INDIA NEWS
Sept 1-15, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 5
NEWS FROM VICTORIA
Join the Walk for Mental Health in-person or virtually
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s Australia navigates challenging times, Mental Health Foundation Australia has the health and safety of you, and the community front of mind. As we plan for National Mental Health Month 2021, we assure Australians that COVID-19 will not stop us from achieving this year’s campaign. Public health advice from each state and territory health departments guide us in our decision of the mode in which we run our events. With the current situation in hand, the MHFA brings you our Virtual National Walk for Mental Health! We encourage you to join us as
we walk for mental health, from anywhere around Australia, or even around the world. The plus side to walking virtually means that you can start your awareness raising journey whenever you would like! Why not start a 60-day walking challenge, for yourself, or form a team, to finally join individuals all over Australia in the MHFA’s Walk for Mental Health on the 17 October from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm at the City Botanic Gardens. Let’s all take a step towards #KeepingLifeLit, whether that is physically or virtually, or both, and let’s make each step count! Come join us in Brisbane!
Vaccine eligibility 8 new Multicultural Commissioners joining in Victoria expanding for anyone 16 and above Melbourne 25 August: Eight new appointees will join the Victorian Multicultural Commission, strengthening the Commission’s work advocating for the state’s multicultural communities through their diverse skills and lived experiences. The new commissioners are: Tarang Chawla, Jennifer Huppert, Nyangak (Lizzy) Kuoth, Mohamed Mohideen, Bill Papastergiadis, Silvia Renda, Abiola Akinbiyi (Community Representative Commissioner), Lunorphare (Luna) Folly (Youth Commissioner) Bwe Thay has also been reappointed Deputy Chairperson following an open recruitment process. The new appointees join serving Commissioners Sankaran (Shankar) Kasynathan, Dr Judy Tang and Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen. Minister for Multicultural
Affairs Ros Spence thanked outgoing Commissioners Walter Rapoport, Khayshie Tilak Ramesh, Mohammed Yassin, Tina Hosseini and Rosaria Zarro for their dedicated service throughout their terms with the Commission, as well as Commissioners David Vincent and Sisay Dinku, who resigned in the past year. The Victorian Multicultural Commission is an independent body that acts as a conduit between Victoria’s multicultural communities and Government. It has also been crucial in the response to the pandemic, ensuring tailored supports are provided where and how they’re needed most. Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence said: “The new commissioners bring valuable experience, and I look forward to working with them to ensure we are supporting multicultural
communities to the best of our ability.” “The Commissioners are a vital link between Victoria’s multicultural communities and Government – and those relationships have never been more important.”
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Victorian Multicultural Commission Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen said: “I am delighted by the appointment of our new Commissioners and welcome them to our dynamic and agile team. I also thank and recognise all the achievements of our outgoing Commissioners. “I am confident that together we can achieve the positive outcomes we are working towards in advocacy, leadership and elevating the community voice in promoting the social, cultural and economic benefits of diversity in our state.”
Melbourne, 24 August: Every Victorian aged 16 years and over will be eligible to access a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine at state-run vaccination centers from tomorrow, under an expansion of the state vaccine program that will further help Victoria reach its goal of one million doses over five weeks. The change means that from Wednesday, 25 August, anyone aged 18 to 59 will be eligible to receive either Pfizer or AstraZeneca – with people aged 16 to 17 able to receive the Pfizer vaccine. Those aged 60 and over will continue to receive AstraZeneca. Over the next four weeks, there will be over 830,000 appointments for COVID-19 vaccines at more than 55 staterun centers operating across Victoria – this includes 450,000 first dose appointments for the Pfizer vaccine.
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With this new expansion, the number of Victorians eligible to receive Pfizer has increased by 2 million. Approximately 1.7 million Victorians aged 16 to 59 have already been vaccinated across general practice, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, community pharmacy, and state vaccination centres. The expansion follows the supply of an additional 175,000 doses of Pfizer from the Commonwealth, recently received from overseas. Anyone aged 18 to 39 who has a current booking
for AstraZeneca from Wednesday, 25 August, who would prefer to receive Pfizer, will not need to cancel or change your booking – you will be offered Pfizer when you arrive for your appointment, unless you would prefer to receive AstraZeneca. The change in eligibility will not occur until tomorrow and the additional bookings will be available online from 7am tomorrow. However, with the number of Victorians aged 18 to 59 still far outweighing the Pfizer doses available from the Commonwealth, the AstraZeneca vaccine will still be available for those who choose to provide consent and discuss their vaccination with a medical professional. The best vaccine you can get is the one that you can get today. The state-run centers include three new drive-through vaccination sites, at the Former Ford Factory in Broadmeadows, at Sandown Racecourse in Springvale, and at the Eagle Stadium in Werribee. The new sites join the Melton drivethrough clinic at the former Bunnings warehouse site, which saw 1,200 doses delivered in its first week of operation. It’s important to remember Victorians can also book to get vaccinated with their local GP or selected pharmacists across the state.
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