One of the greatest challenges in our current situation is how to wade through the streams of information being regularly communicated in relation to COVID-19.

With so many different platforms adding their voice to the collective conversation around how to best prepare for and manage business and life during this crisis, it can be hard to know who to listen to. Social media and mainstream news are saturated with conflicting and often false information.

Rather than adding to this confusion,  we want to present a selection of relevant online resources, specific to our industry, that you can use in your own efforts to be better informed and prepared. 

Please remember this is an evolving situation so we make no claims or guarantees about the accuracy or currency of this information, but we have only referred to trusted sources backed by government, academic or UN sources.

 

 

HEALTH RESOURCES:

 

WHO – Learn the facts about COVID 19 from the World Health Organisation
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

Healthdirect – Answer a few questions to see if you need medical help.
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/symptom-checker/tool/basic-details

Australian Department of Health
Department of Health webpage on COVID-19
https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/coronavirus-covid-19-resources

Guidelines on isolation
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2020/03/coronavirus-covid-19-isolation-guidance_2.pdf

Guidelines for employers
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-employers

Bing Monitor the Spread – Thanks to the Microsoft team, you can track in real-time data around the spread on the COVID-19 virus globally.
https://www.bing.com/covid 

Johns Hopkins University – Follow global infection, death and recovery rates of COVID-19.
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/map.html

 

 

GOVERNMENT RESOURCES:

 

Business Australia – Find financial assistance, eligibility and timing for the new government support for Australian businesses.
https://business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business

Business Victoria – Business Victoria has just released a COVID-19 advice page for your reference and to share with your stakeholders. It covers the Australian Government Economic Stimulus Package, mental health support, managing employees and referrals to relevant websites.
https://www.business.vic.gov.au/disputes-disasters-and-succession-planning/illness-and-business-management-plan/coronavirus-business-support

Department of Agriculture – Biosecurity updates from the Department of Agriculture
https://www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity/coronavirus

Minister for Agriculture – The Minister, David Littleproud’s recent press release outlining agriculture as an essential industry.
https://minister.awe.gov.au/littleproud/media-releases/agriculture-jobs-essential

Helpline for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID-19
You can phone 13 28 46 between 7:00am – 11:00pm 7 days a week.

Coronavirus Australia App is available from the Apple App Store and on Google Play, was launched alongside the Government’s new WhatsApp feature.

 

 

INDUSTRY RESOURCES:

 

AUSVEG- This letter from AUSVEG CEO James Whiteside provides an update of the work AUSVEG has been conducting with key industry stakeholders.
Letter to AUSVEG Strategic Partners

Victorian Farmers Federation-This page contains information on health advice, managing the workplace and employees, assistance for business and other relevant information.
https://www.vff.org.au/vff/Resources/COVID-19/vff/Resources/Coronavirus.aspx?hkey=40374f71-2151-434c-bac8-7bfcf91b7969

PMA ANZ Resources – A list put together by PMA-ANZ to support the industry.
https://www.pma.com/global-pma/anz/news/2020/covid-19/covid-19-resources

 

 

WORKPLACE RESOURCES:

 

Slack – A favourite of the Silicon Valley set, this email-killing messaging app is now used around the world.
https://slack.com/

Google Suite – Google’s cloud-based apps for word processing, spreadsheets and doc sharing means you don’t have to pay for the software you use every day.
https://gsuite.google.com/

Microsoft Office 365- The cloud-based version of the Microsoft suite of programs.
https://www.office.com/?auth=2

Zoom- Has quickly become the world’s preferred video conferencing software.
https://zoom.us/

DropBox – Provides up to 2GB of free FileSharing and storage, great for moving files between work and home computers.
https://www.dropbox.com/

Monday – A good-looking workflow and project management tool for teams.
https://monday.com/

Asana – Another handy project management tool for remote teams and varied project types.
https://asana.com/

 

 

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP:

 

Services Australia – Overview of AusGov services and support for those impacted and affected by Coronavirus.
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/affected-coronavirus-covid-19

Australian Banking Association – Connect with your bank’s Financial Hardship Team via this handy contact list from the Australian Banking Association
https://www.ausbanking.org.au/campaigns/financial-hardship/

Telecommunications – The major Telcos have done the right thing and put offers in place to assist with keeping connected and online despite our isolation.

Optus – https://www.optus.com.au/for-you/support/answer?id=20065

Telstra – https://www.telstra.com.au/covid19/supporting-you-during-covid-19

Vodafone – https://www.vodafone.com.au/about/company/covid-19

 

 

MENTAL HEALTH

 

Farmer Health – A practical and tailored guide to Coronavirus for the health and safety of farmers, farmworkers and their farms.
https://www.farmerhealth.org.au/page/latest-farmer-health-in-the-news-2020/coronavirus-covid-19-you-and-the-farm/

Lifeline Australia – A national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
Ph: 13 11 14
https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Beyondblue –  An Australian independent non-profit organisation working to address issues associated with depression, suicide, anxiety disorders and other related mental disorders.
Ph: 1300 22 46 36
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Headspace – Provides mental and health wellbeing support, information and services to young people and their families across Australia.
https://headspace.org.au/

Kids Helpline – Australia’s only free, private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25.
Ph: 1800 55 1800
https://www.kidshelpline.com.au/


If you found this resource handy, please make sure to share it with your friends and colleagues – the right information for the right person can be a powerful thing.

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