Published on Friday, 20 May 2022 at 3:00:00 PM
As our homes, sporting clubs, community groups and businesses are feeling the impacts of rising COVID numbers in WA, the Shire of Dardanup felt it was time to share information about our projects and services that might be of particular assistance at this challenging time.
To help maintain our business continuity and high level of service, we have appointed a dedicated COVID Information Officer for a period of six months who is tasked with ensuring our organisation is compliant with State Government directives and mandates related to the pandemic while also providing a helpful resource for community groups and sporting clubs unsure about their obligations.
If you are facing an extended period of time at home due to being unwell or being a close contact, here are some options to keep you busy and feeling connected to your community:
Consider this: What brightens your mood?
We’re inviting community members to make a creative contribution in response to this question for inclusion in our exciting October event EnLighten.
Your response could be a few words, a photo, a video or a piece of artwork.
‘What brightens your mood?’ focuses our attention on the importance of maintaining great mental health – especially at a time like this!
Wondering what EnLighten is all about? It’s a special event involving a digital art installation at the Eaton Skatepark on the evening of Saturday, 1 October.
The Skatepark will become a canvas for creative expression and projection technology will transform the concrete forms into an immersive digital landscape.
Contributions to the focus question will form the basis of the installation, evolving into a captivating display of images, words and artworks encouraging us all to think about our mental health.
The free event in October will include food and entertainment. Get your contributions in before the closing date of Monday, 15 August.
Visit our EnLighten page HERE.
Spend some time reviewing our Council Plan
We’ve unveiled for public comment an innovative new reporting mechanism designed to provide community members with a clearer understanding of priorities, objectives, progress and performance.
Council Plan 2022-2032 combines the Strategic Community Plan and Corporate Business Plan of the past into one succinct document and charts a course towards aspirations previously outlined in the 2050 Vision.
The all new 10-year Plan takes an alternative and more transparent approach to a legislative requirement for all local governments to have a plan to shape the future while fulfilling the functions of two previous documents in one.
Among the information you’ll find inside are:
- A list of Projects identified for attention over the next few years and based on priorities you expressed throughout our various community consultations.
- The chart showing our Performance Index Score out of 100 compared to the MARKYT® Industry Standards. This is based on the results of a Community Satisfaction Survey undertaken in May last year involving 600 resident responses. This is an independent study to monitor and benchmark our performance every two years. We aim to be above the MARKYT® industry average and strive to be the industry leader in all areas.
You can view the Council Plan 2022-2032 HERE
Bulk Greenwaste Collection is coming
Don’t forget our biannual bulk green waste collection starts on Monday. This weekend could be a great time (if you are isolating but not unwell) to get into the garden and get rid of some refuse that is too big for your Green-lidded FOGO bin.
#IHeartDardanup youtube channel
Finding it hard to keep the kids entertained? Check out the series of online workshops we ran during the national lockdown of 2020. They are all still available for viewing on our youtube channel and include Junior Jigglers and Tiny Wigglers plus yoga, baking and craft.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUZw15LeX2HRkPkmlCIWYBu1Ktp-N8PQ4
Can’t get to the library? We’ll come to you!
First trialled during the national lockdown of 2020, our Mobile Library & Delivery Service proved so popular, it’s now a permanently available.
You can find out more about the service HERE or phone our library staff 9724 0470 to find out more.
Services
On behalf of the WA Country Health Service, the Shire of Dardanup, Administration Centre, Eaton is a distribution point for new allocations of free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to community members who are considered close contacts of a person with Covid-19.
One box per person containing 5 RATs is available for collection between 9.00am and 3.00pm Monday to Friday, while stocks last.
To be eligible for the free tests, you must:
- Be a close contact with no symptoms
- Wear a mask when visiting us and have recorded a negative daily RAT (as per current Health Department protocols for close contacts)
- Verbally confirm with Shire staff that you are a close contact.
Also, the WA Health Department is offering free pulse oximeters to vulnerable members of the community and these are available for collection from our Eaton Community Library at 2 Sanford Way, Eaton or Dardanup Office.
A pulse oximeter is a small peg-like device that clips onto your finger to read your heart rate and blood oxygen level.
Having a pulse oximeter allows you to participate in the free COVID at-home care program if you test positive, allowing symptoms to be tracked and provides support during your recovery.
If you are eligible you can pick one up from our library. Please feel free to contact our friendly library staff on 9724 0470 to arrange a ‘Phone Ahead & Collect’ option.
If you can answer ‘YES’ to the following questions you are eligible to receive a free pulse oximeter:
- Are you non-Aboriginal and over 65?
- Are you Aboriginal and over 50?
- Are you pregnant?
Please only come to the library to collect an oximeter is you are well and have not tested positive for COVID-19.
Help Lines
If the COVID-19 health crisis is causing you particular stress or anxiety, or if you are beginning to feel overwhelmed, it’s important to reach out for help.
The State and Federal Governments have both launched new programs dedicated to supporting our community through this difficult time. Please visit the below links for expert guidance.
If you need to talk to someone, beyondblue are available 24/7 to provide wellbeing counselling and mental health support for your day to day needs.
Telephone: 1800 512 348
Information for Aboriginal people can be found at strongspiritstrongmind.com.au
WA COVID -19 Hotline – Phone 13 COVID (13 268 43)
Lifeline – Phone 13 11 14
Beyond Blue – Phone 1300 224 636
Kids Helpline – Phone 1800 551 800
MensLine – Phone 1300 789 978
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