Hume Valley School COVID Response Community Forum
KEY CONTACTS:
| DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Department of Health 1300 651 160 | |
| CORONAVIRUS HOTLINE Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 / Victorian Coronavirus website https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au / | HUME VALLEY SCHOOL PH: Koroit 9309 3477/ Narrun 9309 6664 / VCAL 9066 3690 Email: hume.valley.sch@education.vic.gov.au |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. When do we know if we need to get tested?
A. The Department of Health WILL NOTIFY YOU if you are a Primary close contact (PCC) at a Tier 1 site =PCC had face-to-face contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) for ANY duration OR spent at least 1 hour in the same closed space with the index case in the period extending from 48 hours before onset of symptoms in the index case. Everyone in your household must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from exposure. The Department of Health will notify you of your day 13 test and when and how you will be release from your quarantine period.
The Department of Health WILL NOTIFY YOU if you are a Secondary close contact (SCC) at a Tier 1 or 2 site =SCC anyone who has had face to face contact with someone who is a primary close contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19 or shared a closed space with a close contact of a confirmed case at least 24 hours after the primary close contact was exposed to the case. Get tested urgently and isolate until you have a negative result.
Q. Why didn’t I receive any communication from the Department of Health?
A. The Department of Health WILL NOT NOTIFY YOU if you are a casual contact (CC) at a site =CC includes any person present in the school during the infectious period that does not meet the criteria as a primary close contact, secondary close contact or acquisition contact i.e. has not had contact with the case.
Q. I don’t understand the Tiers – what do they mean?
Tier 2 – Anyone who has visited this location during these times should urgently get tested, then isolate until confirmation of a negative result. Continue to monitor for symptoms, get tested again if symptoms appear. Get tested urgently and isolate until you have a negative result.
Tier 3 – This is an exposure site, anyone has visited should monitor for symptoms – symptoms develop, immediately get a COVID-19 test and isolate until you receive a negative result.
Q. If my son/daughter doesn’t go to school at the main campus – why do all campuses have to isolate?
A. Because the dates Hume Valley School was listed as an exposure site, the primary and middles were at the main campus and some VCAL students were also at the main campus.
COVID TESTING
Q. What happens if you cannot get to a test site, or your child is refusing to have a test? Is there another way to get tested?
Q. Will there be a testing site coordinated via the Department of Health and Hume Valley School for day 13 tests?
A. The school will not be coordinating day 13 testing. Please follow the health advice given to you by the department of health and get tested at your local testing site. Find your closest testing site by clicking here .
REOPENING THE SCHOOL
Q. When will the school be open again?
A. No decision to return onsite will be made until the Department of Health deems it absolutely safe to do so. When the Department of Health provides the clearance and permission to re-open we will immediately notify staff and families. An online community briefing will be conducted prior to us returning onsite.
Q. How do I know what time testing sites in my area close?
The closest testing site to the school is:
COVID-19 Drive-Through Testing Clinic – Dallas VIC – Opening Hours 7 days a week
07:00 am – 07:00 pm
Find your closest testing site by clicking here .
Q. What support will be offered to families to keep kids engaged and to provide assistance during the 14 days quarantine?
Q. Will the school be safe when it reopens? What measures will be made in relation to the covid outbreaks in school?
A. The entire school site has been deep cleaned and a certificate of clearance has been issued. We are currently in the process of school/classroom reorganisation and restocking of our COVID hygiene resources and classroom supplies from the deep clean
The Infection Control and Prevention team have undertaken an audit of all our COVID safe policies, practices and onsite resources which they have deemed compliant and in addition will potentially conduct an onsite inspection this week.
• Returning onsite – When the Department of Health provides the clearance and permission to re-open we will immediately notify staff and families. An online community briefing will be conducted prior to us returning onsite.
• Sub school “bubbles” have been developed within our school – this means less staff and students will come into contact with one another.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – COVID hygiene resources are being audited and restocked for staff. Students are encouraged to wear face masks when attending onsite also.
• Online student attendance application and approval,
• Health declarations from all staff and students must be conducted before being admitted onsite.
This means staff, students and visitors must disclose:
- if they have been potentially exposed to Coronavirus (COVID-19) or have any symptoms, such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.
- On arrival, visitors will be reminded to sanitise their hands and physically distance themselves. Check they have no symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
NEGATIVE TESTS RESULTS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL BEFORE Primary close contacts and Secondary Close Contacts are admitted returning onsite. You MUST forward your negative test result to the school hume.valley.sch@education.vic.gov.au for clearance to return onsite.
TEACHING AND LEARNING DURING QUARANTINE, ISOLATION & LOCKDOWN
Q. I am worried my son/daughter is falling behind because of the pandemic. Can the school send out extra work and resources to help keep them busy and entertained throughout these hard times?
A. As a school we will do whatever is withing our means to support your son/daughter- with technology, hard copy learning and getting you in touch with your son/daughters teacher or the Wellbeing team to assist you during the lockdown period. Please contact the school on hume.valley.sch@education.vic.gov.au and a member of staff will get back to you ASAP.
Q. How do we go about to borrowing a laptop from the school?
A. Please contact the school hume.valley.sch@education.vic.gov.au – we will put you in contact with our ICT coordinator to make arrangements for your son/daughter to access technology.
WELLBEING AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Q. Can I get a financial or other support for COVID-19?
A. If you are unable to work due to restrictions, there are a variety of financial support packages for people and businesses impacted by COVID-19 here . Relief packages are also available if you are required to isolate or quarantine – you can have a look at the support available by clicking here .
Q. Some kids with disabilities are struggling and cannot express their feelings and thoughts – who else can we contact for support?
A. Please contact the school hume.valley.sch@education.vic.gov.au – we will put you in contact with a member of our Wellbeing team who will raise this with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH). The DFFH may be able to assist you to access extra support during these circumstances through your son/daughters NDIS package.
Don’t forget to click here to access the Kids Help Line. You can also call them on 1800 55 1800 anytime, for any reason. The kids help line is specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25.
Headspace is a free online and telephone service that supports young people aged between 12 and 25 and their families going through a tough time. Call them on 1800 650 890.
Q. I am a parent/carer who is really struggling – what support is there for me?
A. Please stay connected with the school, your friends and family during this time, also there are dedicated trained counsellors to support your mental health during a pandemic when you need, see below:
BeyondBlue has a dedicated Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support hotline 1800 512 348. If you click here you can also access the online forum and chat online.
BeyondBlue Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) People who don’t speak English as a first language can get free translation support from the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS).
Visit www.tisnational.gov.au or call 131 450.
BeyondBlue has some great tips and ideas on how to take care of yourself during coronavirus, inlucidng managing daily life, coping with isolation and being at home,
click here to visit BeyondBlue.