In It Together Campaign for Coronavirus Pandemic Support
Published on 14 August 2020
Northern Grampians Shire Council is launching an “In It Together” campaign this week to offer support to the community during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The campaign has launched with a video recorded after Monday’s council meeting featuring Mayor, Councillor Murray Emerson and CEO, Liana Thompson.
Watch the video here
Central to the campaign is a COVID-19 hotline for all members of the community and organisations in the shire to call and seek localised support.
The customer service centre at Northern Grampians Shire Council has been transformed to provide this priority service when the community calls council’s regular phone number 03 53588700.
Staff will be addressing COVID-19 enquiries and referring callers to the appropriate agency to assist with their specific query. Some agencies Northern Grampians Shire staff will be directing calls to include Stawell Regional Health, East Wimmera Health Service, Grampians Community Health, Victoria Police and Neighbourhood Houses.
The hotline is just one part of a whole-of-community approach to COVID-19 prevention, support and assistance.
Various platforms will be utilised including online, digital, print and radio to reach as many community members as possible with the right information and services at the right time.
Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor, Murray Emerson, expressed his concern for the effect COVID-19 restrictions are having on shire residents and businesses.
“Council acknowledges that access to locally relevant material is essential. We also realise that it can be particularly difficult for members of the community who have limited access to technology to stay informed and we anticipate this hotline will address that need,” he said.
“The pandemic is causing a major disruption to our lives and we need to be well equipped with the right information to support our community long term.”
“The “in it together” message is about maintaining our strong, local, community spirit particularly when times are tough. The “hand on heart” logo symbolises compassion and represents that we’re “in it together” with our residents, our service partners, our local businesses, our communities and our neighbours.“
Northern Grampians Shire Council CEO, Liana Thompson, gave the campaign her full support.
“Council sees this hotline as an essential service during the pandemic, particularly as restrictions have tightened again,” she said.
“There are more than 4,000 businesses in the municipality. They are the linchpin of our local economy providing services and employment to so many of us. The impact on these businesses has been felt across the entire community.”
“We encourage everyone from individuals to large scale organisations in all sectors in the shire to make use of this locally specific hotline. We are ‘in this together’.”
The COVID-19 hotline can be accessed simply by contacting customer service on 03 5358 8700.
Further information is also available at council’s Coronavirus emergency management web page www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/Coronavirus.