Optimise Study – COVID-19

Credit: Image from MHSS’s Anti Viral – Covid Safer comics. These comics are co-designed resources focusing on young people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Optimise Study: Optimising Isolation, Quarantine and Distancing for COVID-19

The Optimise Study is a partnership between Burnet Institute and Doherty Institute in collaboration with University of Melbourne, Swinburne University of Technology, Monash University, La Trobe University, the Victorian Government, Macquarie Group Foundation, the Centre for Ethnicity and Health (CEH), and the Health Issues Centre.

The study will collect strategic information to inform state and national policy and practice.

As part of the study, researchers at The University of Melbourne have a developed a survey which will help to support the Victorian Government response to COVID-19.

The aim of this research is to find out how people in Victoria are thinking, feeling and behaving in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health directions.

The findings will help guide decisions about how to manage COVID-19 in Victoria and understand what different groups of people may need to help them to follow the guidelines.

CEH’s Multicultural Health & Support Service (MHSS) and the Multicultural Drug and Alcohol Partnership (MDAP) are leading the capture of  voices of diverse community groups, with 150 interviews being carried out, specifically seeking the participation of people from refugee and migrant backgrounds and international students.

“This is an important component of the larger study and critical in supporting the diverse needs of communities who have experienced numerous negative impacts during the pandemic.  These impacts are exacerbated by precarious employment, low levels of health literacy and racism, all of which contribute to their particular vulnerabilities and increased burden of disease.  Furthermore, utilising the specialist skills of bi-cultural workers with strong community connections enables us to include the voices of communities often left behind.” 

                                                                                                                                                                                    – Alison Coelho

Alison Coelho is a member of the Advisory Group and the Knowledge Translation, Communications and Policy working group.