An open letter from Dr Nicky Howe
As we recognise NAIDOC Week this week and theme of “Heal Country”, it is appropriate that we acknowledge the Whadjuk Noongar people as the traditional owners of the land on which our buildings stand, as well as respectfully recognise Elders both past and present.
While the NAIDOC Week theme of “Heal Country” talks about specific and significant cultural issues, it is also timely that I can confirm Southcare’s position of managing the interim COVID-19 restrictions as another way we can look to heal our country, and certainly applies to the way we all use our caring hands.
The following confirms Southcare’s position for the period 12.01am Tuesday 6 July 2021 to 12.01am Monday 12 July (pending ongoing health advice).
As always, all work is delivered in line with our COVID-19 Response Plan, ensuring the best way we can continue to protect and connect:
- Southcare in-home services will continue to be provided
- Shopping services for customers will return as normal
- All social outings resume as normal, either provided in the home and outdoors
- Transport services will be provided
- All Southcarers have masks and will continue to use these when providing services, in public, in transit and in the office
- Most office-based staff will continue to work from home and volunteer services remain temporarily on hold
- Southcarers continue to screen all customers before entering homes and will only enter homes if customers are 100% well and have had no contact with the potential risk sites (provided by Healthy WA) or anyone who displays COVID-19 symptoms
- Home Care Workers will use full Personal Protective Equipment if needed
- Home Care Coordinator visits will resume
- No cash payments will be accepted – online is the only option
- No external events will be held at Southcare premises
- Regular cleaning of the office continues
- Safe physical distancing and appropriate personal hygiene continues
- The Op Shop remains temporarily closed and no donations will be accepted
- Financial Counselling, Aboriginal Family Support and Emergency Relief will re-open with face-to-face, phone or online consultations by prior appointment
- Our office doors remain temporarily closed to all visitors
- As we have done since news of COVID-19 first broke, we continue to audit our employees and volunteers whereabouts in relation to the potential risk sites as advised by the State Government.
Contact tracing continues at all Southcare premises with all mandatory sign in registers, Safe WA app and temperature checks in place at all our office locations.
As always, I invite any questions from you regarding the way we do business and can be contacted on the details below.
In the meantime, you can follow our COVID-19 update page, stay up-to-date on Facebook or get in touch.
Dr Nicky Howe
Chief Executive Officer
6117 3050
enquiries@southcare.org.au
5 July 2021