COVID-19 UPDATE: Foundation House continues to deliver service
23 March 2020
The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to a global health crisis. This extraordinary and rapidly evolving situation requires a coordinated and measured response from us all. Announcements that inform our decisions are being made almost daily by the State and Federal Governments.
Foundation House will remain operational and continue to deliver services, but we have made the difficult decision to close our offices to external visitors so that we can support the health and wellbeing of our staff and clients, their families and the community at large.
In order to ensure service continuity, we are using phone and video-conferencing technologies to minimise the risk to staff and clients while enabling us to still provide assistance, counselling and other therapeutic interventions.
We have suspended all activities that require large numbers of people or physical contact including group events, professional development and training, and complementary therapy modalities such as body work.
Referring agencies and individuals can continue to refer their clients to our service and are encouraged to do so. We are acutely aware of the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by our clients. It is vitally important that we continue to support them and their communities at this distressing time.
We are following all official government and expert advice. Senior management, together with our Crisis Management Team, meet daily to respond to the developing situation and we are delivering daily communiques to our staff.
As a responsible community organisation, Foundation House shares in the social obligation to play our part in “flattening the curve” to assist in slowing and reducing transmission rates so that our health system can cope with this pandemic.
More information on COVID-19 can be found by visiting the official Department of Health and Human Services website and translated information can be found here including in Arabic, Khmer, Farsi, Tamil and Turkish (amongst others). We understand that additional translations will become available soon.
Foundation House appreciates that staying connected and maintaining regular communication is of vital importance. We know that getting through this difficult time requires us to focus on those who are particularly at risk and to look after one another.
On behalf of Foundation House, I wish you and your communities well and urge you to take all necessary precautions to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Paris Aristotle AO
CEO