The ACT Council of Social Service has called on the ACT Government to urgently provide support for residents of Condamine Court public housing complex in Turner, which has been locked down as a COVID-19 close contact site.
ACTCOSS said residents’ needs are not being met, and that tenants lack food, medicine, hygiene, and reliable access to phones and the internet.
An ACT Government spokesperson responded that they were protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of residents at Condamine Court while they were in quarantine.
ACTCOSS CEO Dr Emma Campbell said: “ACTCOSS has been speaking with community sector organisations working on the ground at Condamine Court. We have heard distressing reports that the basic needs of vulnerable residents are not being met. Residents are short of food, medicine, and hygiene items. Many also lack reliable access to communications including phones and internet.
“Condamine Court residents include older Canberrans, people with disabilities, and others with complex health needs. Despite a lack of access to decent food and appropriate medical support, residents continue to do the right thing and abide by strict quarantine regulations.
“We must address the holistic health needs of people quarantining in Condamine Court. If we do not do so with urgency, the consequences will be extreme, for those in isolation, but also for the broader Canberran public. We need to approach this situation with empathy and evidence-based health services,” Dr Campbell said.
“Public housing tenants have the same rights to dignity, safety and healthcare as everyone else. It is incumbent upon the ACT Government to work with the community sector to provide the services and supports that people need, and to do so immediately.
“ACTCOSS is disappointed that promises made last week by the ACT Government to support tenants during the quarantine period have not been kept. Communication with the sector and with services on the ground at the public housing complex has been poor.
“At the onset of the pandemic last year, ACTCOSS and its members raised serious concerns about possible outbreaks in public housing settings with ACT Housing and other government departments. We were, and remain, deeply concerned about highly vulnerable residents, particularly in Condamine Court.
“It’s clear that we have not been listened to and lessons from other jurisdictions have not been learned,” said Dr Campbell.
A government spokesperson stated that ACT Health was leading a coordinated and effective response to this situation, ensuring all relevant agencies work effectively together to identify and support the needs of those impacted. This includes Housing ACT, ACT Policing, Canberra Health Services, Community Services Directorate, and several NGOs to communicate directly with those affected about their individual needs and ensuring these are addressed.
“Given the diversity and needs of the residents, our approach to this situation is far more than a health response,” the spokesperson said.
“We are focussed on ensuring person-centric and tailored support is being provided to meet the individual needs of tenants.”
The government was providing essential services such as: delivering essential supplies, like food and medicine; urgent medical treatment; mental health and wellbeing support, including on site social and support workers; help contacting service providers; a dedicated hotline accessible 24/7 to provide ongoing connection and help identify emerging needs; access to testing; support for pets; personal protective equipment, including face masks; cleaning and laundry; community and translation support.
A support team has engaged with residents directly to let them know what they need to do, what to expect, and how to access support. This includes: printed information; door knocking to speak directly with tenants; text messages; and arranging interpreter services where needed.
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