Taking Stock: Research to date on the social and human impacts of COVID-19 in the Cairns LGA The COVID-19 RSNA (2020:9) identified that there are significant gaps in our understanding of the effects of the pandemic on the Cairns region. It noted that there was little formal evidence about the social and human impacts of COVID-19, particularly as they affect different demographic and population cohorts such as seniors, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people with disabilities, homeless persons, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The shocks to the region’s economy, particularly key industries such as tourism and education, and the flow on social impacts related to employment and financial hardship had been largely unexplored. The impacts of social distancing, isolation, uncertainty and limited access to services were unknown. These areas and their interrelated effects remain key areas for further exploration to guide future response and recovery efforts. In addressing the knowledge gaps, CRC and JCU have collaborated on several studies examining the impacts of COVID-19. This section provides on overview of the findings of these studies and their key recommendations. 1. Cairns COVID-19 Rapid Social Needs Assessment 1 (RSNA, Babacan et al., 2020) identified that in July 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the economy and the social and emotional health of the Cairns community. It highlighted the pandemic’s first-time effects on many sections of the community and the disproportionate impacts on more vulnerable groups. The key impact areas included: •
Employment – unemployment: loss of jobs, reduced hours of work, insecurity of employment, reduced wages, working from home arrangements.
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Financial distress: creating acute hardship for families and individuals in meeting their needs and on businesses via contraction through the multiplier effect and lack of injection of spending in the economy and creating hardships for small businesses in particular.
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Housing and homelessness: job losses and financial stress impacting on ability to meet rental and mortgage payments, increased risk of homelessness for vulnerable groups, lack of affordable housing options in Cairns, exacerbating chronic housing shortages.
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Mental health: including insecurity, fear, anxiety, depression, anger, lack of trust, helplessness, sadness, despair, and suicidal thoughts. A range of risky behaviours were identified, including substance use, excessive alcohol consumption and gambling.
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Digital connectivity: benefits and challenges of using digital technologies for service delivery. Challenges of access to devices, affordability, connectivity of network, affordability, digital skills (of staff and clients) and lack of IT support.
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Social cohesion: both positive and negative. Positive impacts included compassion for the plight of those affected, helping family and friends in distress, support for vulnerable persons, neighbourly
Babacan et al (2020) Cairns Local COVID-19 RSNA, available at https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/398204/CRCCovid-Rapid-Social-Needs-v.5-22-Sept-2020.pdf 1
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