COVID-19 and PHA (Vic & Tas)

Dear Members,
 
We certainly are living through some challenging times. I’m sure that for all of us COVID-19 is affecting the way we work, live and care for others.
 
We here at PHA (Vic & Tas) are adding our voice to the chorus by postponing our next event: the Members’ Meet and Greet (March 26). All members who booked for this have already received an email to this effect and will receive a full refund. We are exploring ways to run this event online using Zoom, which we already use for our committee meetings and will be for the foreseeable future. Stay tuned for more information about online events!
 
As the situation is changing so rapidly, if further events must be postponed we will let you know as soon as we can. At the moment we are saying ‘wait and see’ for our Podcasting Masterclass with 3CR (18 April and 2 May) and the Regional Forum in Beechworth (23 May). I am in touch with our Queensland colleagues who are organising the PHA National Conference (28-19 August) and will support them when they come to a decision about whether it will go ahead and in what format.
 
That said, you will still hear from us via Pharos, our EPD notices and social media. Now more than ever is a great time to connect with us in that way. We will of course keep processing membership applications and the rest of our behind the scenes tasks.
 
We would like to offer you use of our Zoom videoconferencing facilities for meet ups such as our Professional Reading Groups. This enables you to have an extended meeting from the comfort of your own home. Simply email mail@phavic.org.au with your date and time to book.
 
If you are looking for online resources to help you work, we can help. If you are transitioning to teaching online, member Jo Clyne has started the hashtag on Twitter: #teachinghistoryfromhome with lots of good tips. For historical context to our current reality, member Mary Sheehan reflects on the 1919 Spanish Flu in light of coronavirus http://livinghistories.net.au/2020/03/12/were-these-the-good-old-days/. If you like to listen to podcasts, check out the great recommendations in our summer series on our Facebook page. You can also access our own podcasts from past events on the members section of our website.
 
If you need it, information on COVID-19 can be found here:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019?fbclid=IwAR03Qc1IsPGz3TQ06jIUo8clev4uvoR9n4EfAkliYxsIJZm-h1FneIl_ACE
 
My final message to you all is to wish you the best of health and to take care of yourselves as we face uncertainty as we carry out our ordinary lives. Please be in touch if we can support your work.
 
Yours in history
 
Alicia Cerreto
President, PHA (Vic & Tas)