ONE of the region's longest-standing community support groups is determined to not let the COVID-19 pandemic prevent it from helping locals.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Benevolent Society has had to close the doors on all of its offices across Australia, including Tamworth and Armidale.
However, the society's chief executive officer Jo Toohey said it would be "business as usual for the organisation", when it came to helping its clients.
"Unfortunately, the nature of this virus and the regulations being put in place have meant that most of our group activities, and those that are centre-based, have had to cease," Ms Toohey said.
"We will seek to continue an engagement with those clients, including through welfare checks to those left more vulnerable as a result of this crisis; and provide support where possible and appropriate and to better understand emerging needs."
Read Also:
The society, which has been in operation since 1813, offers assistance to people with disabilities, senior citizens, children and families.
It caters for a variety of its clients needs through an extensive network of services providers.
A spokesperson told the Leader face-to-face interactions would continue between society staff and clients, but everyone would adhere to all of the government's COVID-19 guidelines.
"We are going to continue to deliver our essential service," the spokesperson said.
"However, all of our workers will be fully equipped with their own personal protective equipment, and will be taking the upmost care in everything they do.
"The health of our clients and workers is our top priority, so we have introduced a number of different steps to ensure everyone is safe."
Ms Toohey echoed those sentiments, saying the society had been busy adapting to the COVID-19 situation.
"We have implemented our social distancing action plan and the majority of our staff are now working remotely, but continuing to offer client services in home and community settings," she said.
"We have implemented telehealth and virtual services wherever possible and clinically safe. We are maintaining in-person service delivery where needed and managers are conducting assessments with staff to determine the best way of delivering these services.
"We are trying to limit in-person contacts to less than 30 minutes and maintaining a 1.5 metre distance."
Call the society's hotline on 1800 236 762.
