The Greek Welfare Center (GWC), with the blessing and encouragement of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, has been at the forefront of trying to meet the needs created by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The effort includes a series of services and programs that meet the new challenges facing the Greek community and the wider Australian society.
Bi-lingual National Counselling and Support Line:
The hotline was established in recent months because the pandemic has brought upheaval in the daily lives of all. In particular, people in Melbourne have had their usual social support networks, such as family, friends and the church, interrupted due to the current lockdown.
Anyone experiencing emotional or psychological distress is encouraged to contact the hotline, where they will be provided with support, advice, information and the possibility of referral to competent services.
BI-LINGUAL NATIONAL COUNSELLING AND SUPPORT LINE The unprecedented consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent crises have touched not only the whole of the Greek-Australian community but the wider Australian society. Together with our prayers, thoughts and emotional support, the GWC Community Services (Greek Welfare Centre), which is the social welfare arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, would like to advise our community of a special service set up specifically in response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.Issues such as depression, anxiety and grief, are common responses and may be resulted in a range of emotions and behaviours. Support services are offered to individuals and families who are experiencing emotional or psychological distress due to the uncertainty, social distancing and isolation, related to the Covid-19 pandemic. A Bi-lingual National Counselling and Support Telephone Line has been established to provide:SupportInformationCounsellingReferralFor information or to make an appointment to speak to a counsellor:-Please ring the number 1800 77 66 42, Monday – Friday 8am – 6pm. This is a free and confidential service.ΔΙΓΛΩΣΣΗ ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΤΗΛΕΦΩΝΙΚΗ ΓΡΑΜΜΗ ΨΥΧΙΚΗΣ ΥΓΕΙΑΣΟι άνευ προηγουμένου συνέπειες της πανδημίας του Κορωνοϊού και τα επακόλουθα αυτής, έχουν αγγίξει όχι μόνο ολόκληρη την Ελληνο-Αυστραλιανή παροικία αλλά και την ευρύτερη Αυστραλιανή κοινωνία. Μαζί με τις προσευχές μας, τις σκέψεις μας και τη συναισθηματική μας υποστήριξη, το Ελληνικό Κέντρο Προνοίας ως η κοινωνική προνοιακή υπηρεσία της Ιεράς Αρχιεπισκοπής Αυστραλίας θα ήθελε να ενημερώσει την παροικία μας για την ειδική υπηρεσία που έχει συσταθεί ειδικά για την αντιμετώπιση των επιπτώσεων της πανδημίας του Κορωνοϊού.Θέματα όπως η κατάθλιψη, το άγχος και η θλίψη είναι κοινές αντιδράσεις και μπορεί να εκδηλωθούν μέσα από μια σειρά συναισθημάτων και συμπεριφορών. Η Υπηρεσία υποστήριξης παρέχεται σε άτομα και οικογένειες που αντιμετωπίζουν συναισθηματική ή ψυχολογική πίεση λόγω της αβεβαιότητας, της κοινωνικής απόστασης και της απομόνωσης που έχει επιφέρει η πανδημία του Κορωνοϊού. Έχει δημιουργηθεί μια Δίγλωσση Εθνική Τηλεφωνική Γραμμή Ψυχικής Υγείας που παρέχει:ΥποστήριξηΠληροφορίεςΣυμβουλευτική υπηρεσίαΠαραπομπή σε αρμόδιες υπηρεσίες.Για ενημέρωση ή για να κλείσετε ραντεβού ώστε να μιλήσετε με έναν ειδικό σύμβουλο, παρακαλούμε να καλέστε στον αριθμό: 1800 77 66 42,Δευτέρα έως Παρασκευή από τις 8:00 π.μ. έως τις 6:00μ.μ. Αυτή είναι μία δωρεάν και εμπιστευτική υπηρεσία.
Those who want to make an appointment to speak with a special counselor can call 1800 77 66 42 from Monday to Friday, 8 am until 6 pm.
The Service is free and governed by confidentiality.
It is also worth mentioning that the GWC has created a series of informative videos, which are related to the topics of stress, depression and feelings of loss and sadness. These videos are available on the centre’s Facebook page.
Acts of Love:
The ‘Acts of Love’ program has been set up by the GWC to offer free meals to individuals and families facing financial difficulties.
ACTS OF LOVEGWC Community Services, the social welfare arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, is offering a free meal…
The meals are freshly cooked with a variety of flavours and nutritious ingredients, and they are then delivered to the homes of those interested every Tuesday and Thursday.
For more information, those interested can call the offices of the GWC on 9516 2188 from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 am until 5 pm.
A recent report released by the Federation of Hellenic Enterprises found Greece's unemployment rate is expected to record the biggest increase in a decade.
