Fifteen testing sites continued to operate across Melbourne’s northern suburbs, including drive through testing at the East Preston Islamic College (EPIC) to ensure students, their families and the broader community can get tested for COVID19 quickly and easily.
Victoria’s Commander of Testing and Community Engagement, Jeroen Weimar, said the Department is still concerned about the outbreak but is working hard in partnership with local leaders to encourage all locals to get tested.
“The Premier and I met with the affected schools’ Principals and community and faith leaders this morning to make sure we are providing access to testing, information and support they need for their students and families – and that work will continue,” Mr Weimar said.
“The leadership team at EPIC have contacted families to advise of the drive through testing site at the school and scheduled families to come for testing at specific times to avoid long queues in the wet weather and to protect everyone during the testing process.
“Demand at a number of locations was high and where possible, we have added testers at some sites to meet that demand – but we still need more people getting tested, to ensure we have traced this virus.”
“I thank everyone for coming out and playing their part in stopping the spread by getting tested, even in such bad weather.
“I would also like to acknowledge the incredible effort of the faith and community organisations working with us, who have teams of volunteers every day reaching out to the local community to share information and encourage testing.
“This is just one example of the many community leaders across all cultural groups and faiths who are working together to stop coronavirus and protect Victorians,” he said.
There are many testing sites open tomorrow (Sunday) including:
- East Preston Islamic College drive-through, 55 Tyler St, Preston, 24-27 October, 10am-5pm. Open to College staff and families
- Croxton School 159 Beaconsfield Parade, Northcote. Open to school staff and families
- Broadmeadows Central Shopping Centre, north carpark, Pascoe Vale Rd, Broadmeadows from 9am – 5pm.
- Melbourne Airport, Terminal 4 Level 2 (Mercer Dv exit off Tullamarine Fwy), from 9am – 5pm.
- Craigieburn Health Service, 274 – 304 Craigieburn Road, from 9am – 5pm.
- Roxburgh Park Youth and Recreation Centre, 75 Lakeside Drive, Roxburgh Park from 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm-5pm.
- Broadmeadows Community Hub, 182 Widford St, Broadmeadows, 23-25 October, 10am-5pm
- Banyule Community Health, 21 Alamein Rd, Heidelberg West, from 10am – 4pm.
- Heidelberg West, mobile unit aligned to community engagement movements including at Malahang Reserve, 23-25 October 10am-5pm. Weather dependent.
- Greensborough,14 – 32 Civic Drive, Greensborough, from 9am – 4pm.
- Northland Shopping Centre, Target carpark via Murray Rd, Preston, from 9am – 5pm.
- CB Smith Reserve, 79 Jukes Rd, Fawkner, from 9am – 4pm.
- Reservoir Leisure Centre, 2A Cuthbert Rd, Reservoir, 23-25 October, from 10am-5pm
- Austin Hospital,145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 8am – 5pm Saturday and Sunday.
- Coolaroo Respiratory Centre, 512 Barry St, Coolaroo, Monday to Friday, from 9am – 5pm.
- Sunbury, 29 Timins St, Sunbury, Monday-Friday 10am - 5.30pm
We are continuing to meet with a broad range of faith and community leaders, women’s groups, and local businesses to ensure the message gets out there and we have resources in multiple languages that can be utilised.
Teams from the Department of Health and Human Services and Banyule Community Health continue to doorknock homes, hold community ‘pop up’ information stands, distribute information packs, and liaise with businesses to ensure everyone has access to the information they need.
Media enquiries:
Department of Health & Human Services Media Unit (03) 9096 8860 or press@dhhs.vic.gov.au
Reviewed 23 October 2020