UPDATED 29 APRIL 2020:

Dear students of PCBT,

Welcome to term 2! Hopefully by now, you feel more comfortable using online platforms for your learning. PCBT will continue to use online platforms until the situation with coronavirus is under control.

If you have any concerns about coronavirus, or anything in your life, and want someone to talk with, I am here for you. Please just send me an email (counsellor@pcbt.wa.edu.au) and I will send you the ZOOM online link.

On Sunday 26th of April the WA state government eased some restrictions regarding coronavirus. Indoor and outdoor gatherings for up to 10 people will now be allowed. Please click here for more information.    

Money $$ advice: many PCBT students are international students. You as an international student may be able to get access to your superannuation money. If you have been working in Australia for more than 1 year and if you lost your job due to coronavirus, click here for more information. If you need help with this process, let me know!   

Job opportunities: If you lost your job due to coronavirus, keep in mind that many industries are currently hiring people. Click here for job opportunities at ALDI supermarkets. Click here for ubereats delivery job opportunities. Click here for cleaning job opportunities.

Stay well, stay safe, stay connected!

UPDATED 15 APRIL 2020:

I am still thinking of you and ways to support you during this time. Please check out the links below. Don’t forget you can email me if you have any questions or concerns. Your email communication to me is confidential and will not affect your grades or student visa. I am now available for talking with students online on ZOOM! Please email me if you want to talk to me on ZOOM and I will send you the chat link. Remember: it is important to talk to someone if you are feeling anxious, worried or sad about coronavirus.   

Also keep in mind the free Coronavirus telephone helpline, 1800 020 080. Call this line if you are seeking information about coronavirus (COVID-19). The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Possible money support:

https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/davidcoleman/Pages/Coronavirus-and-Temporary-Visa-holders.aspx?fbclid=IwAR2_z3pnmCXBgtrg3ilG9noynsevLTonipMFN87AwLFqmsbJMDJJjLdNwcc

In this above document it is stated that:

“[International] students who have been here [in Australia] longer than 12 months who find themselves in financial hardship will be able to access their Australian superannuation”. If this applies to you, please check out the following link:

https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/super/withdrawing-and-using-your-super/early-access-to-your-super/ 

Food support:

• Foodbank Australia works closely with more than 400 charities across WA to provide emergency food assistance. You will need to register with a charity organisation that is close to where you live. Register with a local charity, call FoodBank on 9258 9277 or email wa.info@foodbank.wa.gov.au.
• Ask Izzy is a free and anonymous website where you can search more than 360,000 services to find housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice and a whole lot more.
• ER Connect connects you with services that provide food relief, financial counsellors and emergency accommodation.

Mental health support:

• Lifeline (anyone having a personal crisis) – call 13 11 14 or chat online
• Talking to me on ZOOM – email counsellor@pcbt.wa.edu.au and I will send you the link
• Suicide Call Back Service (anyone thinking about suicide) – call 1300 659 467

• MindSpot Clinic (people with anxiety and depression) – call 1800 61 44 34
• beyondblue (anyone feeling depressed or anxious about coronavirus) – call 1800 512 348

Exercise support: 

Physical exercise has many positive effects on mental health. There are many good, free, online resources to keep you active during this time. For exercise support, check out the links below

• https://www.orangetheory.com/en-us/athome/all-otathome-videos/
• https://www.youtube.com/user/SarahBethShow

Please take care of yourself and stay safe!

Dear students of PCBT,

I know that many of you are feeling worried, scared or stressed about this current situation with COVID-19. Together we can make each other feel safer and calmer during this challenging time and together we can stop the spread of this virus. Please remember: this virus is temporary, it will not last forever! 

Some important practical things during this time:

• Do not come to college if you show symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue and/or shortness of breath). Please note you may be required to show a medical certificate. 
• Maintain good hygiene (cover your coughs and sneezes, wash your hands for 20 seconds, avoid touching your face)

• Practise social distancing (staying 1.5m away from others as much as you can)

As a counsellor, I am thinking a lot about your mental health during this time; are you feeling ok? Are you feeling worried? Please remember you are not ‘strange’ if you feel worried, a lot of people are worried or scared!  

Here are some tips to keep good mental health during this difficult time:

• If you are feeling healthy, take a walk outside (remember to keep your distance from other people though!)
• Do a home workout (exercising has positive effects on mental health. Here are some free yoga workouts that I can recommend https://www.youtube.com/user/SarahBethShow )
• Keep contact with friends and family (talking with people you love can help you feel more positive)
• Put a limit on how much media you are consuming (absorbing too much media or ‘fake news’ can be bad for your mental health)
• Practise meditation 
• Read a good book or watch a TV show or a movie you enjoy (I recommend a comedy….laughter can sometimes be very good medicine)    

If you want to talk to someone about your feelings regarding COVID-19, please call: 

• Lifeline (anyone having a personal crisis) – call 13 11 14 or chat online
• Suicide Call Back Service (anyone thinking about suicide) – call 1300 659 467

If you want general mental health support and information:

• MindSpot Clinic (people with anxiety and depression) – call 1800 61 44 34
• beyondblue (anyone feeling depressed or anxious) – call 1300 22 4636 or chat online

Further resources:

• Make yourself familiar with the free Coronavirus telephone helpline, 1800 020 080. Call this line if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19). The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Visit Beyond Blue for more information about how to look after your mental health during this time https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak
• Get all the latest accurate information about COVID-19 from www.health.gov.au

The fight against COVID-19 is still ongoing, but remember we are all in this together! Please keep washing your hands, covering your coughs and staying at home as much as possible. The Australian Government instructs all people to stay at home unless, shopping for essentials (e.g. food), receiving medical care, exercising, and travelling to and from work or education.     

Please remember to continue taking care of your mental health during this uncertain time. Many people are feeling worried or anxious but remember: this virus is only temporary! Things will get better! 

Resources for dealing with mental health and COVID-19 

• Staying informed via accurate information is important for your mental health. To find up to date information about COVID-19 in different languages, click here. Otherwise, click here for information in English from the Australian Department of Health.    
• For a short 5 minute video about how to deal with your worry, anxiety and fear surrounding COVID-19, click here
• For a free e-book about how to deal with your worry, anxiety and fear surrounding COVID-19, click here 
• For mental health support from the Australian Government Department of Health, click here
• Physical exercise has many positive effects on mental health. There are many good, free, online resources to keep you active during this time. For a great free yoga resource, click here. For free 30 minute workouts (with a new video each day), click here. If you have children who are self isolating at home with you, click here for daily workouts aimed at kids.   

A reminder of the free Coronavirus telephone helpline if you have any questions about the virus, call 1800 020 080.  

I am still thinking of you and ways to support you during this time. Please check out the links below. Don’t forget you can email me if you have any questions or concerns. Your email communication to me is confidential and will not affect your grades or student visa. I am now available for talking with students online on ZOOM! Please email me if you want to talk to me on ZOOM and I will send you the chat link. Remember: it is important to talk to someone if you are feeling anxious, worried or sad about coronavirus.   

Also keep in mind the free Coronavirus telephone helpline, 1800 020 080. Call this line if you are seeking information about coronavirus (COVID-19). The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Possible money support:

https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/davidcoleman/Pages/Coronavirus-and-Temporary-Visa-holders.aspx?fbclid=IwAR2_z3pnmCXBgtrg3ilG9noynsevLTonipMFN87AwLFqmsbJMDJJjLdNwcc

In this above document it is stated that:

“[International] students who have been here [in Australia] longer than 12 months who find themselves in financial hardship will be able to access their Australian superannuation”. If this applies to you, please check out the following link:

https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/super/withdrawing-and-using-your-super/early-access-to-your-super/ 

Food support:

• Foodbank Australia works closely with more than 400 charities across WA to provide emergency food assistance. You will need to register with a charity organisation that is close to where you live. Register with a local charity, call FoodBank on 9258 9277 or email wa.info@foodbank.wa.gov.au.
• Ask Izzy is a free and anonymous website where you can search more than 360,000 services to find housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice and a whole lot more.
• ER Connect connects you with services that provide food relief, financial counsellors and emergency accommodation.

Mental health support:

• Lifeline (anyone having a personal crisis) – call 13 11 14 or chat online
• Talking to me on ZOOM – email counsellor@pcbt.wa.edu.au and I will send you the link
• Suicide Call Back Service (anyone thinking about suicide) – call 1300 659 467

• MindSpot Clinic (people with anxiety and depression) – call 1800 61 44 34
• beyondblue (anyone feeling depressed or anxious about coronavirus) – call 1800 512 348

Exercise support: 

Physical exercise has many positive effects on mental health. There are many good, free, online resources to keep you active during this time. For exercise support, check out the links below

• https://www.orangetheory.com/en-us/athome/all-otathome-videos/
• https://www.youtube.com/user/SarahBethShow

I am now available for talking to students online on ZOOM. Please email me (counsellor@pcbt.wa.edu.au) to set up an appointment time. As always, I am available to talk to students every Wednesday from 8:30-3:30. If you have any questions or concerns, please email me.       

Please email me or see me on Wednesday if you want to talk about COVID-19 with me. I am thinking of you all and hope you are ok. Stay positive and remember, this virus is temporary! 

Kindest regards,

Malisa (PCBT counsellor) 

email: counsellor@pcbt.wa.edu.au