Frequently asked questions for kinship and foster carers during coronavirus (COVID-19) fact sheet has been updated on the department’s website at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/carers-and-children-care-coronavirus . Specifically click on the Foster and kinship carer Frequently Asked Questions document.
Masks - The Department of Health and Human Services will be distributing 2.1 million reusable face masks to workers, vulnerable Victorians and Aboriginal Victorians. All community services personnel are required to wear a mask in conduct of duties. Further information including the eligibility criteria and the process for ordering masks can be found online https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/reusable-face-masks-covid-19.
IT devices for home learning - Carers and case managers must contact the school that a child is enrolled in directly to request a device and/or internet. Schools have effective processes in place to supply devices and internet dongles. Where schools have their own supply of devices and internet dongles, they will issue these to their students. This is true for government and nongovernment schools. Government schools that do not have their own supply will put in an order with the central office IT team managing the distribution of loan devices.
DET is supplying loan devices via schools to students who are participating in remote learning – that is students in Metropolitan Melbourne LGAs and Mitchell Shire only. Students attending school are not included.
If the child is between enrolments, they need to wait until they are formally enrolled at the school in order to request a device from their school of enrolment.
Devices are loaned from the school and are not given to the students to keep.
DET’s IT provision is for government schools. Students at Catholic or independent schools or who attend other education programs should talk with their school to find out if any IT support is available.
Students in out-of-home care, deemed by Child Protection/Family Services to be at risk, or identified by the school as vulnerable are able to attend school onsite if needed.
