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Covid-19 Sector Support

Dear Colleagues,

I hope you are well and safe during these unprecedented times where, as a community, we act to slow the spread and reduce the risk of the COVID-19 infection.

As a human services industry, we are at the forefront of supporting individuals, families and communities who experience vulnerability and crisis. At times like this, our work is even more critical to do the best we can to ensure those already experiencing vulnerability are not further disadvantaged. To do this, service continuity is paramount. Equally important, is ensuring the social and economic health of our workforces and our business operations.

Ongoing Programs and Services
At this time, we know it is imperative that you have access to sector support and development services, to assist you to continue providing services for people experiencing vulnerability.

Western Sydney Community Forum operates in a completely digital environment. As such our team, resources and capabilities continue to be available at full capacity. We have activated our extended network of experienced support and specialist team members, who will add capacity and substitute, where required, in instances where the in-house team may need to take leave due to health or caring responsibilities.

The Western Sydney Community Forum remote office and team are available:
Monday to Friday
02 9687 9669  |  info@wscf.org.au  |  www.wscf.org.au

Our programs, services and partnerships will continue remotely. In some instances, programs have been adapted and re-designed to adjust to a remote service environment. Our service quality and impact remain the same.

As you may be aware, our ZEST 2020 ceremony was due to be held a few days ago. The ceremony was cancelled and has been replaced with a digital and virtual strategy. With our ZEST partners, it means that we will continue to learn from, recognise and celebrate Western Sydney’s unsung heroes. The virtual strategy has commenced and will be implemented over the coming months.

New Services to Respond to COVID-19
To support the community services sector in Western Sydney at this time, we have introduced a package of new services. They are based on information that we have received from our members and service users to date. We expect that these new services will be expanded and re-aligned as new information comes to hand and as the situation changes from day to day.

The key, collective goal underpinning our work at this time, is to support the service system; particularly in service continuity for people experiencing vulnerability and crisis.

A summary of the new services is outlined below. Detailed information about each service, as it evolves, will be provided.

Please do not hesitate to contact our team or me directly at any time on 0417 788 905 or at billie.sankovic@wscf.org.au.

On behalf of the team, stay well and our best wishes,

billiesankovic
Billie Sankovic
Chief Executive Officer

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Interactive Live Stream Forums

Bringing services together to provide information on priorities such as contractual impacts, service continuity, and service gaps and strategies. This will increase access to information and sharing of tools and resources, while reducing mis-information and duplication. Expert and guest speakers will be available for questions, answers and discussion via interactive online capabilities.

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Impact Analysis to Inform Priority Service icon

Impact Analysis to Inform Priority Service

Telephone interviews with small to medium sized agencies in Western Sydney to collect and analyse data that clarifies impact and support needs in relation to staff/workforce health and safety, service continuity, and business operations. This information will further inform practical strategies, the topics for live streaming sessions, and information to government and stakeholders for service and public policy during COVID-19 management.

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Clearinghouse: Service Continuity during COVID-19 icon

Clearinghouse: Service Continuity during COVID-19

Facilitate sharing of information regarding the broader suite of tools and strategies that are being applied to maintain service continuity across service types. Web based and digital methods will be used including, podcast interviews with agencies and sharing of international resources and strategies.

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Q & A
Portal

A centralised email helpline to access a panel of selected experts to respond to questions and or provide advice to community sector agencies in Western Sydney. Panel members will include experts from university, health and business partner agencies; and across priorities such as service options and strategies, health and wellbeing, business operations, and human resources and workforce management.

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In-House Service Continuity Assistance. three people icon

In-House Service Continuity Assistance

Rapid in-house support and assistance for your agency, to increase capacity and capability during COVID 19 management.  Including [but not limited] to areas such as:

  • hosting of virtual tools to support client connection and outreach,
  • establishing and managing a casual pool of emergency staff,
  • leadership support and mentoring,
  • facilitating continuity planning, and
  • training or preparing translated materials.
 

Services are tailored and customised to your unique needs to manage change and uncertainty. These services specifically support small to medium sized agencies to maximise the value of available funding subsidy. This service is provided in partnership with our extended network of experienced support and specialist primary consultants.

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Representation and Advocacy

Representing the communities and community sector of greater Western Sydney in the public policy response to COVID-19 by providing information on regional priorities, including the outcomes of the impact analysis. In alignment with state and national peaks as outlined in the ACOSS led COVID-19 Community Sector Rescue Package Recommendations.

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Covid-19 Sector Support

Customised Training

In-House Facilitation

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Tailored
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