Hospital ED numbers rise
A GROUP of Geelong students has taken community service online amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Saint Ignatius College Geelong year 12 students Jess and Hannah have been hosting conversations with a group of Alma nuns in Timor Leste via Zoom, in a bid to help the sisters improve their English skills.
The project was set up through Jesuit Social Services Australia and is supervised by a teacher.
College justice and service co-ordinator Alicia Deak said the school had jumped at the opportunity to take up the virtual service during a period of social isolation.
“We’d just finished term one and were transitioning to online learning,” she said.
“We wanted to provide service opportunities to students from their homes.”
With four conversation sessions under their belts, the school will soon expand to incorporate up to six students in the program.
“With every Zoom, the sisters are building up their confidence, and we’re happy to see each other,” Ms Deak said.
“It’s a special connection to have with our closest international neighbours.”
The opportunity to chat came after it was announced the school’s trip to TimorLeste was unable to proceed due to COVID-19.
Ms Deak commended the two students and their commitment to the project so far.
“I’ve really valued seeing both girls jump into the opportunity to keep up that connection,” she said.
PRESENTATIONS at Geelong hospital’s emergency department are rising again after plummeting amid coronavirus lockdown.
Barwon Health emergency department director Michael Sheridan said the number of people seeking treatment in the emergency department had reduced in early April.
“We have recently seen a steady increase in presentations and expect the numbers to grow further in the coming weeks,” Dr Sheridan said.
The number of people seeking treatment at the ED reduced by about one-third over April, dropping to about 150 per day.