The city of Salisbury (Australia) has taken a number of measures to address in an intercultural way the challenges their residents are facing because Covid-19 emergency.

All residents over 65 years who are without adequate support, frail or with health/mobility issues and requires some assistance during the COVID 19 pandemic have been provided with a number they can contact for assistance. The assistance provided includes shopping from a list and/or assistance to access shopping online, emergency maintenance and medical transport as well as urgent home modifications.

Further, the city has three senior centres where members take part in a variety of (usually) centre-based programs and for many, the senior centres play a central role in their social life and connection to community. Since the closure of seniors centres due to Covid-19 restrictions, the city has changed the way they deliver the services by initiating Connection Project, which is a model for connecting seniors socially with their community via virtual means. The project has started with welfare calls to all volunteers and members, and as a result 80% of the people who usually participate in face-to-face social groups are wanting to take part in our virtual options. The city is looking into both virtual and non-virtual options including for example telephone calls, activity packs (riddles, puzzles, quizzes and information), “How does your garden grow” project – delivery of flower seeds that members can grow at their home – and share its progress as a group, creative writing group holding their regular sharing sessions via Zoom, online regular Rock and Roll and Dance for Health Sessions, online quiz and much more.

The City has also re-invented how some public services are delivered to ensure they can continue to serve the population during the restrictions. For example, library Click and Collect and home delivery services have allowed the city to continue to provide loans on books, games and other items during a time when many people are home more often. Additionally, other services such as Planning Development Assessment are also available online.

Further, the city has taken the opportunity to improve the lawns and upgrade the outdoor spaces during this period when for example the dog parks, playgrounds and outdoor gyms are closed.

Further, the Disability Access and Inclusion Network (DAIN) – network meeting will be shifted to online and while the activities are suspended, telephone calls are held on a regular basis to ensure the participants stay connected and can be linked to further supports and/or information where required. Further, activity packs are being shared with participants of specific groups based around individual goals and interests.