FINANCE

Proving your vaccination

Hank Jongen

THERE is an increasing need for people to be able to access evidence that they are fully vaccinated for COVID-19.

The good news is, there is a simple way for you to get proof of your vaccinations, whenever and wherever you may need to.

Services Australia looks after Medicare and the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR), which is where the records of Australians’ vaccinations are kept.

The AIR provides the information that populates COVID-19 digital certificates which gives people proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations.

As of 31 October, more than 330,000 Tasmanians are now fully vaccinated, and of those, about 52 per cent have already accessed their COVID-19 digital certificate.

For those who haven’t yet, there are a few simple steps you can follow to access the COVID-19 digital certificate online: • Create a myGov account; • Link your

Medicare online account to myGov; • Download the Express Plus

Medicare app on your mobile device; • Sign in to myGov and click the ‘Proof of COVID-19 vaccination’ quick link; • If you’re using the app, click on ‘Proof of vaccinations’ in

Services.

You’ll then have access to your proof of vaccinations whenever you need it.

If you’re not able to access online services, there are other ways you can get proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations.

You can call the Australian Immunisation Register and ask for a copy to be posted to you.

Or you can visit one of our service centres and ask for one to be printed for you.

You can also ask a vaccination provider to print a copy of your immunisation history statement for you.

Keep in mind, if you can use myGov, but don’t have a smartphone to save your certificate to, you can print your own at home. There’s no need to call us for a copy.

If you aren’t eligible for Medicare, you can still get proof that you’re fully vaccinated.

Once you’ve created a myGov account, instead of linking Medicare, you can choose to link to the Individual Healthcare Identifier service.

Once you’ve done that, there’s a quick link in myGov that takes you to your certificate.

When you’ve accessed your COVID-19 digital certificate, it’s easy to put a copy in your Apple Wallet or Google Pay so you can have a copy in your pocket wherever you need it.

You can also save your certificate for offline viewing in the Express Plus Medicare app.

RACT investing in the local community as refurbished branch opens

THE RACT has expanded its presence in Glenorchy and is reinvesting in the community after launching its newly refreshed branch.

RACT Group chief executive officer Mark Mugnaioni said about $55,000 had been spent upgrading the branch, which will not only benefit members but also support the local economy.

“The enhancements will allow us to better service more of our members via phone or face to face, with the same great community connected service offering,” he said.

“We have doubled the size of the branch and increased our staff to accommodate a virtual call centre and serve more customers.

“Thanks to this investment, the Glenorchy branch can continue to serve the community for years to come.”

Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas said the upgrades were a welcome addition.

“Having a physical branch is extremely important to the local community – consumers rely on branches to reach out to staff when they need it most,” she said.

“Having an enhanced, new facility is a great asset to the Glenorchy community.”

Mr Mugnaioni said it was vital for the RACT to continue to connect with the community after witnessing some of the impacts of COVID.

“We saw some of the devastating effects to businesses and growth during COVID, and we think it’s important to continue to serve and grow the local economy,” he said.

“With more than 210,000 members we are Tasmania’s largest membership-based organisation and we need to make sure we continue to have a strong presence.”

Mr Mugnaioni said the Glenorchy branch was one of seven branches around the state, ready to serve the community.

Independent Member for Clark Kristie Johnston and Glenorchy Mayor Bec Thomas sign the Glenorchy Jobs Hub Pledge

City leaders pledge to promote Glenorchy jobs

INDEPENDENT Member for Clark Kristie Johnston has committed to helping promote the creation of new local jobs in Glenorchy, after joining Mayor Bec Thomas to sign the Glenorchy Jobs Hub Pledge.

Designed to connect members of the community with support services which can help them find employment, the Glenorchy Jobs Hub has already signed up 250 participants since opening in Glenorchy’s CBD three months ago.

An initiative of the Glenorchy City Council working with STEPS and supported by the Tasmanian Government, the Glenorchy Jobs Hub Pledge is a commitment by local businesses and prominent community members to promote and support the growth of Glenorchy’s economy and creation of local jobs.

“Sometimes all people need is someone to give them a go, and I’m happy to sign this pledge to do all I can to help this wonderful initiative,” Ms Johnston said.

“Reducing unemployment requires a whole-of-community response and I encourage other employers to contact the Jobs Hub to discuss how they can contribute and benefit from the Jobs Hub by making a pledge.”

Mayor Thomas thanked Ms Johnston for her pledge and for the invaluable experience it will provide to local job seekers.

“Having worked in an electorate office, I know first-hand the valuable people and administrative skills that can be developed through this type of experience, together with knowledge about the operations of Government,” she said.

“We are very grateful to Ms Johnston and her team for their commitment to upskilling local job seekers, providing them with unique experience and support to help them into employment.”

The Jobs Hub is looking for more jobseekers to fill the many jobs coming in from local employers.

If you live in the Glenorchy municipality and are looking for work, visit the St Matthews Church to speak with a Jobs Coach between 9am and 5pm Monday – Friday.