Other government information & assistance

Published 7 April 2020 | Updated 14 January 2021

A list of government services and agencies providing information, advice and services relating to coronavirus: 

On this page:

• Latest government updates on coronavirus
• Payments and services
• Health advice
• Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment
• State coronavirus hardship payments
• Childcare
• Redundancy and job seeking
• Business support
• Health and safety in the workplace
• Tax and superannuation
• Family and domestic violence support services
• Mental health and wellbeing support services
• Visa holders
• Travel advice
• Economic response
• Privacy and information
• Public health unit advice
• Online safety
• Western Australia state system

Latest government updates on coronavirus

For the latest coronavirus news, updates and advice from government agencies across Australia visit Australia.gov.au .

Health advice

• Australian Government Department of Health  – for the latest information on the virus, including requirements and conditions for isolation and quarantine periods and when testing should be sought.

Payments and services

• Services Australia – for information and services to help you if you’re affected by coronavirus, including Centrelink payments and support
• Australian Taxation Office – JobKeeper payment  – for information about the JobKeeper wage subsidy.

Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment

• Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment – Services Australia  – for information on a payment available to some workers in all six Australian states who need to self-isolate or quarantine due to a positive coronavirus case and don’t have paid sick leave.

State coronavirus hardship payments

Some Australian states are also providing hardship payments for certain workers who don’t have access to paid sick leave and can’t work because they are waiting for coronavirus test results. Go to:

• SA COVID-19 Cluster Isolation Payment  – for information and to check eligibility in South Australia
• Victoria – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Test Isolation Payment  – for information and to check eligibility in Victoria.
   

Childcare

• Department of Education, Skills and Employment – for information about the Child Care Subsidy, Additional Child Care Subsidy and new measures to support providers and families through this period.

Redundancy and job seeking

• I want a job on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment’s website – information on employment programs and services that can help
• Help for workers who have recently lost their job on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment’s website – resources for workers who have been made redundant, including information about rights, entitlements and support services.
• What employers want on JobActive – information about the kinds of things employers are looking for when hiring employees.

Business support

• Business.gov.au  – for information about financial assistance, eligibility and timing for new government support for Australian businesses.

Health and safety in the workplace

• Department of Health  – information for employers on about coronavirus, who is most at risk in the workplace, and what to do to help stop it spreading
• your State or Territory Public Health Unit's website – for local coronavirus response activities and advice
• Safe Work Australia  – for information and referrals about managing the risks of contracting coronavirus in the workplace
• your State or Territory workplace health and safety body – who can also assist with workers compensation enquiries
• Comcare (Commonwealth)  – for Australian Government employees and for employees of organisations which self-insure under the scheme.

Tax and superannuation

• Australian Taxation Office  – for information on early access to superannuation, providing cash flow assistance for employers and other government measures relating to tax and superannuation.

Family and domestic violence support services

• 1800 RESPECT  – provides confidential information, counselling and support for people impacted by family and domestic violence.

Mental health and wellbeing support services

• Lifeline or call 13 11 14 for 24 hour crisis support
• Beyond Blue - coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au - dedicated online information and support during coronavirus.

Visa holders

• COVID-19 and the border  – information about visa arrangements during coronavirus.

Travel advice

• Smart Traveller's webpage on coronavirus .

Economic response

• Australian Government Treasury department – for information on the Federal Government's economic response to coronavirus, including information on support for individuals, businesses and the economy.

Privacy and information

• Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC)  – for information on privacy obligations for private sector employers (including health sector providers) relating to coronavirus.

Public health unit advice

• Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA)  – for nationally consistent advice and guidance to public health units on coronavirus (COVID-19).

Online safety

• Stay Smart Online  – for information about COVID-19 related scams and phishing emails, including what to look out for and how to stay safe.

Western Australia state system

• Some businesses in WA are not covered by the national system. Our Fair Work system page has information about who isn’t covered. Contact WA Labour Relations for detailed information for state system employers and employees on employment obligations and entitlements during coronavirus .