This page is designed to guide older Canberrans on where to find information regarding COVID.
Getting vaccinated against COVID
For information about how the COVID vaccine will be rolled out, visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
For information on how the vaccine will be rolled out across Canberra, visit the ACT Government Health website.
ACT Government COVID safe check in app – Check In CBR
The Check In CBR app is a contactless, secure and convenient way for people to sign into a Canberra venue.
Read more on the ACT Government COVID-19 website.
COTA ACT has developed a flowchart designed to assist seniors with using the ACT Government’s COVID safe check in app. Please visit our Get IT program page on this website to view the chart. If you would like assistance with using the Check In CBR, contact the COTA ACT office on 6282 3777.
Face mask requirements
Read more about where face masks are required and what classifies as a face mask on the ACT Government COVID-19 website.
Advice for at risk groups
Senior Canberrans are classified as an ‘at risk group’. The Act Government has advice for people in the ‘at risk group’ category on the Department of Health website. For more information visit the Protect yourself web page.
Questions about COVID-19
The ACT Government has established a helpline to assist the community through the challenges of COVID-19. The Helpline is to help the community stay informed and to access services related to COVID-19, including for businesses.
The Helpline operates on 02 6207 7244 between 8am and 8pm daily. Please remember that the Helpline deals with a large volume of calls, so there may be a wait for your call to be answered. Please be patient and think about using the callback function which will allow someone from the Helpline to return your call so you don’t have to wait on the phone.
For health questions, including information on symptoms, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
The Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line can provide information about how older Australians and carers can stay healthy and safe during the pandemic, call – 1800 171 866. This support line is run by the Federal Department of Health.
Updated information
The ACT Government is continually updating their COVID website. For more information visit the ACT Government COVID-19 website.
Phone helpline – The ACT Government has established a helpline to assist the Canberra community through the challengers of COVID. Phone – 6207 7244 (8am and 8pm daily) or visit the contact us web page.
Australian Government Department of Health website
The Australian Government Department of Health also continually updating information about COVID on their website. For more information visit the Australian Government Department of Health website.
COVID and older Australians fact sheets – The Australian Government has a fact sheet specifically designed for older Australians. To access this fact sheet, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for older Australians web page.
Telehealth factsheet – To provide continued access to essential primary health services during the COVID pandemic, the Australian Government has expanded Medicare-subsidised telehealth services for all Australians and is providing extra incentives to general practitioners and other health practitioners. For more information visit the Telehealth web page.
Important phone numbers – You can call the Coronavirus health information line on 1800 020 080 If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call triple zero (000).
English as a second language
The ACT Government has developed a COVID information web page in seventeen languages other than English to support Canberrans who speak a language other than English. For more information, visit their translated resources web page.
Advice for aged care facilities
For information or support regarding aged care please call the Older Person’s Advocacy Network (OPAN) on 1800 700 600 or visit opan.com.au
The Australian Government Department of Health has a number of resources for older Canberrans and aged care facilities regarding COVID-19.
Isolation and mental health during COVID-19
The outbreak of COVID has impacted people in varying ways. It is understandable that during times like this, people may be feeling afraid, worried, anxious and or overwhelmed by the constantly changing alerts and media coverage regarding the spread of the virus.
Lifeline – The Lifeline website is a great resource and includes information on how to look after your mental health during these uncertain times. There are some excellent wellbeing tips and strategies for yourself and others you might be caring for during this pandemic. For more information, visit the Lifeline website or phone 13 11 14.
Beyond Blue – Beyond Blue regularly update their website with information, advice and strategies to help manage well-being and mental health during this uncertain time. For more information, visit the Beyond Blue website or phone 1800 512 348.
Keep us informed of how you’re going
The staff at Council on the Ageing (COTA) ACT are keen to understand how you are going and if you are receiving the information and support you need. We are committed to supporting you however we can and keeping you informed as the COVID-19 pandemic develops. Please let us know if there is some information or resources you would like to share on this web page. We are also keen to seek your feedback on how you're experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact the virus is having on your life. We want to be sure you are not alone during this pandemic. We are keen to put you in touch with the organisations that can support you. Send us a message anytime or call 6282 3777.