A hotline set up by the Department of Community, Disability Services and Seniors to ensure vital services and information about COVID-19 were available to Queenslanders with disability, has received more than 1,000 requests for support.
Minister for Disability Services, Coralee O’Rourke said it was important that people with disability had support to meet their essential daily needs, such as food and medications.
“Queenslanders with disability, who don’t have carers, family or friends to assist them, are encouraged to phone the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 to request essential food, household items and medicines,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“This hotline has received more than 1,200 requests for support, including more than 550 requests for essential food and almost 300 requests for essential medication.”
She said the Community Recovery Hotline was also playing a key role in supporting vulnerable older Queenslanders who were self-isolating.
“Seniors seeking essential services and support and Queenslanders wanting to volunteer can contact the hotline,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“The hotline has now expanded to help coordinate the Care Army,” she said.
“However, it remains just as committed to supporting people with disability, vulnerable Queenslanders and people in quarantine with no other support networks.”
She said funding had been provided to the Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) to produce a range of resources to assist people with disability in understanding and making preparations for COVID-19.
“QDN has also teamed up with the University of Sydney to develop a tool to help people with disability manage the impact of COVID-19,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“The Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness Planning Tool will give people with disability the facts about COVID-19 and outline how to make a plan that is tailored to their unique support needs.”
The 26-page Planning Tool can be accessed at this PS News link.
