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COVID-19 support for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Overview
COVID-19 has changed how we travel, study, and work. It has affected how we spend time with friends and family. If you have moved to Australia, there might be other challenges, too.
You may want or need to return to your home country. It might be hard to find information in your language. Study, work or housing may be unstable or even unavailable.
These changes can make you feel stressed, isolated and confused. You’re not alone if you feel this way, but sometimes it can be hard to ask for help.
Use this page to find:
- COVID-19 and mental health support in your language
- mental health resources for you, or someone you know, and
- help with translation
Find support for your situation
The pandemic has created many mental health challenges. Head to Health can help you find online and phone support.
Staying connected
The pandemic has kept us apart from our communities and culture. That can make things hard, as staying connected with each other helps us to feel supported. Head to Health can help you find ways to cope with feeling isolated.
Stability and security
COVID-19 has affected many lives in many ways. Concerns about health. Worries about jobs, housing and money. Discrimination from people looking for someone to blame for the situation. It has a lot of us feeling less safe, stable and secure.
The impact on you and your family
The impact of the virus has created many challenges for families. You could be struggling with remote learning. You could be living too close to one another, or too far away. Stress and tension could rise to abuse and violence. If you need help, we can help you find support.
Translated coronavirus (COVID-19) resources
Understanding the facts about COVID-19 can reduce confusion and worry. It can help us to know what is going on and what to do.
Health.gov.au has COVID-19 resources in 86 languages. There are facts, guides and tips about mental health.
SBS have virus and mental health resources in 63 languages. They also give regular translated news updates.
How to access services
Follow these 3 steps:
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Contact your GP to find out how you can get help.
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A GP can write you a mental health treatment plan if you have a diagnosed mental health disorder. You need this plan to access 10 sessions each calendar year with a registered mental health professional, which are subsidised by Medicare.
Note: 10 additional individual psychology therapy Medicare-subsidised sessions are available to all eligible Australians until 30 June 2022 as part of the Australian Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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- To find a GP, visit HealthDirect. You can also visit HealthDirect to find an allied health professional, in addition to 24 hour health information and resources.
- Primary Health Networks (PHNs) provide and commission service providers to undertake a range of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) activities across Australia designed specifically to meet the needs of their communities. You can find the location of PHN services here.
- Ask a friend or family member for a recommendation.
- Explore the Head to Health resources to find the support that feels right for you.
- Visit Find a Psychologist on the Australian Psychological Society’s website to connect you to psychologists anywhere in Australia. Services can be either face-to-face or through other modes including telehealth if this is safe and clinically appropriate in your circumstances.
- Visit the Australian Clinical Psychology Association website to find a clinical psychologist.
Talk to a professional online
If you have a Medicare card, you can access 10 subsidised sessions per calendar year through a GP or a registered mental health professional such as a psychologist, social worker or occupational therapist.
From 9 October 2020, an additional 10 Medicare-subsidised individual psychological therapy sessions are also available each calendar year for people experiencing more severe or enduring mental health impacts. The additional sessions will be available to all eligible Australians nationally until 30 June 2022.
The Australian Government has added a number of temporary Medicare items until 31 March 2021. Eligible Australians may now receive all of their individual psychological therapy sessions via video conference or telephone, provided it is safe and clinically appropriate to do so.
I don't have a Medicare card
If you are currently visiting or living in Australia but are not a permanent resident or citizen, and you need to access treatment, you may have to pay for any costs if you don’t have private health insurance.
You can find more information here.
Next Steps
Recommended resources from service providers
COVID-19 and its impact
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Page last updated 28th June 2021