
• provide information on COVID-19 prevention, vaccines and other treatments
• give feedback on community needs to support pandemic and public health policy
• help ensure equal access to health information for COVID-19 information and treatment.
• Applications for grants are now open until Monday 17 July.

Health Updates

Are you 65 and above? 

COVID affects everyone differently, but knowing your level of risk can help you stay safe. If you are 65 and above, you’re at higher risk of falling sick with COVID.

You can reduce your risk by:

• Talking to your GP about COVID medicines
• Getting your 2023 booster dose
• Collecting free rapid antigen tests from your local council
• Letting fresh air in
• Wearing a face mask indoors and in crowded spaces
• Staying at home when unwell.

Flu vaccinations

Yearly vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your family from influenza.The influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over. It not only protects you, but also helps protect those around you.

It is available free for people most at risk, including: 

• children 6 months to less than 5 years
• pregnant women
• people aged 65 and over 
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 
• people with certain medical conditions. 

Chat to your GP, nurse, pharmacist or other vaccination provider for more information.

Make sure asthma plans are up to date

Emergency departments tend to see an increase in children presenting with asthma-related illness during winter.

Asthma symptoms should be reviewed with a doctor (GP) every 6 months for children and every year for adults, and the asthma action plan updated if necessary.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a rare but severe respiratory illness usually caught from contact with camels, camel products or from another person with MERS.

Symptoms may include fever, cough, breathing difficulties, diarrhoea, and in rare cases, death.

If you’re planning to travel to the Middle East, talk to your doctor or healthcare professional before travelling.

Smoke-free and vape-free areas

Under Victoria’s Tobacco Act 1987 (the Tobacco Act), smoking and the use of e-cigarettes (vaping) is prohibited in all enclosed workplaces and certain public spaces where members of the public gather.

Smoke-free and vape-free areas are important as they:

• protect the community from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, and the aerosol from e-cigarettes
• make smoking and vaping in the community less acceptable. The less people see smoking and vaping in public places, the less they will think it is okay, and instead, harmful
• support people who have quit or are trying to quit smoking and vaping.

Amendments to the Tobacco Act have extended the areas where smoking and vaping is banned across Victoria.

Understanding Vaping Webinar Recording 

If you missed Monash Health SEPHU and partners Understanding Vaping Webinar on Tuesday 6 June, please find the link to the recording of the session below.

Health Awareness Messages

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Awareness Day -27 June

National PTSD Awareness Day recognizes the effects post-traumatic stress has on the lives of those impacted by it.

PTSD is the most common mental health disorder after depression.

It was once a condition that was attributed only to returning combat veterans, but more and more the condition is diagnosed in those who have experienced violent crime or lived through catastrophic events.

Trauma can have a devastating effect on people’s lives. Any one of us can be affected and the psychological impacts can be deep and complex.

Dry July

Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July. 

Having a month off alcohol also has great health benefits, such as sleeping better, having more energy and of course, no hangovers!

Funds raised through Dry July go towards cancer support organisations across Australia, to help improve patient comfort, care and wellbeing.

Upcoming Events

NAIDOC Week (5-12 July)

The 2023 National NAIDOC Week theme is For Our Elders.

National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

National NAIDOC Week's premiere event is the National NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony which showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence. Every year, a different focus city is chosen to host the National NAIDOC Awards Ceremony. 

Each year the National NAIDOC Week Poster Competition encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists aged 13 years and over to submit their artwork which reflects that year's National NAIDOC Week Theme. 

NAIDOC Week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Training 

Opportunities

Working with Interpreters

Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health (CEH) is running this webinar which provides information on how interpreters can make working with community easier and more satisfying.

It will also support the identification situations when an interpreter is needed, how to book and set up for an interpreted conversation and how to communicate via an interpreter. 

• 29 June, 12pm – 1pm
• Online.