Covid-19 response - Department of Human Services (DHS)

DHS COVID-19 Response Team

A dedicated COVID-19 team has been established at DHS to support new policies and procedures, monitor impacts across our sector, bolster information sharing and advise on key decisions as the situation changes.

Email DHSCOVIDResponse@sa.gov.au

Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Help

If you’ve been directed to stay at home because of Covid-19, but you feel unsafe at home, it’s OK to leave your home.

Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence help information

Financial Support

Covid-19 Financial Support

If you’re unable to work (earn an income) because of Covid-19 you may be eligible for one or more Government Covid-19 Support Payments:

• Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment
• SA Covid-19 Testing Isolation Payment
• Medi-hotel quarantine financial hardship

To get all the details on these payments like:

• What are they?
• Am I eligible?
• How to apply for them?

Go to covid-19.sa.gov.au, the South Australian Government, Covid-19-specific website.

Concessions SA Financial Help

South Australians on low or fixed incomes can get financial help with household and other expenses through the South Australia Government’s, Concessions SA service.

Want to know:

• What is available?
• Are you eligible?
• How to apply?

Visit Concessions SA.

Alternatively call the Concessions SA Hotline on 1800 307 758.

Free financial counselling

Free financial counselling is also available across the State if you need help sorting out debt or getting your finances back on track.

You can speak with someone over the phone or be referred to someone closer to where you live.

Phone the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007
Phone the Affordable SA Helpline on 1800 025 539

Affordable SA Website

The Affordable SA website is also a great source of information, practical tips and tools to help support your household to manage affordability issues.

Easily connect with services to help with:

• housing
• utilities
• transport
• health
• education
• finances
• food
• domestic violence, and
• justice.

The site is facilitated by The Salvation Army.

Visit Affordable SA

Food and financial insecurity support

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Arabic (DOCX 146.9 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Arabic (PDF 265.6 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Chinese Simplified (DOCX 145.9 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Chinese Simplified (PDF 202.0 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Dari (DOCX 146.3 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Dari (PDF 271.6 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - English (PDF 133.6 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Khmer (DOCX 147.5 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Khmer (PDF 157.9 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Nepali (DOCX 148.5 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Nepali (PDF 206.4 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Persian (DOCX 146.2 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Persian (PDF 220.7 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Portuguese (DOCX 145.6 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Portuguese (PDF 120.9 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Pushto (DOCX 145.7 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Pushto (PDF 228.3 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Somali (DOCX 145.0 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Somali (PDF 120.6 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Spanish (DOCX 145.4 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Spanish (PDF 121.3 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Swahili (DOCX 145.4 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Swahili (PDF 121.6 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Urdu (DOCX 146.9 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Urdu (PDF 218.5 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Vietnamese (DOCX 145.8 KB)

Food insecurity fact sheet (January 2022) - Vietnamese (PDF 193.8 KB)

Links to coronavirus information on other websites

• Australian Government Department of Health – Covid-19
• SA Health contact tracing
• SA Health testing and tracing
• Smart Traveller - Australian Government travel advice
• Department of Health Covid-19 Identifying the symptoms fact sheet
• SA Health Covid-19 vaccinations

Need help in your language?

Covid-19 Vaccine Information

Covid-19 Vaccination information has been translated into over 60 languages by SA Health.  Visit the Covid-19 Vaccine Information in Your Language page today to read all about the vaccines in your language.

People with disability

DHS, NDIA and NDIS

The Department of Human Services (DHS) Disability Services Team works very closely with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) who run the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to ensure people with a disability are prioritised in our response to Covid-19.

What are we doing to protect people with disability from Covid-19?

DHS Disability Services cares for many people with disability. Their safety and well-being is always a priority for us.  So, protecting them from Covid-19 is just part of what we do.

During this pandemic we have implemented a range of things, in relation to their care, so, they stay safe and well.

As the Covid-19 situation is constantly changing we regularly review and change these arrangements, based on the advice we receive from SA Health and other government health authorities.

How can I find out what’s changing for people with disability, who are cared for by DHS Disability Services?

We provide regular updates on what’s we’re doing on our Disability Services, Family Update page.

Other general Covid-19 information for people with disability

There are other government bodies and departments that provide information on Covid-19, specifically for people with disability.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguards Commission

SA Health

Screening checks during Coronavirus

General enquiries

The DHS Screening Unit continues to operate its online portals and its Hotline between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday, for general enquiries.

Phone 1300 321 592
Screening SA website

Interviews

Face-to-face interviews with applicants have been suspended until further notice and these interviews are instead being conducted on the telephone.

Frontline health staff

The Screening Unit is working with SA Health to prioritise incoming applications for frontline health staff to ensure they can work as soon as possible.

NDIS Providers

A reminder for NDIS Providers, the following are acceptable checks (until they expire or are revoked) under NDIS Transitional arrangements:

• Department of Human Services Disability Services Employment Screening Clearance
• Department of Human Services Child-related Employment Screening Clearance
• Department of Human Services Working with Children Check Not Prohibited (issued before 1 February 2021).

Some people who have applied for a Working with Children Check are permitted to work with children while their application is being processed. This temporary measure has been introduced to minimise the impact of workforce shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For information see 'work on application' provision.

More information

NDIS Commission - Acceptable Checks SA

Phone the NDIS Commission on 1800 035 544
Email nwsd@ndiscommission.gov.au

NDIS Worker Screening Helpdesk

DHS Checks can be verified through the DHS Screening Unit website or via your DHS Screening organisational portal.

Visiting vulnerable families and children 

The department continues to support families and protect children through our Safer Families home visiting services.

Based on advice from health authorities, home visiting guidelines are developed as required to protect our staff and families, while ensuring we stay connected with those who need our help.

The department communicates regularly with non-government organisations providing services to vulnerable families and children, in collaboration with Aboriginal practitioners.

Youth Justice services

The Adelaide Youth Training Centre (AYTC) - Kurlana Tapa is continuing with essential visits and services for its young people in custody. Youth Justice staff are taking appropriate cautions and may ask additional questions of visitors at the point of entry to the centre.

Other services across Youth Justice may be affected as the situation progresses. Please contact the relevant Youth Justice office if you have any questions.