A COVID-19 crisis has been avoided thanks to the cooperation of the region's Indigenous residents, the Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
BDAC executive director Dallas Widdicombe said the community had been quick to self-isolate and take on the coronavirus health advice.
Since March, about 450 Indigenous people have also been tested at BDAC's drive-through coronavirus testing clinic.
Read more news:
"With the rates of chronic disease, the virus in the community could have been tragic," he said. "It was really important that we all cooperated and the community did a great job of that.
"It really highlights how important Aboriginal organisations are in delivering services to Aboriginal people.
"We're a trusted organisation where the community came to get tested. I believe the majority of those 450 people wouldn't have been tested if it was not for us."
Mr Widdicombe said BDAC noticed their clients had coped "amazingly well" through the first lockdown period. But he said like the broader Victorian community, this second lockdown had been challenging.
"Everyone's mental health has been struggling a bit," Mr Widdicombe said. "But I'm still incredibly proud with how the community has adapted.
"Our people have experienced these sorts of setbacks in the past so it seems like people have just taken it all in their stride."
Like other health organisations, BDAC has been providing the majority of their services via telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The organisation's chief executive Raylene Harradine said the flexibility of telehealth had been a positive.
"We've found that it's really hit the mark for us," she said. "People are keeping up with their appointments.
"It gives the client some sort of relief that they're talking to a professional and getting some level of care. If they're critical, they can still come in."
Ms Harradine said BDAC was determining whether it could continue the virtual appointments after the COVID-19 pandemic. But she said the organisation was not looking too far ahead.
"Our priority has always been about keeping community safe and isolated," Ms Harradine said.
"We wanted to stop anyone getting COVID-19 and it running rampant in the community. We still know there is a risk and we need to keep doing what we're doing.
"We're taking guidance from government. We have to do what's best for our community."
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
Tara Cosoleto
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
Journalist covering courts and general news at the Bendigo Advertiser.
