Kalwun Delivering extended services during

Delivering extended services during COVID-19

SUBMITTED BY KALWUN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LTD

As Queenslanders were coping with the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, lock-downs, home-schooling and more, Kalwun Development Corporation Ltd (Kalwun) was working towards extended services in health and aged care to provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of the Gold Coast. Early May 2020 saw the launch of two specialised Kalwun programs including a dedicated COVID-19 respiratory clinic in Nerang and emergency response home support services for community over 50 years of age.

Kalwun Nerang COVID-19 respiratory clinic On 11 May 2020, Kalwun opened the doors to the Gold Coast’s first dedicated COVID-19 respiratory clinic for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The stand-alone building on Nerang Street provides a safe and convenient testing service for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as well as nonIndigenous vulnerable people. In the first three months of operation, close to 1,000 patients were tested. In a first for Kalwun, and in conjunction with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), the Nerang COVID-19 Respiratory Clinic was set up and operational within weeks from the first concept discussions, a feat that all groups involved are incredibly proud of. Testing is by appointment only, meaning no long queues or waiting around, and the clinic is staffed by professional and dedicated Kalwun health staff ready to assist and

reassure clients during what can be a very difficult time.

Kalwun emergency response home support services As the COVID-19 situation progressed through 2020, particularly impacting the elderly community, Kalwun recognised that the subsequent changes could bring new needs for persons who may now have required assistance in their homes.

In order to support people who may have been feeling overwhelmed or isolated, Kalwun offered emergency response home support services for people living on the Gold Coast who were Indigenous, 50 years or older and not already receiving aged care services. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health via IUIH, the service assisted with home meal delivery, social support, visiting and phone check-ins, transport—including cab charge vouchers—and help with referrals and linking with medical services. In the first few months since rolling out in May 2020, the service provided more than 1,100 ready-made meals delivered to clients’ homes, 177 welfare checks and more than 40 hours of transport services. This is on top of services Kalwun already provided during this time to existing Community Care clients, who also had new and altered requirements to their regular services. A large contributor to the success of the emergency response home support services is that it was marketed through social media and flyers. Kalwun staff and partners were also encouraged to refer friends and family who could benefit from the program. Once an individual was nominated, Kalwun arranged sign up and support as soon as possible. The service continues to run and recruit new clients as the pandemic alert level rises and falls. Kalwun is working to retain these clients so they can benefit from Community Care Services in the future.