Coronavirus COVID-19

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The COVID-19 pandemic is creating unprecedented challenges for our community. Darebin Council has announced an $11.8 million Community and Local Business Resilience and Recovery Package to assist. This page includes information on support you can access, as well as updates on our services. For the latest health information, visit the DHHS website.

Immediate and ongoing support to our local businesses.

Business support line
Call 8470 8888 and select the option for the business support line service open 9am-5pm, Mon-Fri (except public holidays). Through this service, we will provide advice and support for your business. As most of our team are working remotely, please leave your details with customer service operators and an Economic Development officer will contact you directly. Our team will use information from the established a Business Support Line to define and develop a range of activities to provide support to businesses throughout the coming weeks or months of uncertainty, with dedicated support and resources from Council.

Refunded fees
Council resolved to waive Footpath Trading Permit fees for traders between the 1st March 2020 and 30th June 2021. A four-month refund has been processed and will be provided to all current permit holders in early May, with the renewal of 2020-21 permits to be sent in early July free of charge.

Suspended fees
Businesses who have paid their 2020 Food Act or Public Health & Wellbeing Act Registrations will be credited a free registration 16-month registration, until April 2022. You will still need to apply to renew your registration via a new online portal, however there will be no fees. Please ensure you have provided your email address to Council’s Health Protection Unit so we can activate your portal access later in 2020. For businesses requiring urgent financial assistance who wish to register their interest in a pro rata refund of their current 2020 Food Act, or Public Health and Wellbeing Act registrations, please contact health@darebin.vic.gov.au. We will then be in touch with more information on this process. Businesses that receive a refund will retain their registration until 30 June 2021.

Counselling
We’ve opened our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to you and your employees all businesses in Darebin – so you can reach out for information and counselling in this difficult time.

Online counselling resources
You can now log in for free to our EAP supplier, Converge International, and view a range of helpful resources.  Visit their website and on the ‘Portal Login’ link (in top right corner). Use the below information to gain access.

Username: darebinbusiness
Password: converge

Arranging a free and confidential counselling session
To book a counselling session, please call Converge International on 1300 687 327. This service is completely confidential and is available free of charge to you.

Parking
We are looking at ways to change our local laws to allow easy food pick-up and delivery – especially to help reach vulnerable members of the community for food delivery.

Light$mart
All Businesses based in Darebin are now able to apply for our Light$mart program, which offers a free or subsidised LED lighting upgrade to businesses (conditions apply). So far over 250 Darebin businesses have been upgraded through this program, saving an average of $420 a year on their electricity bills. To find out more and register your interest please email business@darebin.vic.gov.au.

Council tenant checklist
All occupants (tenants/official representatives) of Council’s facilities are required to complete our COVIDSafe Checklist. This will ensure that Council is taking the appropriate measures to keep staff and community members safe by reducing the risk of Covid-19 within Council facilities.

Other sources of support

Victorian Small Business Commission
Contact to access support for small business including mental health plans, advocacy and negotiating rent support. Mediation on rent is now being offered free to those who are part of the Jobkeeper program and on a case-by-case basis. Council are supporting businesses in Darebin who don’t fall in these categories to access these mediation services for free.

Business Victoria
For the latest information on restrictions and support from the state government.

Worksafe Victoria
For information on how regulations affect your rights and responsibilities as an employer or employee.

Victorian Chamber of Commerce
You can now access membership of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce for free and they will be providing help and advice to businesses.

 

Information about coronavirus (COVID-19) is available below in 12 languages.

Darebin City Council is committed to supporting community and business in response to coronavirus (COVID-19). Information about what Council is doing is available in 12 languages below. If you wish to speak with Darebin Council in your language, call 8470 8470.

11.3 اهتميق غلبت يتلا Darebin سلجم ةمزح نع تامولعملا هذه ثدحتت
يجاتلا سوريفلل ةباجتسا ةيراجتلا لامعلأاو عمتجملا معدل رلاود نييلام
Darebin سلجم عم ثدحتلا يف بغرت تنك اذإ .)COVID-19(
تامولعملا ىلع لوصحلل وأ 8470 8470 مقرلاب لصتا ،كتغلب
ةرايز ىجري ،ةيلاولا ةموكحل يجاتلا سوريفلا نع ةمجرتملا
go.vic.gov.au/GEdHif

本资料介绍了戴瑞宾市议会为支持社区和商家应对新型冠状病毒（COVID-19）疫情而推出的1,130万元组合计划。如果您希望使用自己的母语联系戴瑞宾市议会，请致电8470 8470，或查看州政府有关新型冠状病毒疫情的翻译资料，请浏览

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2

Αυτές οι πληροφορίες αφορούν το πακέτο των $11.3 εκατ. του Δήμου Darebin για την υποστήριξη της κοινότητας και των επιχειρήσεων λόγω του κορωνοϊού (COVID-19). Εάν επιθυμείτε να μιλήσετε στο Δήμο Darebin στη γλώσσα σας, καλέστε το 8470 8470 ή για τις μεταφρασμένες πληροφορίες για τον κορωνοϊό της Πολιτειακής Κυβέρνησης, παρακαλούμε επισκεφθείτε το

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2

यह जानकारी डारेबिन काउंसिल $के11.3 मिलियन के पैके ज के बारेेंहैमजो कोरोना COVID(-19) को ध्यन मेंरखते ुएह समदायु और व्यपार को सहायता देने के लिए है। अगर आप अपनी भाषा मेंडारेबिन काउंसिल ेस बात करना चाहते ैं,हतो 8470 8470 पर कॉल करेंया राज् सरकार की कोरोना संबंधी अनवादितु जानकारी के लिए, कृपया https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2 पर जाएँ।

Queste informazioni riguardano il pacchetto da $11,3 milioni del Comune di Darebin per dare sostegno alla comunità e alle imprese in risposta al coronavirus (COVID-19). Se desiderate parlare con il Comune di Darebin nella vostra lingua, chiamate il numero 8470 8470 oppure per le informazioni tradotte sul coronavirus del governo statale si prega di visitare il sito:

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2

 

 

Оваа информација е за пакетот од 11.3 милиони долари на Општина Даребин за поддршка на заедницата и бизнисите како одговор на коронавирусот (COVID-19). Доколку сакате да зборувате со Општина Даребин на вашиот јазик, јавете се на 8470 8470 или за преведените информации за коронавирусот на државната влада, ве молиме посетете:

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2

 

 

यो जानकारी कोरेनाभाइरस COVID(-19) को असरको कारण समुदाय र व्यवसायहरूलाई सहयोग गर्न डारेबिन परिषद्ल ल्यएको 11.3 मिलियन डलरको आर्थिक सहयताको बारेमा हो। यदि तपाईं डारेबिन परिषद्सँग आफ्न भाषामा कु रा गर्न चाहनुहुन्छ भने कृ पया8470 8470 मा फोन गर्नुहोस् वा राज् सरकारले प्रकाशन गरेको कोरोनाभाइरस सम्न्ध अन् भाषा अनुवाद गरिएको जानकारीको लागि https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2 मा जानुहोस्।
ਇਹ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਕਰੋਨਾਵਾਇਰਸ COVID(-19) ਦੇ ਜਵਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਭਾਈਚਾਰੇ ਅਤੇ ਵਪਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਸਹਾਇਤਾ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਡਰਬਿਨ ੌਂਸਿਲ ਦੇ11.3 ਮਿਲੀਅਨ ਡਾਲਰ ਦੇ ਪੈਕੇਜ ਬਾਰੇ ਹੈ। ਜੇਕਰ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਡਰਬਿਨ ਕੌਂਸਿਲ ਨਾਲ ਆਪਣੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੁੰਦੇ8470ਹੋ, 8470 ਉੱਤੇ ਫੋਨ ਕਰੋ ਜਾਂ ਰਾਜ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਦੀ ਕਰੋਨਾਵਾਇਰਸ ਬਾਰੇ ਅਨੁਵਾਦਤ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਲਈ, ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇhttps://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2 ਉੱਤੇ ਜਾਓ।

Macluumaadkaani wuxuu ku saabsan yahay Golaha Darebin kharajkeeda dhan $11.3 million ee ay ugu talagaleen inay ku caawimaan bulshada iyo ganacsiga taas oo jawaab u ah Coronavirus (COVID-19). Haddii aad doonayso inaad kula hadasho golaha Darebin afkaaga, wac 8470 8470 ama Xukuumada Dawlad Goboleedka macluumaadkeed la tarjumay ee Coronavirus-ka, fadlan gal

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2

 

Esta información se refiere al paquete de $11,3 millones del Concejo Municipal de Darebin para apoyar a la comunidad y a las empresas en respuesta al coronavirus (COVID-19). Si desea hablar con el Concejo Municipal de Darebin en su idioma, llame al 8470 8470 o visite https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19 y https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2, para obtener información traducida sobre el coronavirus del gobierno estatal.
ےک ےنٹبن ےس تارثا ےک )COVID-19( سرئاو انورک تامولعم ہی ےک لسنؤاک نبرئیڈ رطاخ یک ددم یک ںورابوراک روا یٹنویمک ےیل ںیم نابز ینپا پآ رگا ۔ںیہ ںیم ےراب ےک جیکیپ ےک رلاڈ نیلم11.3نوف رپ 8470 8470 وت ںیہ ےتہاچ انرک تاب ےس لسنؤاک نبرئیڈ ںیم ےراب ےک سرئاو انورک ےس بناج یک تموکح یک ٹیٹس ای ںیرک https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2 :ںیھکید ےیل ےک تامولعم ہدش ہمجرت
Đây là thông tin về khoản tiền 11.3 triệu đô-la Hội đồng Thành phố Darebin dành ra để hỗ trợ cộng đồng và doanh nghiệp đối phó với vi-rút corona (COVID-19). Nếu muốn nói chuyện với Hội đồng Thành phố Darebin bằng ngôn ngữ của mình, quý vị hãy gọi số 8470 8470 hoặc muốn biết thông tin bản dịch liên quan đến vi-rút corona của Chính phủ Tiểu bang, xin quý vị truy cập

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbha5HB_rfeDlQgc39HfP08nYrAIRDzK2

 

Council services affected during the current lockdown in place since Thursday 15 July 2021.

 

Customer Service 
• Customer Service Centres closed. Call Centre remains open from 8.30am - 5pm each day, and you can contact us on 8470 888 or send us a message via our contact form.

Parks
• Essential works only (excessively long grass, hazards, safety audits, requests, dog bag dispensers, essential maintenance of equipment/ infrastructure)

Family Services
• Face to face appointments and all group work will be provided via telehealth. All families where contacted by phone and informed of the response to the recent lockdown. 

Supported Playgroups
• Support to families will be provided via telehealth. All families where contacted by phone and informed of the response to the recent lockdown

Early years support events
• Parent and baby event will be cancelled. All families will be contacted by phone and informed of the response to the recent lockdown

Toy Library
• Closed. All families will be contacted by phone and informed of the response to the recent lockdown

Immunisation
• Immunisation will go ahead with social distancing managed by utilising both Shire Hall and City Hall by additional support from Hallkeepers and Immunisation staff to usher people to relevant spaces. Cleaning regime will be increased according to health regulations outlined by Department of Health. 
• Three Immunisation sessions are scheduled during the lockdown period:
o Friday 16 July, Reservoir 
o Tuesday 20 July, Preston and Reservoir 
o Wednesday 21 July, Fairfield
o Thursday 22 July, Preston
o Saturday 24 July, Preston

Maternal and Child Health
• No home visits as of 5pm, Thursday 15 July 
• Face to face physical assessment will continue for babies under eight weeks (assessments will be shorter) 
• Vulnerable children and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies and children will be provided with a face to face appointment for a physical assessment (assessments will be shorter)
• Older children will be provided with a telehealth appointment and their appointment will be rescheduled for a physical consultation at a time after lockdown
• Generally new parent groups will not be provided, however, if possible, the new parent group will be provided via telehealth
• Parents with appointments during the lockdown period will be contacted by SMS and by phone.
• Nurses will be wearing PPE and families will be screened and wearing masks 

Children and Community Development 
• All face to face meetings and moved online or postponed
• Resource Van visits cancelled 
• Preschool Field Officers will contact families regarding any planned visits 

Youth Services 
• The Hub and Decibels Youth Music Centre closed and bookings postponed
• Some youth programs will move to online delivery 
• Youth Outreach will close for the lock down period 
• Support contacts including phone numbers and websites will be communicate to young people via a range of communication channels (social media, email, text message, etc) 
• Youth Support and Welfare Checks will be prioritized for vulnerable young people via phone/text/ online methods 

Bundoora Park Farm
• Closed

Reservoir Leisure Centre and Northcote Aquatic Centre
• Closed. (All memberships and debits automatically suspended.)

Libraries
• All branches closed including return chutes. In-person events cancelled. Reservation dates and due dates extended by the length of lockdown (and then some). Online events will continue.

Bundoora and Northcote Golf Courses
• Closed

Community Sport
• Training and competition cancelled

Community Centres 
• Closed. Emergency relief food parcel pick up will continue at East Preston Community Centre.

Aged & Disability
• Escorted Shopping, Social Support Individuals, Social Support Groups, Community Transport and Senior Citizen Groups suspended. Senior Citizen Centres closed.
Services and facilities open/Operating as usual
• Outdoor playgrounds, skateparks and gym equipment remain open
• Waste collection bins to be collected as normal.
• Graffiti removal

Bundoora Homestead
• Closed from midnight 15 July.

Darebin Arts Centre and Northcote Town Hall
• Closed from midnight 15 July.

Operations Centre 
• Resource Recovery Centre and Darebin Outlook Second Hand Shop closed.

 
For more information on Victorian restrictions during the current lockdown, please visit the DHHS website.

Services and facilities currently affected

The following venues are not managed by Council. More information on how they are managing opening hours and physical distancing can be found on their websites:

Events currently cancelled

All upcoming public events have been cancelled or postponed until further notice.
Some events have been moved online.

Operating as usual

  • Waste collection: Bins will be collected as normal.
  • Hard waste collection: See the Hard Waste page for more information.
  • Graffiti removal
  • Home support services for older adults are being facilitated in line with COVID safe practices. Our community support workers are equipped with PPE and practice social distancing. If you or someone you know requires assistance with shopping please contact us for information on available support.

 

In this section you will find information about accessing emergency food relief and support services support for family violence, elder abuse and homelessness.

Food vouchers, meals and food parcels
If you need assistance to access food relief and essential items, we have put together an Emergency Food Relief  & Support Services During COVID-19 guide to help you find a local service that can assist you to access grocery vouchers, food parcels and pre-made meals. You can also call us on 8470 8888 and ask for the Community Navigation Service. 

Council is working with local services to increase access of food relief to households. We are currently providing about 400 households with weekly food relief through our partnership with local agencies. Additionally, we have deployed 4 staff across the emergency relief network to provide additional assistance through logistics and delivery.

Darebin's Emergency Relief Agencies:
To request emergency relief assistance, call Darebin Information Volunteer Resource Service (DIVRS) phone service on 9480 8200, Monday – Thursday between 9.30am - 2.30pm. You may need to leave a message with your name and contact details and you will receive a call back.

Otherwise, contact the following local agencies: 
- Encompass Care, Bundoora: 0422 461 847
- Northern Community CareWorks, Preston: 9484 4788
- Reservoir Neighbourhood House (East Reservoir residents): 9462 4611
- Salvation Army – Emergency Relief, Preston: 9471 9111
- St Vincent de Paul - Call Centre: 1800 305 330
- Haven Home Safe - crisis line: 1300 428 364 (or 1800 825 955 after hours)

 

What is Darebin Council doing

Council is offering a range of Recovery Grants programs to support business and community in response to COVID-19.

Right now is a difficult time for many in our community who are facing hardship as a result of COVID-19. Council is continuing to support community and businesses in Darebin with relief and support programs.

The Recovery Grants are part of Council’s $11.8 million Community and Business Resilience and Recovery Package.

The Recovery Grants are a competitive process and are open to businesses, sporting clubs, creative and cultural organisations. Funding of more than $1 million will be available through this round of grants with a focus on supporting those in the community who are the most vulnerable and hardest hit by the impacts of COVID-19.

 

Arts Recovery Partnership Grants

Applications open 28 January 2021.

Applications close 4 March 2021.

Funding of up to $25,000 is available per application.

The Arts Recovery Partnership Grant is intended to help creative businesses, arts organisations and companies, and live music venues, test and explore ideas for the future and adapt their operations in a COVID-safe way, whilst supporting artists as they return to practice.

Arts Partners will share what they are experiencing and learning with each other and Council at a series of meetings during 2021.

Please read the Arts Recovery Partnership Grants guidelines before applying. 

Application forms for the Recovery Grants can be accessed via https://darebin.smartygrants.com.au/artsrecovery

For further information or enquiries in relation to the Recovery Grants call the Recovery Grants Hotline on 8470 8888. Interpreters are available.

 

Recovery Grants streams that have closed include:

  • Community Recovery Grants 
  • Business Recovery Grants
  • Cultural Infrastructure Grants
  • Sport Recovery Grant
  • Social Enterprise Grants
  • Creative Collaboration in Isolation

Support for people in the community.

The Community Navigation Service
 Call 8470 8888 and select the option for the Community Navigation Service to be connected with the right support for you. This service quickly refers and links members of the community to the appropriate services, support and information. 

Financial Hardship Policy
For property owners facing difficulties, we've created a Financial Hardship Policy to provide relief. You can either:
- Set up a payment plan to help manage the payments
- Defer your rate payments with 0% interest

Please contact our Revenue team by emailing mypaymentplan@darebin.vic.gov.au or call 8470 8880 (9am-5pm Mon-Fri). Read more about paying your rates and our COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy here.

Waived and frozen fees
- Community hubs license fees frozen.
- Overdue library book/item fees suspended until the libraries reopen.
- Leadership of a network of partners to offer help – including the Inner North Community Fund and the Darebin Information, Volunteer and Referral Service (DIVRS) to help others in the local area who have been impacted.

Support for international students
International students are eligible to access food and basic items.

 Study Melbourne has created a dedicated information resource featuring advice and various supports for international students during this time, for more information please visit COVID-19 support for international students.

Information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- Read our Information sheet for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Watch a video with elders and young people sharing advice about COVID-19, from Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency - VACCA 

For additional information please visit the DHHS https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-information-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-communities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific information and advice on how to manage the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) in community. 

Transport
Room to Move is Darebin’s response to requests from our local schools, businesses and residents for support with social distancing in the time of COVID-19. There is a package of initiatives that are designed to make it easier to safely use our public spaces on foot and by bike as we navigate changes to our daily lives. 
You can find out more information about our Room to Move (COVID-19 transport response) here.

Free legal advice and assistance
International students can receive free legal advice and assistance from Fitzroy Legal Service, Migrant Employment Law Clinic. The clinic can assist with issues around pay, unlawful dismissal and work conditions.

Community Reporting Tool
There’s been a spike in racism during COVID-19, and many people from Asian and other backgrounds are experiencing racist abuse and vilification. Racism has no place in Darebin – if you experience it or see it, you can make a report using the Community Reporting Tool.  You can find out more and make a report on this page of our website.


 

Assistance for creatives during COVID-19

Waived and frozen fees
Arts and culture play an integral role in community wellbeing, and Darebin is proud to be home to many arts venues and community hubs. To support creative and cultural organisations as a result of COVID-19, Council will be waiving license fees for arts venues and community hubs. For more information contact Council on 8470 8888.

Honouring payments and ticket refunds 
To ensure the creative community in Darebin continues to feel supported and valued, we have honoured payments to artists and creative practitioners to the total value of more than $200,000. These honoured payments include:
• 100% of our commitments to artists and contractors engaged for the FUSE festival, to a total value of $42,000.
• All payments to artists for cancelled performances at our arts venues, while also refunding customers 100% of ticket sales for shows that did not proceed as a result of COVID-19 public gathering cancellations. 

Business support grants in response to COVID-19
Stage one of Business support grants was rolled out by the 30 June 2020 with $127,000 worth of grants awarded to the creative and cultural sector in Darebin.
Stage two of the Business Recovery Grants program along with a Cultural Infrastructure Grant Program will be released in the coming months. Arts organisations and creative industries are encouraged to apply for these grants, designed to assist businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Continuing support for arts and culture in Darebin
To keep up to date with information about events, programs and support for artists and the creative sector in Darebin, subscribe to Council’s regular What’s On Arts and Culture newsletter.

Other external sources of support currently available to the creative sector
Creative Victoria
Australia Council for the Arts