Warragul will be the location of the first respiratory clinic in Gippsland.

Federal member for Monash Russell Broadbent has welcomed the opening of the clinic on Monday 27 April as part of the Australian Government’s $2.4 billion health package to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Located at 197-199 Sutton Street in Warragul Mr Broadbent said the Government has committed to establishing up to 100 GP-led respiratory clinics around the country to assess patients with mild to moderate COVID-19-like symptoms.

“To date we can be grateful that the coronavirus has not been widespread in our region, however it’s important we have local doctors in our communities available and ready to lead the local response should the virus take hold and start to spread quickly,” Mr Broadbent said.

“Respiratory clinics will be best placed to support people with fever, cough, sore throat, and other respiratory symptoms and avoiding the risk of infection in the communities.

“They will also help to reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments and other general practices.

“I encourage anyone in the community experiencing symptoms to call the clinic or go online to book an appointment.

“The Government is focused on ensuring rural and regional communities are prepared to respond to this pandemic. That’s why we are putting in place a range of measures including additional practice incentives and the expansion of telehealth to enable the rural medical workforce to continue to care for rural people,” Mr Broadbent said.

The Government is investing $206.7 million to establish up to 100 respiratory clinics across Australia, including in rural and regional areas in each state and territory. To access a clinic, people can visit www.health.gov.au and use the online booking system.

BACKGROUND:

The Australian Government is urging Australians with chronic health conditions not to neglect their regular health care, but continue to consult with their doctors in order to best manage their condition.

The Government has expanded Medicare-subsidised telehealth services for all Australians and is providing extra incentives to general practitioners to support continued access to essential primary health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, said it was vitally important regular health care checks continued.

‘If you have a regular follow up appointment booked with your doctor, please contact your medical practice to see if this can be carried out using a telehealth consultation, (by telephone, or video call), or if you need to see your doctor for a face-to-face consultation,’ Minister Hunt said.

‘If you are taking regular medication for management of a chronic condition, it is essential that you continue to take your medication. If you run out of medication, please contact your doctor or your local pharmacy to arrange a repeat prescription.

‘To further stop the spread of COVID-19 Australians can now have their PBS medicines delivered to their home from their community pharmacy of their choice through the Australian Government “COVID-19 Home Medicines Service”. There is no additional cost to have their medicines delivered to their home.’

Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent encouraged everyone in Monash to consider getting their flu vaccine over the coming weeks to protect them against the flu.

‘April and May is the best time to get a flu vaccine and people should contact their doctor or community pharmacy to book an appointment,’ Mr Broadbent said.

‘Many Australians including all Australians over 65 years of age, and children under the age of five, are eligible for a free flu vaccine through the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

‘If you have regular blood tests as part of the management of your chronic health condition, please continue to have your blood tests done at your local general practice or local pathology collection centre.

‘Whether in person, or through the expanded telehealth network, it’s critical that people continue to manage their general health throughout the COVID-19 health emergency. Your GP is there to help you follow your treatment plan and improve your health.’

Chronic conditions include arthritis, asthma, back pain, cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and mental health conditions. These are leading causes of illness, disability and death in Australia.

In Australia, these common chronic conditions contribute to 61 per cent of the burden of disease, 37 per cent of hospitalisations and 87 per cent of deaths.

It is essential you continue to have screenings for important conditions, such as bowel cancer. We don’t want people to develop cancers which could have been easily treated if picked up early.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has this week launched Expert Advice Matters, a nationwide campaign to stop people from neglecting their health concerns during COVID-19. A website, www.expertadvicematters.com.au, has been set up with straightforward, practical advice for patients.

‘We want you to stay well during these challenging times,’ Russell Broadbent MP said. ‘Your health care needs don’t take a back seat because of COVID-19.’

Mature aged workers in Monash can now access funded training more easily and quickly to help them find work under changes to the Career Transition Assistance (CTA) program announced by the Morrison Government today.

The CTA program assists mature job seekers aged 45 and over with training and support to improve their digital literacy, job opportunities and identifying transferrable skills.

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the program will be funded by an additional $41.7 million from early May until June 2022. This means that jobactive providers can more readily refer mature age job seekers into the program.

“We know the CTA program is effective and is popular with participants and the facilitators who deliver it. We want to increase the number of people who can access it, particularly during these challenging economic times,” Minister Cash said.

“Establishing a separate funding source for this effective program will ensure even more mature age job seekers can build their confidence using different types of technology, like smartphones, tablets, apps, social media and computers.”

Through the CTA program, mature-age job seekers in Monash are empowered to build confidence and learn new skills and enables participants to become more competitive in their local labour market through a short form, targeted training.

Russell Broadbent MP said, importantly the Career Transition Assistance program will be made available online during the COVID-19 pandemic, so mature age Australians can continue to access the valuable support the CTA program delivers.

“To compete in today’s job market, and in particular in the current environment, some mature age workers may need support to improve their digital skills, and that’s exactly what this program delivers,” said Russell Broadbent MP.

New funding arrangements will be available until 30 June 2022. More information can be found at: https://www.employment.gov.au/career-transition-assistance

More Australians living in Monash will benefit from new and improved mobile coverage under Round 5 of the Morrison McCormack Government’s highly successful $380 million Mobile Black Spot Program.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, and Russell Broadbent MP Member for Monash, today announced Monash will receive 1 new base station under Round 5, providing improved mobile coverage in the community.

“It’s great that Monash will soon be benefitting from improved mobile connectivity provided by these new base stations,” Russell Broadbent MP said.

“Improved mobile coverage will help family and friends connect, access quality education and health services, and do business globally,” said Mr Broadbent.

As just one example, people living and travelling through Aberfeldy will now have better phone service to make calls, browse the internet and stay connected with family and friends.

Minister Fletcher said Round 5 of the program will fund a further 182 new base stations for regional and remote communities across Australia.

“The announcement of successful Round 5 locations today brings the total number of base stations being funded under the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spot Program to 1,229, underlining our ongoing commitment to providing new and improved mobile connectivity to Australians across the country.”

“Improved mobile connectivity makes it possible for Australians to stay connected, access education services, conduct business and remain in contact with family and friends. These activities are critical year-round, but particularly important with people responding to the COVID-19 crisis and spending more time at home,” said Minister Fletcher.

Minister Coulton said, “Our Mobile Black Spot program is connecting regional communities and businesses, enabling them to contribute more effectively to our local, regional and national economies.”

The Federal Government is contributing a total of $34 million to Round 5 of the Program, which will deliver total new investment of more than $73 million together with co-contributions from the funding recipients and state governments.

More than $836 million is being invested in new mobile infrastructure in regional and remote Australia across the five rounds.

This comes as the Mobile Black Spot Program passes a significant milestone with more than 800 mobile base stations now on air across Australia, meaning more coverage in more rural areas.

“More than 77 per cent of the 1047 base stations funded through the first four rounds of the Program are now complete taking us past the 800 mobile base station milestone. I thank Telstra, Optus and Vodafone for their work in getting us to this point, and importantly for their ongoing commitment to the Program,” Minister Fletcher said.

Round 5 base stations are scheduled to roll out in the coming months with the first new base stations expected to be activated by the end of the year.

To view the full list of Round 5 locations visit, or to provide feedback on the discussion paper on the design of future rounds, visit: communications.gov.au/mbsp

As ANZAC Day dawns, our thoughts turn to those who have served our nation overseas, during times of war, and in times of peace, as keepers of the peace.

There is though, no time like the present to reflect on the service that our Defence Force provide, right here, in Australia.

2020 has shocked us all and it started with bushfires raging across the country with thousands of people isolated on the beach in Mallacoota.

Defence personnel were deployed to assist residents and rescue stranded holiday makers of this tiny beachside town. As a nation we witnessed these skilled professionals do what they do best.

What they do best is to serve our great country in its time of need. Time and time again our Defence Force personnel come into assist through floods, fires, droughts and cyclones. They are trained, disciplined, dedicated and organised, and they manage calculated risk to make things happen.

Today, as a war of a different kind, a war on COVID-19, rages around the world, our Defence Force personnel are again there at the frontline. They go where we need them. Whether that is to work alongside medical staff, setting up and staffing an emergency hospital in Tasmania or assisting with the production of personal protective equipment in Shepparton.

They do this service without question, they do it in the Spirit of Service. Just as those we salute on ANZAC Day did when they left our shores to fight overseas.

This coming ANZAC Day is different to those of the past. We cannot attend our dawn services this year. We cannot stand and watch or join in the march, we can though remember them, we can give a silent thanks.

So, this ANZAC Day go out to your letterbox at dawn, go out to your driveway and stand as one.

Let us embrace the stillness and reflect. Let us demonstrate our respect in honouring those who have served and continue to serve our country with this simple act of solidarity.

People who may be strangers standing as one. Just as they stood as strangers on foreign soil. It’s both a private and public statement of unity. The things that unite us are stronger than those that divide us.

We owe them this much at least.  Let us honour them.

Lest we forget.

#AnzacAtHome #StandAtDawn #LightUpTheDawn

The Coalition Government’s child care package would give families in Monash hip pocket relief, while protecting child care jobs and ensuring the viability of local services.

Under the plan, the Federal Government will pay services that remain open and do not charge families for care. Services will receive payments based on 50 per cent of their average fees, up to a maximum of the hourly rate cap, based on enrolments in the fortnight before 2 March.

The payment, combined with the $130 billion JobKeeper payment to keep employees in their jobs, would help ensure child care services in Monash kept their doors open and workers employed.

The Government will also:

Child care services will have to remain open and not charge families fees if they accept the Government’s payment. This will provide much-needed fee relief for families in Monash, and ensure children can continue attending services and their parents can continue working.

The current expert medical advice is that the child care sector should remain open except where individual services have been directed to close by health authorities.

Child care services in Monash can access the payment to ensure the viability of their business, keep people in jobs and give families much-needed fee relief.

Child care is so important right now as our nation confronts the twin challenge of the coronavirus and its economic impact. The child care services in Monash are a valuable part of our community, where our children come together to learn and play, giving time to families to work, study and volunteer.

This package will help support families during these difficult times, particularly those who have lost their job and are doing it tough.

The states and territories are looking at how to reduce the regulatory burden on the child care services which will further help them to remain viable. Education Council and National Cabinet will address regulation this week.

The new system is expected to begin on 6 April, with payments to start flowing at the end of the week. The system will be reviewed after one month, with an extension to be considered after three months. The payments will be paid in lieu of the Child Care Subsidy and Additional Child Care Subsidy payments.

Child care services seeking health and situation information about COVID-19 should contact the 24/7 National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080. Information is also available from https://www.dese.gov.au/news/coronavirus-covid-19.

Russell Broadbent MP
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