Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) community update
Dear Community Representatives, thank you again for your engagement and efforts to support your communities through this time.
We know that there is a lot of information available about COVID-19 and its impacts on the Australian community. We endeavour to keep you updated and hope that the information in this newsletter is useful for you to pass on to your communities.
Jobkeeper Payment
On 21 July 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the JobKeeper Payment will be extended by six months to 28 March 2021 and the temporary Coronavirus Supplement for those on income support will be extended until 31 December 2020.
A two-tiered JobKeeper payment will also be introduced from 28 September 2020, to better align the payment with the incomes of employees before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Employees who were employed for less than 20 hours a week on average in the four weekly pay periods ending before 1 March 2020 will receive the lower payment rate.
The Coronavirus Supplement will be extended at the rate of $250 per fortnight.
https://www.ato.gov.au/General/JobKeeper-Payment/
On 7 August 2020, the government announced further changes to the JobKeeper extension, for more information visit the Treasury website at
https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/jobkeeper
Australian Border Measures
Foreign nationals transiting through Australia to another country who have a booked a connecting flight do not need to apply for an exemption to the travel restrictions, provided that:
- the transit time is 72 hours or less; and a valid transit visa is held, unless transiting from a country eligible to transit without a visa.
Transiting foreign nationals must follow the quarantine requirements of the state/territory of arrival.
https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/transiting-australia
If you are an Australian citizen or a permanent resident you cannot leave Australia due to COVID-19 restrictions unless you have an exemption.
https://travel-exemptions.homeaffairs.gov.au/tep
Masks Beneficial to Combat Community Transmission of COVID-19
Deputy Chief Medical Officer talks about the benefits of wearing face masks in preventing the spread of COVID-19.
https://www.health.gov.au/news/masks-beneficial-to-combat-community-transmission-of-covid-19
Mental Health and COVID-19
Managing your mental health during this time of uncertainty can be an ongoing challenge. Tips about how to maintain good mental health, financial stress and access services can be found at:
https://headtohealth.gov.au/covid-19-support/covid-19
Visa Scams
If you know of someone who is involved in migration fraud, is operating illegally as an unregistered migration agent, or if you are a victim of migration fraud, please report this to Australia’s Border Watch at https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/visa-scams/reporting
Free Interpreting Service for non-Government OrganisationsThe Free Interpreting Service aims to provide equitable access to key services for people with limited or no English language proficiency.
Non-government organisations can access the Free Interpreting Service to provide approved casework and emergency services, where the organisation does not receive substantial government funding to provide these services.
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Updates
Stay up to date with the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from Australian Government agencies.
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Ensuring we remain connected with your communities continues to be a high priority for the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Government. Your feedback is vital to the Department and informs policy, decision making and government messaging. Please continue to pass your concerns and questions to us.
In particular, we are very interested in your views and feedback on the following:
- Any community concerns
- Racism or discrimination
- Reception to government messaging
- Community misconceptions
- Issues related to travel restrictions and associated processes
- Instances of misinformation or scams targeting your community
- Any new economic impacts on the community
- Any other emerging community issues.
If you would like to stop receiving this email, please advise us accordingly.
Stay safe and well!
Department of Home Affairs, Community Engagement NSW/ACT
Regional Director: Ms Sneha Chatterjee
NSW Community Engagement team – nsw.community.engagement@homeaffairs.gov.au
ACT Community Engagement team – act.community.engagement@homeaffairs.gov.au