Information, resources and services
This page is updated regularly with key links and resources to support you and the people you work with during the COVID-19 pandemic. If there is something missing, please contact us. (Reviewed 2nd May, 2023).
Latest ATAGI advice
On 8th of February 2023, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) updated its recommendations on the use of booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine:
- If you have risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness** and are:
- Aged over 18 years: ATAGI recommends a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if your last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was 6 months ago or longer.
- Aged between 5 and 17 years: ATAGI recommends that you consider a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if your last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was 6 months ago or longer.
- If you do not have risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness** and are:
- Aged between 18 and 64: ATAGI recommends that you consider a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if your last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was 6 months ago or longer.
- Aged 65 or over: ATAGI recommends a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose if your last COVID-19 vaccine dose or confirmed infection (whichever is the most recent) was 6 months ago or longer.
- ATAGI does not recommend a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose at this time for:
- Children and adolescents aged 0-17 years with no risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness**
- Children aged 0-4 who have risk factors for severe COVID-19 illness**
These recommendations are also summarised in the table below.
|
Age |
At risk** |
No risk factors |
|---|---|---|
|
<5 years |
Not recommended |
Not recommended |
|
5-17 years |
Consider |
Not recommended |
|
18-64 years |
Recommended |
Consider |
|
≥ 65 years |
Recommended |
Recommended |
|
||
More information below:
- COVID-19 updates
- COVID-19 vaccination information
- COVID-19 testing information
- COVID Positive Pathways, treatment & support
- Long Covid
- Multilingual information
- Information for service providers
COVID-19 updates
- National Coronavirus Hotline (24 hours, 7 days per week): 1800 020 080
- COVID-19 website (Victorian Department of Health)
- Current Victorian COVID-19 data including weekly case numbers, hospitalisations and testing rates (Victorian Department of Health)
- Chief Health Officer Updates (Victorian Department of Health)
- COVID-19 information for the health sector
- Royal Children’s Hospital COVID-19 page: Advice and guidance for children and adolescents
- Face mask recommendations (Victorian Department of Health)
COVID-19 vaccination information
- Get vaccinated: Where and how to book your booster (Victorian Department of Health)
- ATAGI clinical guidance for COVID-19 vaccine providers
- COVID-19 vaccination guidelines (Victorian Department of Health)
- COVID-19 clinical vaccination guidelines (Victorian Department of Health)
- National COVID-19 vaccine information (Commonwealth Government Department of Health)
COVID-19 testing information
- Getting tested for COVID-19 Free Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) are available from most local councils.
- Advice on Rapid Antigen Testing (Victorian Department of Health)
- What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 (Victorian Department of Health)
- What to do if you are a contact of a positive case
Testing positive to COVID-19: Support and referral
Information about referral pathways and support available to people who test positive
- GP Respiratory Clinics. Assessment, testing and treatment for COVID-19. Clinics are free for everyone regardless of Medicare status. Clinics can also provide antiviral medication prescription for eligible people who cannot get an appointment with their GP.
- Nurse-on-call (24 hours, 7 days per week): 1300 60 60 24
- Victorian Virtual Emergency Department
- Financial and other support for COVID-19 (Victorian Department of Health)
- Antivirals and other medicines
- Managing COVID-19 at home
- Preparing for COVID-19 at home
Long Covid
Multilingual & plain English information
- How to access COVID-19 Medication (Department of Health)
- Audio resources in your language about COVID-19 2023 (Department of Health & National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters)
- Translated information about COVID-19 (Victorian Department of Health)
- COVID-19 vaccine information in your language (Commonwealth Government Department of Health)
- Health Translations: Translated information about health and wellbeing (Victorian Department of Health)
- Multilingual information about Commonwealth Government support payments and services. Services Australia have released information in a range of languages about their support payments and services. This includes information for business-owners, older people, those living in regional and remote areas, carers, students, and families.
Information for service providers
- Health Provider Talking Points. The Immigrant Health Service at the Royal Children’s Hospital have released talking points for those providing health services to refugee, migrant, and asylum seeker communities.
- Help for Migrants in Transition. The Australian Red Cross offers support for refugees, people seeking asylum, people in immigration detention, and other migrants. This includes material and financial support. You can access more information on their services and referrals via their website.
- Settlement support services are provided by Life Without Barriers and AMES. More information can be found on the relevant sections of their websites.
