While many changes have occurred across the Casey community due to the Coronavirus epidemic, Casey Council is continuing to deliver services to residents, with some adjustments to the usual routine.
Across the municipality, Council staff continue to perform their roles delivering home care, meals on wheels, immunisations, maternal and child health services, youth counselling, reuniting lost animals with their owners and many other services.
In some cases, this has meant the use of additional personal protective equipment where required, such as aprons, gloves and masks, but also splitting staff across several work sites and using a range of technology to stay in touch with vulnerable people where face-to-face contact is not currently advisable.
For example, Council’s Community care team are now providing one-on-one activities for clients instead of group classes and outings. This includes exercise in the client’s home, going for a walk or setting up video-chats with family and friends.
The Maternal and Child Health Service has replaced home-visits with telephone and electronic consultations, while the Syringe Exchange Program has moved to a home-delivery service for clients requiring new sharps containers.
While the Youth Information Centres have temporarily closed, Council’s Youth Services team are posting information and resources on their Facebook page, including ideas to keep young people busy while staying home. Also, counsellors are providing phone and SMS chats for young people needing support.
City Compliance officers are continuing their work in the community, collecting stray animals, reuniting lost pets with owners and responding to community concerns on a range of Local Laws matters, from long grass to community safety hazards.
To protect staff and the community, where required officers are wearing protective equipment and practising social distancing, for example asking animal owners to take their pet from council’s vehicles, or asking someone who finds a lost dog to secure it in an accessible area for the officer to collect.
The response from members of our community, many of whom rely on council services for basic needs, has been overwhelmingly positive in light of the rapidly changing circumstances everyone is dealing with.
For more information on council services, visit: casey.vic.gov.au or contact customer service on 9705 5200.
