Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (Formerly Queensland AIDS Council)
OTHER COVID-19 UPDATES:
CEO STATEMENT
Dear friends, partners, and colleagues,
As an organisation that was formed out of public health emergency, the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health remains ready to serve the health and wellbeing of our communities. Guided by public health best practice & ongoing advice, we have taken several steps to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) while continuing to provide our essential services. We are closely monitoring and evaluating guidance from the Health Department at both State and Federal levels and will update you as our response evolves – which we know it will.
Supporting the health and wellness of all our communities is paramount as the local and national response to COVID-19 continues to rapidly change. From our Brisbane and Cairns premises, we, along with our community partner organisations, provide many essential community services that are needed now more than ever including practical daily supports for the most vulnerable members of our communities, general medical and mental health supports, Recovery support, social support groups and sexual health supplies.
The determination to cancel or reduce programs that people rely on is an ongoing challenge. However, as we make decisions regarding levels of risk, we do this to lessen the risk of greater challenges and consequences in the future.
Our Facebook pages are being kept up to date, along with those pages for our community partners and those who use our premises in both Brisbane and Cairns, and provides the best place to check for program changes and closures.
During this time, we will do our best to keep you informed as the COVID-19 responses evolve but I also encourage you to seek out your own information and advice.
We have also released an important statement on transmission of COVID-19 in relation to sexual activity. You can see this statement below.
We invite anyone seeking support or connection to services to email us at info@quac.org.au which will be monitored from Monday to Friday.
PROGRAMS & SERVICES UPDATES
At this time:
- Clinic 30 at Helen Street is open to provide essential services as we are are committed to seeing our communities through this period. Until further notice we have cancelled our Testing Point Tuesday night walk in STI/HIV testing clinic. If you need an appointment please ring 07 3017 1777, and please do not come into the Clinic to book an appointment as we are not taking any walk ins at this time. See our Facebook page for information on important new processes.
- Our Mental Health and Case Management services will continue to be provided however our appointments are being conducted via online technologies.
- We have stopped our ‘in person’ Volunteer activities for the foreseeable future – however, our work would not be possible without our amazing and dedicated volunteers and we are currently planning a range of new online activities with our volunteers. We will be communicating updates on those soon.
- We have made the difficult but important decision that our premises at both Helen Street and Draper Street are no longer available for community groups and bookings. However we are always available to discuss how we can support our vital community groups to remain connected online and through virtual meetings. Email info@quac.org.au to discuss how we can support you.
- Anyone who is sick with flu like symptoms, or who has had close contact with someone known to have COVID-19, is asked not to come to our premises at Helen Street or Draper Street. If you have an existing appointment with us and need to cancel, please cancel online or by calling 07 3017 1777. Anyone with symptoms including fever, cough or shortness of breath is being asked to contact their primary GP or the COVID-19 hotline.
Rebecca Reynolds
CEO
Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (Formerly Queensland AIDS Council)
CLICK ON USEFUL LINKS BELOW:
