So for everyone in Victoria here’s the very latest:

Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire went into a six-week lockdown from midnight on July 9.

People who live in Metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are only allowed to leave the house for four reasons:

• Going to work or school
• Care or care giving
• Daily exercise
• Buying food and other essentials

Students in Year 11 and 12 return to school today. Students attending special schools are also able to return. Everyone else is on holidays for another week. The Victorian government has announced that once the extra week of holidays are over, kids in Prep to Year 10 will switch to online learning. That will start on July 20.

Students with disability are able to return to school for face-to-face classes if they choose to. Or they can participate online. Either way they are supposed to be receiving the extra support they need. The good folks at both Amaze and the Association for Children with Disability are talking to the Department of Education all the time to make sure kids with disability get more support than they did last time around. Again we will keep you posted. 

We know yet another lockdown is particularly tough on many of us in the disability community. But we also understand better than most how to work together to try to keep each other safe.

You can find all the latest information from the Victorian government on the Department of Health and Human Services website.

And when it comes to the NDIS don’t forget to keep checking the Coronavirus pages on the NDIS website.

The NDIA have said that they’re reaching out to NDIS participants who live in the Melbourne public housing towers to make sure they have what they need. And that they will make sure they can still receive support while they are locked down. We certainly expect that – and we will make sure we keep you updated.

There is a new page for Victorian NDIS participants on the NDIS website – make sure you keep checking back for all the latest.

And for people who live near the borders of Victoria and South Australia or New South Wales there is more information about crossing the border on the NDIS website. There is information about support workers crossing the border as well as information for providers (but we always reckon it is good to check out what the NDIA are telling providers so you know what to expect).

And don’t forget you can find lots of resources on our Coronavirus pages, including new resources like these:

• Melbourne & Victoria – #COVID19 Rules from IDEAS
• Easy Read Coronavirus (Covid-19) News from VALID, and
• plenty of new Easy English COVID-19 resources from Access Easy English

And in case you need more support, here are some places you can call:

National Coronavirus hotline – 1800 020 080

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Disability Information Helpline – 1800 643 787

Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm (AEST) and Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 7 pm (AEST).

Remember this hotline is just for people with disability and their families. It is staffed by the good folks at Ideas Disability Information who are really on top of all things disability.

They can help you with any question you might have. If you are feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start they will do all the hard work for you and get you the info and help you need. Just give them a call.

NDIS Coronavirus hotline – 1800 800 110 then press 5

There are special teams of NDIA staff available to answer your questions and help with your plan. Just press 5 after calling the NDIS contact centre. Open Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm (local time).

Please look after yourself

To every single one of our supporters around the country – please stay safe and well. And look after yourself and yours.

And to all our Melbourne friends – it’s a really tough time. We are with you. Hang in there. And if you need help please reach out.