People with disability

Information on coronavirus (COVID-19)

Easy English

Information from the Australian Department of Social Services

• Coronavirus: What is it? Easy English (PDF)
• Coronavirus: 5 things to do right now – Easy English (PDF)
• Coronavirus: What do you need to know? – Easy English (PDF)

For more information, go to the How to stay safe and well web page.

How to keep you and your home safe from coronavirus

• How to keep you and your home safe from coronavirus – Easy English print file (PDF)
• How to keep you and your home safe from coronavirus – Easy English web form (PDF)
• How to keep you and your home safe from coronavirus – Easy English (Word)

Current restrictions

Easy English

From 23 April 2021 Victoria continues to maintain COVIDSafe Settings restrictions.

• COVIDSafe Settings restrictions across all of Victoria now apply – Easy English (PDF)
• COVIDSafe Settings restrictions across all of Victoria now apply – Easy English (Word)

For more information about the changes to restrictions please go to the COVIDSafe Settings webpage.

Face masks

You must carry a face mask with you when you leave home, unless an exception applies.

Face masks must be worn in the following settings, unless an exception applies:

• on public transport, in commercial passenger vehicles such as taxis and ride share vehicles, and in tour vehicles
• by visitors to a hospital or care facility (while indoors)
• on flights to and from Victoria
• indoors at airports
• if you are diagnosed with COVID-19, or a close contact of someone diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not yet received clearance from self-isolation or quarantine, when leaving your home or accommodation for a permitted reason (such as medical care or to get tested)
• while awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test when leaving your home or accommodation for a permitted reason, such as medical care (except as part of a surveillance or other asymptomatic testing program)
• while experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.

It is recommended you wear a face mask when at a private gathering or when you cannot maintain 1.5 metres distance from other people.

There are a number of lawful reasons to not wear a face mask:

• a person with a physical illness or condition, or disability, which makes wearing a face mask unsuitable (including breathing problems or disability which may make wearing a face mask painful or difficult)
• a person with a mental health illness or condition who may find wearing a face mask unsuitable or stressful
• persons who are Deaf or hard of hearing and those communicating with them, but only temporarily when the ability to see the mouth or facial expressions is essential for communication and where a distance of 1.5 metres can be maintained
• infants and children under the age of 12 years.

The full list of exceptions is set out in the Stay Safe Directions.

Easy English

When you need to wear a face mask

• Do I have to wear a face mask? - Easy English - Handout (PDF)
• Do I have to wear a face mask? - Easy English (Word)

How you can get a free face mask

• Who can get free face masks in Victoria? - Easy English (PDF)
• Who can get free face masks in Victoria? - Easy English (Word)

Frequently asked questions about wearing face mask

• Answers to your questions about masks for people with disability – Easy English (PDF)
• Answers to your questions about masks for your support workers – Easy English (PDF)
• Face coverings: Frequently asked questions for people with disability and their support workers (Word)

Auslan

Video about the impact of face masks when communicating with Deaf and hard of hearing community.

Other resources

For more information about face masks and exemptions please visit Face masks.

eLearning modules for Community Services Workers

Two free short eLearning courses about staying safe from coronavirus (COVID-19) are now available for community service workers and volunteers. Find out more from this 3-minute video about the key features of the two e-learn products:

To access the free online courses, visit visit the Community services - all sector - coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

Testing

People with disability can get tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) at home. This is called the Call-to-Test service.

Carers of people with disability can also use the service.

To access the Call-to-Test service call the Victorian coronavirus (COVID-19) hotline on 1800 675 398 and select option 9.

Easy English – getting tested at home

• Call-to-test service in the home – Easy English (PDF)
• Call-to-test service in the home – Easy English (Word)

For more information about getting tested at home, go to the DHHS Call-to-Test webpage.

What to do if you have coronavirus (COVID-19)

Easy English

What to do if you have coronavirus:

• What to do if you have coronavirus – Easy English (Word)
• What to do if you have coronavirus – Easy English (PDF)

For more information visit the What to do if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) page.

Support is available if you need help while in isolation. See Isolation and quarantine extra help and support.

What to do if you are a close contact

Easy English

What to do if you are a close contact

• What to do if you are a close contact – Easy English (Word)
• What to do if you are a close contact – Easy English (PDF)

For more information visit the What to do if you are a close contact page.

Support is available if you need help while in quarantine. See Isolation and quarantine extra help and support

Disability services – what changes to expect

It is important that you continue to access the disability services you need during coronavirus (COVID-19). Talk to your service providers and health professionals so you know what the changes mean for you.

Easy English

Changes to disability services during coronavirus (COVID-19)

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) changes to disability services – Easy English (PDF)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): Changes to disability services (Word)

Information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) plan for disability service providers can be found on the Information for disability services sector webpage.

Support for children, young people and families

Information for families with children with disability.

Resources:

• Visit the Association for Children with Disability web page for information and resources to support families and children with disability. You can also call them on 03 9880 7000 or 1800 654 013 (regional).
• The Youth Disability Advocacy Service is for individual advocacy for young people with disability aged 12–25. Visit their coronavirus (COVID-19) updates web page for information and links to resources.
• I Can network provides online peer mentoring sessions for autistic young people aged 9–20. Find out more about the I Can Network on their web page.
• The new AllPlay Learn page has been created to support children, families and educators with the challenges that have been brought about by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To access the resource go to the AllPlay Learn page.
• Visit a MyTime group nearest you. MyTime is free support for all parents and family carers of children with disability. MyTime is a place to socialise, to discuss, to get information, and to support and be supported by other carers.
• Visit the AMAZE webpage for information about autism and supports for autistic people, parents and carers, other family members and professionals. They have free online learning resources and a directory of support groups.

Financial assistance

People with disability have access to financial assistance. These factsheets outline more about the support that is available.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) - How to get financial help - Easy English (PDF)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) - How to get financial help - Easy English (Word)

Access to food and emergency relief packages

People with disability have prioritised access to food and supplies, including the coronavirus emergency relief package which is free for people who have to isolate because they have coronavirus (COVID 19).

These factsheets outline more about the support that is available.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) - How to get food and other important things you need - Easy English (PDF)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) - How to get food and other important things you need - Easy English (Word)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Access to food and supplies for people with disability - Plain English (Word)

Access to additional phone data and affordable internet

Many of the phone and internet services are providing free data top ups during this time. Check with your plan provider to see what they offer.

Mental health resources

It is important to look after your mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Easy English - looking after your mental health

• Coronavirus - looking after your mental health – Easy English (PDF)
• Coronavirus - looking after your mental health – Easy English - (Word)

Resources

• For more tips and resources to look after your mental health during the pandemic visit Mental health resources – coronavirus (COVID-19).
• Contact the Disability Information Helpline on 1800 643 787 (available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 7pm) for information or help because of coronavirus (COVID-19).
• You can visit the Council for Intellectual Disability webpage for tips to look after your mental health.
• You can also get help through the Partners in Wellbeing service on 1300 375 330 to get free one-on-one support for your mental health and wellbeing during the pandemic. Partners in Wellbeing is funded by the Victorian Government.
• Contact the Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 4636 available 24/7 or online chat (3pm–12am, 7 days a week).
• Remain connected with friends and family members and seek out peer support groups such as Peer Connect.

Family violence resources

Easy English - What to do if you are experiencing family violence

• Family violence - how to get support during coronavirus (COVID-19) - easy read version (PDF)
• Family violence - how to get support during coronavirus (COVID-19) - easy read version - accessible (Word)

Resources

For links to resources and support services visit Family violence crisis response and support during coronavirus (COVID-19).

Read the Violence against women with disabilities factsheet from Women with Disabilities Victoria.

Visit the 1800RESPECT webpage for information on Sunny, an app for women with disability experiencing violence and abuse.

Resources in easy read to support people with disability who have experienced sexual assault are available on the Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA) web page.

Information for Aboriginal communities

There is a range of information and resources for the Aboriginal community about how to manage the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19).

To find out more go to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for Aboriginal communities page on this site.

The First Peoples Disability Network has also developed a series of short films to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and ensure families and communities are safe.

For more information go to the First Peoples Disability Network community page

More information and resources

Factsheet on resources and support for people with disability from diverse communities:

• Aboriginal people
• LGBTIQA+ people
• People from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• People in regional Victoria
• Women.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources for people with disability (Word)